Yoga

[Guest guest]

I began Yoga after my RA diagnosis when there was little I could do.

Instead of traditional yoga I did DAHN yoga which is an Eastern style.

Unlike some yoga where you try to stretch into intricate poses this

yoga involves opening meridian channels and gentle stretching. For me,

it made a tremendous difference. There are these exercises you do at

the end of class where you concentrate on bringing energy into your

hands. During my first class at the end of the exercise my left hand

was completly open and released for the first time in ages. I really

couldn't believe it. I haven't been going for a while as I have felt

really bad and I miss it. I think that going may make my body feel

better but so far I haven't mustered the energy to make it. Ask your

doctor what he thinks...mine thought it was a great idea. Good luck!

[Guest guest]

,

I don't know where you live, but I would offer this ... keep checking with

other yoga studios. I went to a bunch before I settled on a style called

Bikrim, which is in a very hot room. Each studio that I went to offered to

modify any pose for me so that I could

participate. No one ever suggested that I not come to a group class

because I had a disability, in fact they encouraged me. I hope you

are able to find a studio that practices the acceptance of yoga as

well as the practice.

Yoga combined with my homeopath has made me stronger than I thought I could

get. Don't get me wrong ... I'm not balancing on one leg ... but I am much

better on two.

Good luck to you!

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Years ago, I tried yoga, but just didn't have the balance. It was a class. I

guess with a private trainer, you can hold onto something to keep your balance?

Does your trainer modify yoga positions so they're easier for you to do?

Thanks!

JoAnn N.

Newfoundland, Canada

(originally from NJ)

[Guest guest]

I have to jump in here.

I found a studio that has a ballet bar on one of the walls for people

with balance issues or injuries. I hold on every time they stand on

one leg, and sometimes on two legs! The style I practice is Bikram.

I've been practicing passionately for almost two years now and I can't begin to

tell you all the benefits I've received ... add to that the Vitamin C,

Citicoline, and another supplement drink ... I've gained over a half an inch of

muscle in each calf this summer and have no more burning pain.

I still struggle, but I'm hopeful and I would highly suggest yoga for anyone and

everyone!

Nashville

[Guest guest]

JoAnn,

Yes, she does. She modifies the program to exclude standing poses for

the most part, as my ankles will not accommodate some of these. For

other standing poses we use a doorway as support.

But many of these standing poses can be done with one's back on the floor.

But standing exercises where I am not limited by my ankles are fine.

I will be using one of my special shoes to start doing the standing

poses while standing. But this means I have to devote one pair of very

expensive shoes exclusively to exercise, in order to keep from

bringing street dirt into her home.

But the progress seems obvious to everyone, and I am getting

compliments from all directions.

[Guest guest]

I can't resist joining in and yes please exercise care when printing or distributing.

I won't mention names but my primary physician laughed when he heard about my symptoms and made fun of me when I said I could barely function at work, then snidely suggested that I take anti-depressants. He is at Kaiser, Walnut Creek.

I then switched primary care doctors at Walnut Creek only to find one who reviewed the first doctor's recommendation and suggested that I continue the regime (which I never started). When I showed him my rashes, he took 3 seconds to review and suggested that I avoid poison oak in the future.

After taking 2 years to get a referral to a GI specialist at Walnut Creek I saw someone who was nice but utterly uninformed about CD and other diseases. He recommended that I take a string of very powerful GERD medications which made me very sick. I was blood tested for CD at that time at my suggestion. It was negative (I now know this is common).

His final recommendation after months of trial and error? Take a yoga class!

Kathleen Kathleen Van Velsor

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

It was nice to read your mail. I have a milder version of the disease and about

70% active as a normal man. The things I am unable to do is jogging, climbing

down stairs quickly without holding onto the rails, squatting flat footed etc. I

follow a strict regimen with an early morning swim and then doing hatha yoga. It

is your mention of hatha yoga which triggered my email response.

I wanted to understand the asanas that you do specifically for your problem. The

asanas that I do are Surya namaskar, 4 standing asanas (Trikonasana,

Padhahasthasana, Konasana, Vrikshana), sleeping asanas (including Sarvangasana-

inverted body) and sitting asanas. I find it invigorating but didn't find it as

specifically effective as to increase muscle strength in relevant areas like

you.

