clevermanka | Scattershot

Tonight is my first Tai Chi class.

I posted a link to this comic on Tumblr (thanks to

ms_danson), with this commentary: "The first part of this comic is my life. The only difference is I don’t want a baby. I’ve been half-living like this for over a decade. I can’t find anyone in Western allopathic medicine (i.e. what’s covered by insurance) to treat me and not my symptoms. I’ve had limited success with naturopaths and alternative therapies, but I am still sick. I’m still cold. I’m still gaining weight. I’m still fatigued. I’ve had to give up so many things I love to do because I don’t have the physical or emotional stamina to keep up with them. Every day I wake up and I feel This Is Not My Life and This Is Not My Body. Except it is. And it is. And sometimes that’s just really, really hard to deal with."

Pretty sure I now have enough evidence that indicates doing morning yoga exacerbates my achey hip (the left one) during the workday.

I'm actively researching adjustable standing workstations because while I would love to up and quit my job tomorrow so I could fuck off and piddle around the rest of my life, I don't see us winning the lottery anytime soon. I'm looking pretty seriously at this one. Does anyone have other brand recommendations?

No Tuesday Tumblr collection this week.

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One of the bosses is actively considering this one:
http://www.ergodesktop.com/content/kangaroo-pro-junior

I'm thinking about bringing in my balance ball to use instead of my chair for a while. I don't have a frame for it so am not sure how successful it will be.

Am looking forward to hearing your impressions of the tai chi class. I hope it works well for you.

Thanks for the link! Wow, that company looks really great for a LOT of reasons.

I sat on a ball (with no frame) for years! I liked it, but found out that it put a lot of stress on my hip flexors and possibly contributed to my current hip inflexibility.

I only know one person who uses a standing desk and he modified his existing desk himself. That's less than helpful to you, I know :(

I hope that the Tai Chi class goes well for you!

Yeah, I don't want a standing desk, though. I want something adjustable so I can stand or sit as I need to throughout the day.

The comic is horrifying- that the only way women can get treated for a freaking autoimmune disorder is to frame the discussion in terms of reproduction... it's just a particularly harrowing example of how institutional sexism plagues women's health. Not that we didn't know that already from debates in congress, but seeing it on this very human scale is so much more meaningful than bluster on capitol hill. *enormous hugs* I'm so sorry this has been such a long and frustrating fight.

If cost is currently a barrier to further exploring alternate therapies, you might look into eastern medical schools to see if any of them have training facilities where students can practice with teachers present. (Assuming you haven't already, and if you have, my apologies if I appear condescending and all "but have you tried this?")

A good friend who was studying eastern medicine wanted to practice on his friends, and within a minute of putting his fingers on the site of a years-old injury, he identified a daily habit of mine that was contributing to it never fully healing. My orthopedist dad only ever told me to ice and tape it when I re-injure it. Not dissing my dad's skills, because his advice made the injury hurt less. But it demonstrates how eastern medicine excels at treating chronic problems because the focus is on more than just acute symptoms.

Have an amazing time at tai chi!

Edited 2014-09-23 17:42 (UTC)

Tai Chi is effing magical. I first learned it when I was a student at KU (acting/movement class FTW) and it was the beginning of me figuring out how to manage my migraines without overpowering medication. That sort of movement flow is very meditative for me, too. Like a really long sun salutation or something.

My mother's neurologist prescribed Tai Chi for her, as part of an integrative MS management program, and I could always tell when she'd gone. She fell less, reported experiencing less pain, and even her speech was more clear.

Hope it has some benefits for you!

I went to weekly acupuncture for several years and have been seeing a naturopath for two years now. I believe they both helped slow my descent into unhealth, but I want to find someone who can actually help me get better.

eastern medicine excels at treating chronic problems because the focus is on more than just acute symptoms

Most certainly! I just seem to be a particularly tough nut to crack.

OH MY GOD TRYING SO HARD TO NOT GET HOPES TO HIGH.

Like a really long sun salutation or something.

Exactly! Over the years, I've come to love sun salutations and yes yes yes. Flows are awesome.

I've been refraining from saying too much because of Hopes Too High thing, but I too agree that tai chi is amazingly wonderful.

I just seem to be a particularly tough nut to crack.

There are occasional down sides to being an original, no?

Seriously.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0076O1MQY/

Photos in action and opinions as needed. Twenty users on site.

takes time, though. Because it *is* martial art. So don't be impatient with it and remember that it's a practice.

I think you'll love it.

remember that it's a practice.

Sounds like yoga! PERFECT!

Thanks!

I hit reblog on that comic post so hard, I wore myself out. (ha weak Hashi's joke). But seriously, it was fucking spot on.

I really hope your class goes well. I have been interested in trying something like that, so I can't wait to hear what you think. I've never done yoga so I don't have any experience with that kind of deliberate movement.

I'm afraid I've got nothing except that I'm really sorry and I feel ya. It's one of the hardest things in the world to deal with not feeling like one's real self any more. I hope the tai chi goes well. I'll be eager to hear about it. It's where a lot of martial artists go when they're too racked up from things like tae kwon do.

That look on her face

I know that feeling so damned well.
Like when the neurologist said "oh yes, you have an elevated ANA, but you know, it can show false positive pretty often, so don't worry about it."

Was the Tai Chi good? I want to do it, but right now.. funds, and all. Next session, maybe.

Keeping my fingers crossed that the tai chi is good too.

Oh, man, I love yoga. I especially love that good yoga teachers (and you'll know them right away) are completely accepting of all body types. You might consider trying it. For some reason, it always appeals to me more in the winter. I'll probably sign up for a class again this fall.

I've got nothing except that I'm really sorry and I feel ya.

Solidarity with others is always appreciated.

you have an elevated ANA, but you know, it can show false positive pretty often, so don't worry about it.

It was interesting! I'll be reporting on it today.

Very much like yoga in that respect, yes. When I started doing it, I was only a few months out of USMA. I think the teacher was treating it as some sort of rehab for me (grin). We approached it less martially, and more like a meditative/sacred dance...but there's lots of room in the art to approach it differently on different days, etc. Lots of awareness about where one is pushing away or pulling into things, speeding up and slowing down, expanding and contracting. I always find it super-useful for my brain and the gestalt of my system, regardless of the physicality. Hope you find a good class and teacher!

Oh, how much do I wish I could have!

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