Hi all name is Gordon had a TIA couple of weeks ago so this is my first post here. and this is a huge learning curve for what was a very active 72 year old. It was frightening not only for me but for loved ones as well. Having OT and physio and a lovely visit from Glenda at Shropshire Stroke Assoc. today. Learnt a lot and talked about exercise and usage of left arm/hand and leg. This is a massive struggle for me at the moment as get very dizzy, and was wondering if anyone has tried either Tai Chi or Yoga to run alongside exercising. Prepared to try anything
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Hi
Really recommend the charity LEGS they have online tai chi classes. I do the seated one and find it really helpful. The practitioner not only teaches tai chi but is also a neuro physio. Ā£7 per class. Also have a standing class.
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I havenāt tried them, but have you researched exercising sitting down.
Hi Gordon @Gcb0909 and welcome to the community. Sorry to hear of your TIA. As you say it is a frightening experience not just for you but those around you too.
Iāve not tried tai chi or yoga myself but I would double check with your GP to see if it would be ok.
Best wishes
Ann
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I canāt say Iāve tried it, but who knows never say never. I know someone who had acupuncture that helped them, someone had had Botox injections but I guess you could ask the GP or health practitioners I did find this might be worth a read, and does seem benefits are achieved so Iāve learnt something too! Yoga for stroke rehabilitation - PMC
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Welcome to the community Gordon. I hope you will get the information and help you seek from fellow stroke survivors.
I myself am a Carer and what I tell you about Tai Chi and Yoga would not be from a stroke survivors perspective. That said, I believe these are excellent complimentary forms of exercises and ways to get and keep healthy.
If you are prepared to try anything, then I can suggest you look up posts by @bobbi and @pando on this forum and also their YouTube channels.
Wishing you all the best on your road to recovery from the stroke.
Namaste|
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Thanks everyone, have looked on Youtube and I am going to try a few, my Physio has said it is ok, but dont overdo it, Cant do the weeding so try goig to have a go.
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Hi @Gcb0909 Gordon
Welcome to the community, Iām sorry to hear about your TIA. These things do tend to come as a big shock and can be very frightening for yourself and your family.
Itās great to hear youāve been getting support and have been learning a lot. I hope youāll find this community helpful too for your recovery and can see youāve had a fair few answers to your question already.
If you need anything whilst youāre using the Online Community, please donāt hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
Anna
Hi Gordon welcome to the forum. Sorry to about your TIA, been there myself over 4yrs ago, still have a few niggles to work through but on the whole Iām fairly independent. Even back driving for over 2yrs, which is a good thing because I get to take myself off to all sorts of fitness groups, including walking.
Iād definitely recommend both Tai Chi or Yoga. Iāve done yoga in the past, pre stroke so still make use of it at home. Iāve tried chair yoga at my Aphasia group, which was also good. Like yourself, balance was big issue early post stroke and I found I was just not stable enough for Tai Chi at that time; I never knew was a chair Tai Chi though 
Because your bio says you are from Oswestry (my sister used live there 
), I thought Iād check out what was available with Age UK in your area. And it would appear theyāre fairly active in the region of Shropshire Telford & Wrekin.
All three of those classes would suitable for you
I donāt know how it is for you transport wise, but if/when you can get out to such places, itās well worth it if just for the social aspect and itās good for your over all mental health and wellbeing as well as the physical.
Lorraine
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Hi again all, another day of trying to achieve things and now been doing the Tai Chi for a couple if days. Loads of American videos on YOUTUBE but found a guy (albeit American) who is an OT, doing arm movement exercises in bed. All exercises last a minute but well worth a try. Early days yet but going to persevere.
Thanks for the links sent to local groups when up to it will try them out.
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It will be well worth persevering with it, as weāve all learnt, there are no quick fixes to stroke recovery. You have to be in it for the long haul to win it. Itāll take some months for the dizziness and unsteadiness to diminish but as it does, the more you will be able to do. But also see if you can get your nutrient levels checked. About 6 months after my TIA, I learnt I was very low in folic acid and once the doc put me on a 2 week course of folic acid, I found that my dizziness went away. Ok, it could also have just been a coincidence at that time, but it is a common symptom when low in certain vitamins so well worth getting that checked out. Itās just a matter of a simple blood test to find which one is low. And we tend to burn up a lot of nutrients in major healing and recovery of any kind, so you might just need a bit of a boost. Well worth taking this dizziness to your doctor, donāt just automatically assume itās a side effect of your stroke. Itāll open up your world that bit quicker if you do 
But donāt ask, just tell them you want you want your nutrient levels checked because of this dizziness.
Lorraine
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Thanks Lorraine
I have accepted that it is a long haul, and trying different things now . That nutrients idea is something i will look into.
This site is amazing, did not realise how much support and information is out there not only for the stroke āvictimsā but also for the loved ones who have to carry a lot of the burden on their shoulders too.
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We are all so in the dark about stroke, all the advertising out there and none of it even comes close to the reality. Thatās why we all come hereš
Lorraine
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Hi @Gcb0909 - do you per chance have the link to this OT doing arm movement exercises in bed please?
Thanks
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Of course it is
āBeginner Tai Chi Exercises in Bed After Strokeā
By OT DUDE
it wont let me add a picture to the message sorry, but do a search on YOUTUBE
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Thank you - got it 
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Hi @Gcb0909
I started yoga in January mainly because I have a frozen shoulder post stroke. My stroke was in July 2024 and I was recovering well until the frozen shoulder started in October.
Yoga is really good for stretching out my shoulder but Iāve also found that my balance and strength on my weak left side has improved a lot even tho I only do a one hour class once a week.
I will continue to do yoga even when my shoulder is fully recovered after hearing that one of my class mates started yoga because her parents, who are in their 80s, are far more supple than she is in her 40s.
I mainly go for the physical stretching exercises but I also think that the breathing exercises and meditation are just as beneficial to the mind.
Hope this helps
Linda
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Hello @gordon and welcome. I am 3years post-stroke and like you was left-side paralysed. But the movement has come back. I Try to wriggle around in my wheelchair all the time stretching my left leg. My daughterās bought me theraputty for my left hand which i play with everyday, getting it everywhere my clothes the blanket etc. But itās good for my fine motor skills to pick it off! I think tai chi and yoga are an excellent option, although I havenāt tried because I can no longer stand or walk. But there are chair yoga adverts doing the rounds that I believe are excellent. Ultimately anything to get your body moving again is worth following. I too was active before my aneurysm, gardening and walking the dogs, being sedentary now is so very frustrating. Iām waiting to see an orthopaedic surgeon in September to ascertain if surgery will allow me to walk again. Like much of life post-stroke itās just about waiting!
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Hi Mich sorry to hear bout your stroke but pleased to gear you are on tge mend after this long time. Mine was a minor stroke but like you very frustrating, i am slowly on the mend and have seen some improvements in such a short time.
I have been doing the Tai Chi niw for about 4 weeks and it does make me fell more confident in myself. I have modified the exercises to suit my problems Still a long way to go tho
.take care and good luck for the future
Gordon
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Thank you for replying @gordon.you will find that their are days of great improvement and others where nothing happens at all. I keep a journal and type out what I need to do each day. And get a lot of pleasure from typing Done. JUST managable things like 'open and close my hand on my stroke affected side. Celebrating these small victories boosts my self-esteem.
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