"A Symphony For My Body"

Ai Chi

“A Symphony for My Body”

Ai Chi - Flowing Aquatic Energy is one of the fastest growing relaxation and therapeutic modalities for water. It is a total body strengthening and relaxation progression that bridges East and West philosophies. Ai Chi integrates mental, physical and spiritual energy.

Ai Chi is a water exercise and relaxation program that has been created to help aquatic practitioners and students enjoy the water in a flowing yet powerful progression. Aquatic exercise instructors, personal trainers, and aquatic therapy and rehabilitation practitioners will find the Ai Chi workshop beneficial for them and their clients. It is an efficient exercise program that increases oxygen and caloric consumption simply with correct form and positioning in the water, it is a perfect relaxation technique for highly stressed, over-challenged clients, and it is ideal for creating improved range of motion and mobility. Ai Chi, created by combining Tai-Chi concepts with Shiatsu and Watsu techniques, is performed standing in shoulder depth water using a combination of deep breathing and slow, broad movements of the arms, legs, and torso. The Ai Chi progression moves from simple breathing, to the incorporation of upper extremity movement, to the incorporation of movement of the trunk, to the incorporation of lower extremity movement, and finally to total body involvement.

Benefits

Flexibility and core (abdominal) strength are the benefits most mentioned by aquatic exercise instructors. The trunk stabilization and pain management benefits of the program are the two

most frequently cited by aquatic therapists. Clients’ comments include quotes such as “a soothing experience”, “mind and body relaxation”, and “ a symphony for my body.” The level of benefits increase with practice. Each session of the Ai Chi program will bring more benefits to the client. As a person becomes more familiar with the program, more relaxation will be gained and more attention will be paid to the smallest move of the hand, wrist or eyes. With that deep relaxation and focus, the brain becomes more alert.

Real or deep relaxation can only occur when you feel stable in the water and confident in your ability to follow the progression. We get the feeling of stability and confidence through repetition.

Water lessens edema in the joints which allows clients to improve range of motion and mobility. The soft, round flowing motions strengthen core muscles while providing a soothing experience. Roundness and softness are a part of life. The circular feeling creates harmony. Roundness and softness don’t strain. They move with nature. If one doesn’t go against nature, one will last long. In Ai Chi, we strive not for rigidity but for tranquillity.

There is a Japanese proverb that says “Willow does not break under weight of snow.” Stiff and inflexible branches, bones, and psyches will break. The pliant willow doesn’t break. Pliant bones, connective tissues and psyches won’t break. Ai Chi is created to make the patient and practitioner pliant.

The flowing movements of Ai Chi will increase metabolism and blood circulation. According to research done by physiologists in Japan, simply breathing while submersed to the shoulders in water (not doing anything else) increases oxygen consumption seven percent. This in turn increases caloric consumption.

Ai Chi improves liver efficiency. The deep breathing done from the diaphragm massages the liver and drives out the vitiated blood.

The naturalness of the Ai Chi movements increases Chi which calms the mind and decreases stress and insomnia.

Positioning

Positioning is important for trunk stability. Follow these keys while following the Ai Chi progression:

Think and feel your stance.

Begin with your feet in a wide stance. Point your knees and toes somewhat outward and keep your back straight.

Bend your knees until the water is at shoulder level and your arms are resting easily at the water surface.

Chin is relaxed and slightly down.

Inhale through your nose and turn your palms up. (You will get a little "taller" in the water, chin will come up and back slightly, and your rib cage will "open.")

Exhale easily through your mouth and turn your palms down.

Your weight is evenly balanced.

Temperature

You will need warm water temperature to keep the body core temperature up while doing the Ai Chi program. You’ll find 88F to 96F degree water ideal for the workout. Water in the 78F to 83F degree range may tighten, not relax, the muscles.

This site designed and maintained by . For more info please go to www.dlbdesign.com or email

info@dlbdesign.com for a quote today! Save 10% off all web design rates if you mention you came here from Ruth's site!