This study says Tai Chi beats stretching for Fibromyalgia but in my system we do have supplemental stretching.
Hiya
I practiced "Taoist Tai Chi" for 17 years and have seen many health benefits both in others and myself. The style incorperates stretching into the form itself, which makes it inadequate for self-defense, but the object of the club is to promote better health through the practice of Taoist arts, rather than be a martial arts school. This makes the form helpful for those that really need it, ie the elderly, sick and stressed. The stretching is gentle, and supposed to create a spinal "pump" that assists the flow of qi and fluids in the later stages of development. The earlier stages "undo" stiff joints, and increase flexibility, thus removing "stagnation", which as a TCM-based acupuncturist, I understand to both arise from, and contribute to poor health.
I've met several club members with fibromyalgia that gain much benefit from their practice, both physical and mental. It doesn't stop there; we conducted a programme in conjunction with the local primary care trust which clearly demonstrated improved health benefits in lots of ways. Of course, I understand that all styles have their uses, and I'm not claiming any kind of superiority here, but when I tried out other styles for myself that were less focussed on health, I simply didn't enjoy them as much.
From the TCM perspective, in terms of improving our health, the style we practice is much less important than what we do with our minds. Fibromyalgia being a disorder of the connective tissues, relates to Liver function in Chinese Medicine. Tension and frustration affect the Liver's function of smoothing and regulating the Qi in the body that nourishes the tissues. Tension often has a physical as well as an emotional component. Therefore, gentle stretching to move stagnation occuring from tension, coupled with relaxing and letting go of emotional tension together work to improve the circulation to the affected area.
Smile, relax, stretch, sink, enjoy!
I started Tai Chi a few months ago and find it fab, you can put as much or as little into it does as much as your body feels it can do:)
Hunt around for a class that feels right, tried one and they were just OTT then I stumbled upon a local group which I have settled into, we are a mixed bunch, in ages and abilities, but we all do what we can.
It has helped me a lot, overall my body feels like it has had a good work out, but with a pleasant ache rather than wanting never to attend a class again!
Give it a go.
Fudge