Yoga and Mild Exercise
Yoga has its origins in eastern cultures and it originated in India. The term yoga means yoke or ‘bring them together' which is what they did with water buffalo. Yoga is the best known of the eastern slow movement exercises or body movements. It is far better preferred than exercise bikes or jogging for those of us who suffer from arthritis.
In the beginning lessons, the students are taught to do very calming and stress-free movements of the body either in a sitting or standing position. As they progress, the student begins to notice that he/she has gained strength, balance and vitality with these simple exercises. Flexibility is one aspect of yoga training which the arthritic will appreciate over all else. The ability to move, walk and bend is so elusive to most of us.
Overall, yoga has its roots in the spiritual world so that the whole body will benefit from the movements. The main goal of yoga is not to cure or relieve arthritis but to help patients with true inner happiness and balance in their lives. However with there being so many types of yoga there is one in particular which is beneficial for the arthritic.
The Hatha Yoga leaves out the spiritual aspect of happiness and concentrates on the movements that are more necessary to the painful joints and tight muscles. It concentrates on postural alignment, strength and endurance or vitality. One posture is called the Spinal Twist Position which has the client sitting on the floor, legs stretched in front, draw on leg up and put its ankle over the knee cap of the other leg. Wrap your arm around the raised leg, and look backwards over your shoulder. It is a very calming, twisting of the spine which is barely noticeable.
Not only does Yoga address the physical needs of the client but also the psychological needs by bringing strength and wellness into the mix. Yoga also brings an increased mental vitality and a general feeling of well -being not usually noticed by the arthritic. And finally, the Medical Society recognizes the goodness of Yoga and declares that it is a good treatment for those suffering with Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
Yoga is the preferred type of mild and non-exertive exercise for arthritics. It wakes up and makes the innermost muscles and tendons move and gets the blood circulating to the furthest regions of the body. Yoga, when done properly under supervision, brings encouragement to the weakest and the most pain-filled of all Arthritics.