Yoga Guide for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis

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First-of-Its-Kind Yoga Guide for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Launches

During National Arthritis Month-Remain Active With RA Yoga Guide Is Offered

Free, Exclusively at www.RAacademy.com

PR Newswire

05/23/2002

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 23, 2002 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The American Yoga

Association (AYA), in collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation and

support from Aventis Pharmaceuticals' RAacademy.com, today launches an

online Yoga guide for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). According to

the AYA, Yoga may help people with arthritis deal with pain and stiffness,

improve range of motion and increase strength for daily activities. RA is

one of the most common forms of arthritis in America, affecting about two

million people, more than 75 percent of whom are women.

" People with RA may benefit from low-impact exercises like Yoga to help

improve overall health and fitness without further damaging or hurting the

joints, " said Cheryl Lambing, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor at the

University of California Los Angeles. " Physical activity may optimize both

physical and mental health and play a vital role in disease management. It

is important for people with RA to speak to their physician before embarking

on any exercise program. "

The unique Yoga guide, Remain Active with RA, consists of a 35-minute Yoga

routine encompassing traditional Yoga poses including range-of-motion,

muscle strengthening, and endurance exercises -- the three major forms of

exercise typically prescribed for people with RA. The routine also includes

warm-up exercises, as well as relaxation, breathing and meditation

techniques which can help reduce anxiety and improve overall wellness. Each

exercise contains detailed photographs and instructions indicating the

proper way to perform each movement.

For thousands of years people have turned to Yoga to build flexibility and

strength, improve concentration, relieve stress and increase energy. Today

the benefits of Yoga extend far beyond this -- it may help people with

rheumatoid arthritis. According to a pilot study published in the British

Journal of Rheumatology, people with RA who participated in a Yoga program

over a three-month period experienced greater handgrip strength compared to

those who did not practice Yoga. Experts agree that regular exercise is

beneficial for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis because it keeps

muscle tone intact and helps to prevent stiffness in the joints.

" Having lived with RA for most my life, I know first-hand that people with

RA may benefit from the Remain Active with RA Yoga Guide, " said Alice

Christensen, Founder of the American Yoga Association. " In my experience,

Yoga has helped to improve my joint flexibility -- especially on mornings

when my joints are very stiff. "

RA is a chronic, autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system

attacks healthy tissue lining the joints, leading to pain, deformity and

disability that may be permanent. In many cases, RA may limit a person's

ability to carry out normal daily activities and most people may also

experience some degree of anxiety in addition to feelings of helplessness.

The Remain Active with RA Yoga guide can be accessed exclusively online when

you register at www.raacademy.com, a health resource for people with RA,

their friends and families, brought to you by Aventis Pharmaceuticals.

About the American Yoga Association

The American Yoga Association (AYA), available at

www.americanyogaassociation.org, is a nonprofit, educational organization

whose goal is to provide the highest quality Yoga instruction and

educational resources to anyone interested in Yoga. Besides serving as a

reliable resource for Yoga students and teachers who have questions and

concerns, the AYA also provides educational services to program developers

in various health-related fields. The AYA has taught Yoga consistently and

reliably for over thirty years, and has gained a reputation as one of the

most respected Yoga schools in the country.

About the Arthritis Foundation

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through

leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related

diseases. Arthritis Foundation efforts focus on increasing awareness,

programs and services, education, advocacy and research. The Arthritis

Foundation currently provides more than $25 million in grants to more than

300 researchers to help find prevention measures, better treatment and

ultimately a cure. The Arthritis Foundation's sponsorship of research for

more than 50 years has resulted in major treatment advances for most forms

of arthritis.

About RAacademy.com

RAacademy.com is a premiere destination for RA news and information. The

site features RA-related information, relevant to the personal health needs

of those with RA, including self-care tools, tips for living with RA and a

section on exercise tailored specifically for people with RA. It also

includes an online community center and interactive features complete with

chats, message boards, e-mail alerts and a personal planner. RAacademy.com

is sponsored by Aventis Pharmaceuticals.

Aventis Pharmaceuticals conducts the U.S. prescription drug business of

Aventis. With headquarters in Bridgewater, N.J., Aventis Pharmaceuticals

focuses its activities on important therapeutic areas such as cardiology,

oncology, anti-infectives, arthritis, allergy and respiratory, diabetes, and

the central nervous system.

Aventis (NYSE: AVE) is dedicated to improving life by treating and

preventing human disease through the discovery and development of innovative

pharmaceutical products. Aventis focuses on prescription drugs for important

therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiology, diabetes and respiratory

disorders as well as on human vaccines. In 2001, Aventis generated sales of

euro 17.7 billion ($15.9 billion), invested approx. euro 3 billion ($2.7

billion) in research and development and employed approx. 75,000 people in

its core business. Aventis corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.

For more information, please visit: www.aventis.com.

To receive a copy of this release or any recent release, visit the Aventis

Pharmaceuticals U.S. Web site at www.aventispharma-us.com or call

800/207-8049.

Statements in this news release other than historical information are

forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual

results could differ materially depending on factors such as the

availability of resources, the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the

strength of competition, the outcome of litigation, and the effectiveness of

patent protection. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties

is set forth in the current Annual Report on Form 20-F of Aventis on file

with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE Aventis Pharmaceuticals

CONTACT: Tina Parisi of Cohn & Wolfe, +1-212-798-9748,

tina_parisi@..., for Aventis Pharmaceuticals

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