Some years ago, about ten I think, I used to go once a week to Tai chi classes.
Image from http://universal-taichichuan.com
They were held in the hall of a local Synagogue and led by a chap who trained in China and is employed by both our local, large hospitals to help people with rehab. after cardiac surgery and allied problems. His reputation was excellent in the UK and I was lucky to find him considering how many people teach Tai chi here in Sheffield.
A huge mix of people went and I really enjoyed them. All ages, all types, all interests. After our Beginners’ Class, a Senior class came in carrying very long poles and we left feeling intrigued and a little intimidated by the Big Girls and Boys!
Image from www.chinashaolins.com
However, my teaching load became such that I had to give up going.
For the last year I have been toying with the idea of going back, if the classes still run. But my balance issues were so bad that I could not imagine being able to manage even the simplest exercises and then my eyesight deteriorated: and trying to balance with one eye takes a lot of practice.
Last Tuesday I saw two consultants.
In the morning I saw the Neurologist to whom I had been referred two years ago for possible MS. After various scans and tests MS was ruled out (sigh of relief) and he suggested that I give up gluten. On 3 gluten intolerance tests, I had come up each time as bordering one side or the other of the cut-off point. Apparently a sensitivity to gluten can make you lose your balance and muscle strength and fall over. I gave up wheat years ago but did not realise that rye, barley and oats all had significant amounts of gluten in them. At the time I was very surprised to hear any dietary modification suggested by a mainstream doctor in the NHS for other than diabetes or weight control. For some months now I have given up all grains, pulses, legumes and sugars: so no fruit to speak of and few potatoes. And my balance has improved greatly. Last Tuesday I managed, effortlessly, to do all the tests the Neurologist wanted, which I had been unable to manage on my last two visits to him. Yippee.
In the late afternoon I saw the Opthalmic surgeon who operated on my eye. The hole has closed!! Yippee again. He congratulated me on my ‘patient compliance’ which has a large impact on the closure. However, I also think the skill of the surgeon is not to be discounted;) I will have to have a cataract op. in the next six months but not until the eye is stronger and we have established the max possible vision for that eye. He expects an increasingly improving quality of vision, to be followed by a decreasing one as the cataract forms. But then we will know how good it got before the cataract. So pats on the back all round.
Now, perhaps, is the time to go back to my Tai chi classes. Tai chi helps strengthen muscles and balance, as well as having numerous circulatory benefits so it seems a no-brainer.
Returning grandson to his father last Friday night (we always spend Friday evenings together) I learned that two weeks ago the pair of them began going to Tai Chi classes. The same chap, the same venue, the same class that I used to go to! Given that Dave, the teacher, holds lots of classes on different days, and at different times, and in different places, I did laugh. Son had forgotten that I used to go, and grandson never knew: they pleaded for me to go back to the classes – it would be fun! I just laughed. But when I got home I rang Dave and he said, yes just come along again, same as before, he would be pleased to see me.
I am just going to turn up without telling them.
Now, think of the limitless possibilities for embarrassing the younger men in the family. Bring it on:)
Image from http://sarawakiana.blogspot.co.uk
Lovely to read such positive news – thanks for this happy update, Sweffling.
J x
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And thank you in return for all your interest, support and good wishes. They are really gratefully received. XX
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That’s exactly how I imagined you would look. Lovely to have my idea confirmed.
How many cheroots do you smoke in a day?
Good luck with the T’ai chi.
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I’ve been working on the look for a while!! And the numbers of cheroots depend on the weather. Not much fun sitting in a rainy doorway smoking:)
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Wonderful news! Sort of begins to balance out all of the other news you have had over the past several months.
Although I don’t know much about Tai Chi, those who I know who have done it have nothing but wonderful things to say about it. I can’t wait to hear how your “men” react when they see you at class. How fun to take the class with them! Cataract surgery for me made a huge difference in my sight. Hopefully you will be able to have that bring you good news as well.
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Thank you so much for your kind words and all your help and support over the difficult months. Glad to hear that cataract op. was helpful for you. If we can just have a decent summer and get some energy levels up there’ll be no stopping me. I would love to be fit enough to come to the states to meet some blog friends and see Mark and Steve on their great adventure. But no point counting my chickens, health improvements that rely on dietary changes are slow. Shame that patience is not my virtue:))
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It all sounds very good for your health now Sweff thank goodness, you will soon be running marathons. {:))
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Thanks Roy, yes, onwards and upwards. Just got to kick those mitochondria into working properly now and the sky’s the limit!!
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I took Tai Chi briefly. I really liked it, but the class was just too far away.
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Shame that distance proved a problem for you:( I am lucky in that respect!
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I am visiting from Friko’s blog. I enjoyed reading the posts on the anniversary. I was a child during WWll, but I have many memories of that time in our history.
Then I went on to read more…and found this about not eating wheat. We are just starting to eliminate wheat from our diet. I can’t believe how many products have wheat in them. Have you found a substitute for bread? My husband loves bread with his meal, and it is he who is wanting to eliminate wheat. How do you do it?
Balisha
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Hi, thank you so much for visiting and sorry for the delay in replying to your question. I am prone to migraines that lay me out for a week at a time. As to the wheat. Is your husband wanting to give up the whole grain, or just the gluten? If it is just the gluten there are lots of gluten free products in the supermarkets nowadays! Personally I do not like them much! I have just given up all baked goods, but will allow myself a treat once a month. Otherwise potato flour, gram flour, rice flour, chestnut flour and maize flour can all be used as substitutes for baking: there are loads of recipes and blogs on the web. If you search for gluten-free blogs etc. you will find more than you can cope with:) However, bread is more difficult because it is the gluten which helps it rise and have its lovely consistency. Buying it seems the best option, but you can also buy gluten-free wheat flour in many shops. It is both the protein and the gluten which I have given up. I am very happy with Italian chestnut ‘bread’, which is more like a soggy cake, made from chestnut flour, olive oil and rosemary, with raisins too. Good luck. Do get back to me if you would like more info.
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