Product Details

• Actors: Dr. Paul Lam
• Format: Color, Full Screen, Import, NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• DVD Release Date: January 1, 2002
• Run Time: 320 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000066G1X
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,405 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The beginning of Tai Chi for Arthritis introduces the arthritic senior-citizen members of Paul Lam's Australian tai chi class, who share their stories of increased range of motion and resulting enjoyment of life thanks to the positive effects of exercise. Lam, a Sydney physician and international tai chi champion, personally vouches for the ancient practice, which reversed the debilitating effects of his own arthritis. Then the class follows an hour-long program of warm-ups, stretches, and 12 movements that increase muscle tone and joint movement for the arthritic. These consist of six basic movements, six more advanced movements, and a separate demonstration by Lam without verbal instruction for those ready for a more fluid daily practice. Lam also introduces a set of qigong exercises for arthritis, explaining that the Chinese believe that the sluggish flow of Qi--the Chinese word for energy--is a major cause of arthritis. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like an old friend, November 10, 2005

By	Susanna Duffy (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tai Chi for Arthritis (Multi-Language Version) (DVD)

I have this. I use this, I love this! Dr Paul Lam very clearly, and very slowly, guides you literally step by step through gentle rhythmic movements. His participants, just a tad older than I am, demonstrate the movements from the back, in the same position that you are in when you watch the DVD.

I've never been able to follow an exercise programme from watching a video or disc before, but this one I watch and follow twice a week, all at my own speed. Fortunately, my arthritis is sporadic and more irritating than dehabilitating, but it's the regular exercise of tai chi and walking that keep it under control.

I have watched Dr Lam's tutorial so ofter that I think of him as an old friend. And, just like an old friend, he gives me good advice.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best martial arts exercise instruction available, March 31, 2005

By	L. F Sherman "dikw" (Wiscasset, ME United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Tai Chi for Arthritis (Multi-Language Version) (DVD)

Learning from most tapes and DVDs is difficult at best but Dr Lam has great clarity, focus, different angles to view, and some repetition for learning from tape or DVD. He had Arthritis himself before becoming world class martial artist and has a special interest in the subject. He shows the form and explains; then he comments on a single student doing it; then a group of students do the form with a leader facing them so one can watch both from the front and behind. He also uses balck background for demonstration by instructor in white uniform.

32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good excecise but not easy to follow, August 25, 2002

By	Wendy Lin (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is my first Tai Chi video so I have nothing to compare with. Overall, I liked the excercies and I liked how he broke every move into multiple segments to make sure the viewers get it. But his explaination of each move is not very clear and sometimes lacks details. For example, he should point out when a movement requires shifting weight or bending knees. These details are ommitted from time to time. He also needs to incorporate more breathing instructions into the movements. I was able to follow it, but my mom (whom I bought the DVD for) was confused by the instructions.