Learning Yoga

Traditional yoga consists of gentle movements, held positions, breath awareness techniques and meditation. All can be modified to meet the special needs of people with rheumatoid arthritis and can help you reduce stress in your life. Yoga can help you deal with the question, "How can I begin to like, embrace and live in my body after feeling betrayed by it." In our classes, people often are in physical or emotional pain due to their disease or achy and stiff due to a sedentary lifestyle or dealing with changes in body image. Some are proud of their ability to cope with rheumatoid arthritis and have begun to make positive changes in how they take care of themselves. Some have begun to explore or deepen their spirituality because of their disease. Most people come hoping to reconnect with their bodies.

Classes at Hospital for Special Surgery

Our classes begin in a quiet atmosphere, with soft music and candles, and students reclining on mats. A story or poem is read, or we do a meditation or a guided visualization, using imagination to travel through a fictional experience. Then we begin the movements. It's a gentle experience in which students are encouraged to listen to their bodies and only do what feels right for them. Students work within their individual comfort range and physical limitations. In a special situation, one might do very little movement, even just doing the class mentally. We give people a safe space in which to listen to their bodies. At the end, some talk about what's going on in our lives and how we respond to the class.

Spiritual Benefits

Yoga and meditation are not religions. People with a wide variety of spiritualities do these practices. They can be valuable no matter where you are coming from. For some, meditation can be like prayer; some say that prayer is talking to God, while meditation is listening to God. When doing yoga, some people become in awe of what their bodies can still do and in awe of the higher power that has created life. Others simply feel that meditation is a form of stress reduction and yoga a system of exercise. They get just as much out of class without feeling it is a spiritual experience.

A Simple Yoga Exercise

To experience a little bit of yoga, turn down the lights, put on some gentle music, and sit in a chair. Focus on your immediate physical surroundings, the parts of your body that are in contact with the chair, and the parts touching your clothing. Then bring your attention to the air against your skin. Notice the temperature of your skin. Notice the air as it enters and leaves your body through your nose. Imagine a large clock in front of you. Without moving your head or straining your eyes, look up at the 12 on the clock. Then move to 1, 2, 3, and continue around the clock. When your eyes reach 12, close and relax them.

Then open your eyes, and do the exercise counterclockwise. When your eyes reach 12 again, close them. Let your eyes relax in the warmth of their sockets. Then open your them, reach your arms up - and let them come down and let your chin fall towards your chest. Let your head and shoulders drop down towards your lap. Feel a gentle traction on your spine. Slowly return to your sitting position and close your eyes. Notice any sensations in your body, differences in temperature, tingling feelings, tense or relaxed places, or areas where you feel nothing at all. Think about how you can begin to like, embrace, and live in your body after feeling betrayed by it. Slowly open your eyes.

About the Living with RA Workshop at HSS