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It shouldn’t come as a surprise that increasing numbers of middle aged people are turning to Yoga as a fun alternative to help relieve their aching joints. In fact, did you now that Yoga has been proven in several studies as an effective way to treat many of the symptoms of Arthritis, providing pain relief, reduced stiffness and better function, as well as relief from psychological issues like anxiety. And while the benefits can be seen at home, Yoga is best practiced in a positive setting with a professional instructor in a studio such as Verona Yoga to maximize progress and minimize injury risk.
More than 50 million people live with joint pain in the United States, and from the ages of 40-50 it is relatively common to see the onset of arthritis as the body’s joints begin to wear. Arthritis is not a single condition, but is the general name given to a wide ranging set of symptoms concerning joint pain and joint disease and there are over 100 different forms. Fortunately there are also many different ways to treat joint pain and stiffness, and Yoga may just rank up there with the best of them. Many of those who live with Arthritis have generally low levels of activity. Despite the misconception that rest is the best thing for aching joints, research into using Yoga for the treatment of arthritis suggests quite the opposite. A study into the effects of a specialized 8 week Yoga program saw improvements in several physical and psychological measures compared to controls. Yoga has also gained great popularity among physiotherapists for its holistic approach in treating joint pain, particularly in individuals aged 50 and over.
Yoga is a gentle, low-impact alternative to many other forms of exercise, allowing you to build strength, balance and flexibility simultaneously. By strengthening and lengthening your muscles through Yoga, excess strain is taken off of the joints. Furthermore, engaging in regular practice even on days when pain flares up will help to maintain and even improve flexibility over time. Perhaps the most interesting benefits of Yoga for those with joint pain are not the physical, but the psychological. The meditative aspect of Yoga is notable for its role in reducing feelings of anxiety and promoting relaxation, but may have further applications in pain management. Engaging in six weeks of Yoga has been shown to alter the perception of pain, allowing individuals to cope better in tasks during daily life previously considered too uncomfortable.
Yoga is an excellent choice for managing ageing joints. It allows you to not only improve upon the physical factors contributing to Arthritis and your overall fitness, but also relieve yourself from stress and lead a richer life. We hope to see you soon at Verona Yoga to start on the road to better health!