“How Practicing Yoga Can Help Relieve Your Arthritis Pain Naturally”
Research shows that yoga can help improve the pain and symptoms that accompany osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. But how does yoga work, and what techniques relieve arthritis pain.
In this article, Steffany Moonaz, PhD, C-IAYT, answers questions about arthritis, pain relief, and finding the best approach.
“Living with chronic pain from arthritis can be incredibly frustrating, stressful, and depressing,” writes Dr. Moonaz. “Fortunately, several aspects of yoga, including the deep breathing mentioned above, can boost mental health. Another approach we use, progressive relaxation, can help calm muscles and our emotional state.”
Yoga therapy uses an individualized approach that treats the whole person, so Moonaz recommends connecting with a yoga therapist with specialized arthritis training. She also encourages people living with arthritis to talk to their doctor, pick appropriate yoga classes, and listen to how they feel in their body.
“No matter what, yoga should not make your joints feel worse,” she explains. “Remember that you are the world’s leading expert of your own body. No matter what the instructor suggests, listen to how you feel and adjust to be comfortable. Yoga may be challenging, but it shouldn’t be harmful.”
Read the full article and learn five poses Moonaz recommends here.
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