A new PBS special, "The Practical Power of Yoga," will air nationwide beginning this Saturday, November 29. Check your local PBS station to see when "The Practical Power of Yoga" will air in your neighborhood.

Personally, I find my yoga practice has helped tremendously with pain mitigation (arthritic neck and sciatica), sleeplessness, digestion and body awareness. And only beneficial side-effects! If you've been at all curious as to what it's all about, spend a few minutes watching the special.

Namaste,
A.

sounds pretty cool...gonna dvr it! thanks for the info! =)

I am thinking about doing yoga because I have rhemutoid arthiris and I was wondering your opinion. Do you think it could help my joints be more flexible? I am new to the Jenny Craig program and I also am a member at my local gym. I do cardio(walking, skiing machine, also swimming strength) but its so cold lately, that I like to find another way to strengthen joints.

You should talk first to your rheumatologist and see if yoga is a good fit for you, and to find out if there are any restrictions on certain movements. At the very least, get his or her clearance to begin a class.

Do they offer a yoga class at your gym? It's really important to have a pro teach you the proper way to move and align. If you have restricted movements because of the arthritis, a professional will be able to show you how to modify the pose to get the benefit without hurting yourself. It's impossible to get that level of personalization from a tape or tv show.

Let me know what you doctor has to say, and I hope that you can work this into your fitness routines. It sounds as if you have a great base to work from!

Here's an interesting article from Yoga Journal about Synovial Fluid .

Here's another Yoga Journal news blurb; I found the comments especially relevant: Rheumatoid arthritis relief. It would be great if you could find someone like the doctors in the study to modify the asana (poses) for you!! The comments support you having your doctor's okay, and working with a professional yoga instructor.

Best wishes as you search for the best activities!

Aviva,
Thanks for the information on the Yoga show on PBS...I have been trying to do the yoga poses on my Wii and i am having a hard time...I have been curious about yoga for a couple of years,but i have 2 left feet and very clumbsy...since i have been doing the Wii fit , my balance has improved-Thank God!!!!!! I am definitely going to watch that show.... thanks again for the information, i really appreciate it!!!! i hope you are doing well, have a great holiday season. take care,Christine

Hi, Christine! Glad that you are having fun with the Wii Fit... I'm not familiar with that program, so I can only offer some generic suggestions that I have learned, usually the hard way!

You did say your balance was improving, which is wonderful; here are two tips I've learned that may help you take your success further. One, keep everything soft -- your muscles, your thoughts, your eyes, your breathing. Scan your body. If anything feels "hard" or resistant, soften it. You should feel grounded through your feet, but soft everywhere else. Two, take your attention, your mind, down into your heart, then down into your belly. That's your center, and if you can use your imagination to move your mind there, it really helps to maintain balance.

If you need modifications for the asana (poses) that the Wii wants you to do, please go to Yoga Journal, and look for the name of the asana. Here's the link to their "Pose" page: Pose Index They show you pictures, step by step instructions, and suggestions for beginners. I go there every time I'm learning something new and find it to be a wonderful resource.

BTW, click on the other tabs on the Pose page, especially the "contraindications" to see what poses you should skip if you have any physical limitations. Click "Browse Categories", then check out "Restorative" to see what you can do to refresh yourself after all the hard work you've been doing.

I'll reiterate what I said before to ezts2000, that professional instruction is the best way to learn. Over time, you'll find that your two left feet will become very confident "one left/one right", and you will move with more grace and ease.

Have fun and enjoy the process!