| (ARA) - More and more people are performing | | | | not practice Yoga. |
| the age-old practice of Yoga. Yoga can | | | | |
| stretch you, it can relax you and now it may | | | | "People with RA may benefit from low-impact |
| help people with arthritis. According to the | | | | exercises like Yoga to help improve overall |
| American Yoga Association (AYA), Yoga may | | | | health and fitness without further damaging |
| help people with arthritis deal with pain and | | | | or hurting the joints," said Dr. Cheryl |
| stiffness, improve range of motion and | | | | Lambing, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor |
| increase strength for daily activities. | | | | at the University of California Los Angeles. |
| | | | "Physical activity may optimize both physical |
| One of the most common forms of arthritis is | | | | and mental health and plays a vital role in |
| rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which affects | | | | disease management." |
| approximately two million Americans, of which | | | | |
| more than 75 percent are women. RA is a | | | | The unique Yoga guide, Remain Active with RA, |
| chronic, autoimmune disease in which the | | | | encompasses traditional Yoga poses including |
| body's immune system attacks healthy tissue | | | | range-of-motion, muscle strengthening, and |
| lining the joints, leading to pain, deformity | | | | endurance exercises - the three major forms |
| and disability that may be permanent. Now | | | | of exercise typically prescribed for people |
| available is a first-of-its kind online Yoga | | | | with RA. Each exercise contains detailed |
| guide specifically for people with RA, | | | | photographs and instructions indicating the |
| developed by the AYA, in collaboration with | | | | proper way to perform each movement, with |
| the Arthritis Foundation and support from | | | | variation of exercises based on disease |
| | | | severity. It is important for people with RA |
| For thousands of years people have used Yoga | | | | to speak to their physician before embarking |
| to build flexibility and strength, improve | | | | on any new exercise program. |
| concentration, relieve stress and increase | | | | |
| energy. Today the benefits of Yoga may | | | | "With my rheumatoid arthritis, I never |
| extend to people with RA. According to a | | | | thought I would be able to do an exercise |
| pilot study published in the British Journal | | | | like Yoga," said Lynn McKenzie-Collins, Ph.D. |
| of Rheumatology, people with RA who | | | | "I am now reassured that there is a Yoga |
| participated in a Yoga program over a | | | | guide tailored for people with my disease |
| three-month period experienced greater | | | | that may help my pain and stiffness. |
| handgrip strength compared to those who did | | | | |