I was interested in understanding the particular asanas which helped your

specific strengthening.

Regards,

Raj

[Guest guest]

I'm jumping in with the yoga ... I've been doing Bikrim yoga for a

couple of years now (with some Hot Power...more of a Vinyasa Flow but

in a hotter room). Basically, I try to do 3 days of each a week.

I've gained so much strength and balance that my neurologist at the

MDA literally dropped her jaw. She said she might need to be

prescribing yoga for CMTer's.

I do all the asanas, but I hold the ballet bar that they have in the

studio...no way can I stand on one leg, but my eagle has gotten very

close to it! I don't take a wide stance for Trikonasana as I avoid

rolling my ankles out. I've amazed myself at how I've improved over

time. I find down dog, and any asana that comes from there, to be

especially helpful in keeping my achilles tendons from getting tight.

Any of the asanas that require one leg, I either hold the bar and am

able to do them, or I focus my strength into the leg that is supposed

to be on the ground and try to keep all the weight off the other leg,

just using it to help with balance. It would be difficult to list all

the asanas that I think have helped with the strength because I

believe they all have. The ones you listed are some of my favorites

too.

I also take vitamin C in the form of Ascorbyl Palmitate, Myelin Sheath

Support, Citicoline, and MSM.

Best of luck to you with your practice!

[Guest guest]

Raj,

I have to say, I don't know the names of the asanas as such, for I

hear them spoken, but I am much more focused on doing the exercises.

I know that most positions are modified based upon my trainer's

ability to do so.

She says she is learning as much or more from me as I am learning from

her.

She is away for 2 weeks, but I'll see if I can compile a list for you.

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Thanks for that.

Raj

[Guest guest]

,

Do you have the classic CMT foot? I just ask b/c I took a class on the

Technique several years ago and discovered that with my hammer toes

and inflexible foot, I could not do any of the exercises that required 'tiptoe'

work or getting up from the floor without shoes. In fact, I rarely go barefoot

b/c I need the support. Are Yoga teachers generally open to modifications to

the program like this? I ask b/c I've been thinking about yoga for some time

now, but the barefoot thing, as well as the lack of balance thing, and the money

thing, have kept me from researching into it.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

,

I would speak with the instructor up front and explain your limitations. I have

never had an instructor not be flexible about what people can and cannot do.

They should just expect you to do your best and modify as necessary.

Lori

[Guest guest]

,

I really don't post ... but I have to say that I've had similar results. I

practice mostly the Bikram series, but incorporate some other things as well.

In the past 3 years the MDA doctors have been amazed every time I come in for

the annual check. It has been such a huge benefit to my life that I became a

certified yoga teacher. I don't really teach much, but the knowledge I gained

is invaluable. I'm sure I'll teach more years from now, as yoga has really

changed my life.

Namaste,

> >

[Guest guest]

I just started Yoga so not sure about the long term effects but can tell you

that I do feel better after I have my morning session, especially my hands

and feet which seem to be the worst places affected on me.

I have the Peggy Cappy DVD - Easy Yoga for Arthritis.

http://peggycappy.com/ I really like it. I've never done Yoga before and

Peggy Cappy makes it easy to go at your own pace and work the area's you

want.

PJ

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of CAROLT

Subject: [ ] Yoga

Has anyone tried Yoga. If so any thoughts on the best. I have done research

so I am thinking the restorative. Anybody have a great Yoga CD they can

recommend. My doc thinks it will help me. I think more mentally than

physically although we are hoping for both.

You are all the best

Carol

,_._,___

[Guest guest]

,

There is an entire series of DVDs which Jill has made and I think are available

at yogatuneup.com.

Personally I see Jill 2x week on a private basis, and I, for example from

1/14-1/17 was taking a second round of the Core Immersion, which I think would

be good for everyone with CMT, as control of the diaphragm is important for

everything from breathing to relaxing to support of the spine and ribs.

These immersions are taught throughout Socal during the year and also around the

country on a limited basis. But Jill is not the only yoga tuneup trained teacher

available in SoCal.

She is the developer of the program.

Equinox has lots of yoga tuneup classes daily in Santa , Westwood, and

Woodland Hills at least.

I hope that helps.