Arthritis can be experienced as a minor nuisance – or it can be debilitating. Most physicians agree that some regular exercise is beneficial for osteoarthritis because it keeps muscle tone intact and help to prevent stiffness in the joints. If you have rheumatoid arthritis you may need to begin more slowly with an exercise program, concentrating instead on the breathing and relaxation aspects.
Yoga is a gentle, methodical, effective exercise and relaxation program that can ease the discomforts of chronic arthritis. When the pain of arthritis strikes, it has an effect of stiffening up the rest of the body, as if to protect the part that hurts. Most people respond to this by decreasing the activity level. Inactivity, however, is often the worst thing to do because it weakens the muscles and actually increases stiffness and pain. Yoga encourages you to keep moving gently while your body is healing in order to maintain muscle tone, good circulation, and joint flexibility. A regular exercise program is also extremely valuable psychologically because it increases your confidence that even though you have arthritis, you’re not going to be a prisoner in a wheelchair, you can work, play and do all your daily activities if you exercise regularly.
Yoga practice begins gently with movements sometimes supported with props such as chairs or blocks, blankets. Breathing, relaxation, and meditation techniques are an important part of daily routine: they improve respiration, relieve anxiety, and can help distract attention from pain. Breathing helps to relax both physical and emotional tension by flooding the body and brain wit oxygen. In yoga you learn breathing and relaxation techniques you can use anytime, anywhere to relieve stress and tension. A regular daily practice of meditation- simply quieting of thought and memories for a few minutes at a time, gives the body time to relax and heal.
Perhaps arthritis does not have to be a disability; by practicing a few gentle yoga poses every day, you can reduce pain, build strength and maintain you daily activities with health and energy.