Many people turn to yoga as a way to exercise gently, as well as to reduce tension and improve joint flexibility. Individuals with limited range of motion or poor flexibility, due to arthritis or otherwise, may benefit the most from yoga practice, as it can increase flexibility, strength, and balance. Even if you are unable to kneel or have difficulty getting up and down, modifications are available. Yoga builds muscle strength and improves balance which in-turn eases some of the symptoms of arthritis. It is important that your yoga instructor is aware of your condition and will modify the postures to suit your needs.
Most importantly, yoga offers people with arthritis a form of exercise that is enjoyable enough to do regularly and can be done to each individual’s ability level.
Yoga provides a safe environment for arthritis sufferers to exercise to help manage their symptoms. It’s not the only thing you do, but it is a component of an overall healthy regime that may also include cardiovascular exercises like walking, swimming or a low-fat diet. Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind, bringing a lot of health benefits, yet is not a substitute for medicine and is not the complete solution for arthritic patients.