I have very little experience with yoga. I followed along with a beginner yoga video with my older sister when she was home from college one summer, so I must have been in late elementary school. I found the poses more entertaining than anything. I didn't touch yoga again until I picked up a yoga DVD of my own at Target a few years back, but I'm afraid I chose poorly. Admittedly, the options in the tiny fitness section at Target were limited, so there may not have have been a better choice for my impulse purchase. It proclaimed on the front that it featured Sting's music. I like Sting, so that was a selling point. I didn't realize the woman featured on the cover was Sting's wife. Although there was some definite cheesiness, the main problem was that it was far too advanced and fast-paced for my complete lack of yoga experience. The only reason I don't regret my purchase is the included meditation sequence. I was really struggling with stress at that time in my life, and a run through that guided meditation every night as I wound down for bed was my saving grace.
I don't use the DVD anymore, but I still turn to meditation for stress relief, and also to help me manage my chronic pain. I have several painful, chronic diseases: psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and endometriosis. I have all manner of medications in my system on a daily basis, but there are still times when I need to breathe through the pain. Meditative breathing works well at those times. I won't claim that meditation is a cure for me (it's not), but the stress relief and coping skills it provides are invaluable.
My rheumatologist is on my case for me to exercise and stretch daily. She's given me two options: swimming, or yoga. I've been stubborn and have been walking for exercise instead, but when my psoriatic arthritis disease activity increased a few months ago, I fell off the daily exercise wagon. Walking any significant distance just hurt too much! I was swimming at my neighborhood pool for a little while, but of course Fall arrived and got in the way of that too. Now I'm left with trying to work yoga into my schedule somehow. I know it's worth it. I feel better when I exercise and stretch. My pain and inflammation decreases and my quality of life improves. I gain so many hours of decreased pain for every hour of exercise I put in. After all, "for arthritis patients, emphasis on stretching and strength, posture, balance and the ability to adjust pace and intensity are important components of a safe activity, all of which yoga encompasses." [1] Yoga seems like the perfect solution for me. Maybe Mia can help me figure out what kind of yoga is best for my needs!
References
[1] Haaz, S., & Bartlett, S.J. (2011 February). Yoga for arthritis: a scoping review. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America, 37(1). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Thanks Mary for sharing your experience! I hope that my other posts have helped you think about the yoga that might be right for you. If the DVD was too fitness-oriented, try a Hatha or Ashtanga class or DVD!
I suggest trying water aerobics for the arthritis. My Dad has arthritis in his knees. It also doesn't help that he busted them up from skiing in his youth. We have a pool so my dad does water aerobics, and personally I can imagine him doing yoga. I do it with him sometimes and I find it fun. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, M.V.E. My local rec center offers a water aerobics class specifically geared toward arthritis patients, but unfortunately it has never fit my schedule. I know it's pretty much the perfect fit for me, so it's frustrating. I did attend a chair aerobics class taught by the same instructor for about a year though, which is another good option!
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