After I hurt my back, I got this tape because Tai Chi and Chi Kung were just about all I could do for awhile. This is a 20-minute routine to help ease yourself into the day and gather energy (chi) to prepare your body for all the stresses of the upcoming day. I love it and do it almost every day. It is definitely at a beginner’s level and none of the movements require any level of flexibility.

I got this along with Back Care Yoga, but found that AM Chi was a much kinder and gentler back workout for the following reasons:

1. All of AM Chi is done standing with knees bent and back in the neutral position. Portions of Back Care Yoga are on the floor, which isn’t as comfortable for me (it depends what your back problem is).

2. In Back Care Yoga, you were switching positions frequently and, I thought, a little too quickly.

3. No twisting of the torso in AM Chi.

4. There was never any struggle to maintain balance in AM Chi. I was never unsteady because both feet were firmly on the ground at all times. I teetered a couple of times in Back Care Yoga.

5. The forward bends in AM Chi were done standing and it was clear that the bends were from the hip, knees bent. Back Care Yoga had a couple of forward bends done on the floor. On the floor, there’s a tendency to do forward bends from the waist, which isn’t good for the lower back. Also, the standing forward bends in Back Care Yoga were pretty intense and I thought you had to already be pretty flexible to execute them.

6. I found I relaxed more with AM Chi. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t switching positions as often and the movements didn’t actually stress the back as it was stretching.

There are some nice images in the names of the positions: holding up heaven like a pillar, seven pieces of brocade, horse rider; dragon. And you feel all mystical and floaty. But I did feel a little silly “breaking up stuck chi”. It seemed like a jarring image to introduce in the middle of this gentle flowing routine.

How much do I love AM Chi? It would be one of my desert island video workouts even if I didn’t have a bad back. The setting is stunning, the music coordinates so well with the movements, and the instructor’s voice is very soothing and meditative, and he gives excellent cueing on breathing and position. I do this workout almost every morning either alone or as a cooldown after a more vigorous workout.

Instructor Comments:
David Dorian Ross is a perfect match for this video – his voice is calm and meditative, but the cueing is excellent. I think Tai Chi-type workouts are the most difficult to lead because you have to cue breathing, position, and mental visualization. He is the best at simultaneously cueing all three that I’ve encountered thus far.

Jackie D