Numbness and pain as you describe can be associated with a disk
condition. Have you had the numbness and pain evaluated? Are you are
seeing the physical therapist for the Rheumatoid Arthritis or for
another condition? What type of yoga program were you practicing?

My training has been focused on the principle that yoga is tailored to
the individual. It would be best for you to work one on one with a
qualified yoga therapist or instructor who can assist you to develop
the awareness you need to practice yoga without inflaming the
rheumatoid arthritis. You may also consider finding a gentle or
therapeutic yoga class in your area. Poses need to be modified to
your body's capacity to practice without discomfort. Especially key
are practicing with an acceptance of the limits of pain free range of
motion, which may change from day to day, and which may prevent you
from practicing the poses in the same way that others in a general
yoga class are practicing. I would not recommend beginning yoga
training from a video tape, especially when you have a condition
which requires individualized attention.

I have worked with a student in her late 40's who sufferred from this
condition. The main practice which I recommended that she do daily
was Mukunda's Joint Freeing Series (see his book Structural Yoga
Therapy)- doing the practice WITHOUT experiencing PAIN OF ANY KIND!
It was difficult for her not to push into areas of pain, yet that is
a key point, as pain will irritate the condition. Pain free range of
motion done with a relaxation breath, awareness and acceptance will
soothe.

I would recommend that you do a search of this web site looking under
"arthritis" - and if you still have questions, please post again to
me or to Mukunda. He may be able to recommend a Structural Yoga
Therapist he has trained who is in your area of the country.

Report this post to a moderator

[  Post Follow-up to this message ]

Hello, my name is Heather.  I'm a long time lurker, first time posting
to this group.  I have to agree with everything Mango said.

I have MS, which is also an autoimmune dysfunction.  For physical yoga
I attend Iyengar class with the same instructor who has known me for
four years and knows my condition.  I chose an instructor who has
worked with PWMS (people with multiple sclerosis).   Accomodataions
have been made for my limits, I tell him when there are changes, etc.
He's come up with interesting ways of 'putting things' to help with my
physical practice.

My mother has RA, and also does Iyengar yoga.  She has periods where
she must skip the physical practice as well.  She goes to class, and no
longer uses the tapes she bought many years ago.

Do you practice other aspects of yoga meditation, or studying?  I find
meditation, studying, or pranayama will move to the center of my
practice when I'm not capable of doing the physical practice.  I find
these other aspects benificial physically and emotionally.  If you
haven't persued these paths yet, perhaps now is a good time while you
heal?

I hope this helps in your decision.
Regards,
Heather in Oregon




CorpJJ wrote:
> Numbness and pain as you describe can be associated with a disk
> condition. Have you had the numbness and pain evaluated? Are you are
> seeing the physical therapist for the Rheumatoid Arthritis or for
> another condition? What type of yoga program were you practicing?
>
> My training has been focused on the principle that yoga is tailored to
> the individual. It would be best for you to work one on one with a
> qualified yoga therapist or instructor who can assist you to develop
> the awareness you need to practice yoga without inflaming the
> rheumatoid arthritis.

<snip>
Rest of post snipped for brevity.

Report this post to a moderator

[  Post Follow-up to this message ]

On 2005-07-19 13:55:59 -0700, "Gromit" <gromit@glabrous.net> said:

>
> Hello, my name is Heather.  I'm a long time lurker, first time posting
> to this group.  I have to agree with everything Mango said.
>
> I have MS, which is also an autoimmune dysfunction.  For physical yoga
> I attend Iyengar class with the same instructor who has known me for
> four years and knows my condition.  I chose an instructor who has
> worked with PWMS (people with multiple sclerosis).   Accomodataions
> have been made for my limits, I tell him when there are changes, etc.
> He's come up with interesting ways of 'putting things' to help with my
> physical practice.
>
> My mother has RA, and also does Iyengar yoga.  She has periods where
> she must skip the physical practice as well.  She goes to class, and no
> longer uses the tapes she bought many years ago.
>
> Do you practice other aspects of yoga meditation, or studying?  I find
> meditation, studying, or pranayama will move to the center of my
> practice when I'm not capable of doing the physical practice.  I find
> these other aspects benificial physically and emotionally.  If you
> haven't persued these paths yet, perhaps now is a good time while you
> heal?
>
> I hope this helps in your decision.
> Regards,
> Heather in Oregon

Hi Heather,

I am very glad to hear you have confronted you condition and are taking
proactive steps.  Yoga is all about bringing light and life to the
daily grind.

I fear there is no person named CorpJJ@hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid
(CorpJJ) though.  Although I could not find the original post many of
these type posts seem to be forgeries.

Do you Sam Dworkis?  He is an Iyengar certified teacher with MS.  His
web site is http://www.extensionyoga.com/.  I have found it very
illuminating and inspiring.

I hope you will contribute more to this group.  We can always use
people like you with practical knowledge about yoga.
--
~Stu

Report this post to a moderator

[  Post Follow-up to this message ]

Hi Stu,
Just a hint for you to get the correct email address above.
Change the @hotmail-dot-com.no-span to @hotmail.com

This is a general trick to fool span bots which collect email ids from
the mailing lists.

My 2c.
-Sas

Report this post to a moderator

[  Post Follow-up to this message ]

On 2005-07-21 10:58:02 -0700, sasone@gmail.com said:

> Hi Stu,
> Just a hint for you to get the correct email address above.
> Change the @hotmail-dot-com.no-span to @hotmail.com
>
> This is a general trick to fool span bots which collect email ids from
> the mailing lists.
>
> My 2c.
> -Sas

Thanks.  But how do explain how all these posts have the same form for
their email addresses? For example:
JesseMosier@hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (JesseMosier)
JacobMori@hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (JacobMori)
RhondaGivens@hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (RhondaGivens)
AudreyDeen@hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (AudreyDeen)

Isn't it strange that they should all use exactly the same format to
block spam?

Furthermore I have found some of their messages on boards going back to
2003 with different names.   (See the thread "Troll Invasion alert" for
more details.)

--
~Stu

Report this post to a moderator

[  Post Follow-up to this message ]

Stu wrote:

> On 2005-07-21 10:58:02 -0700, sasone@gmail.com said:
> 
>
> Thanks.  But how do explain how all these posts have the same form for
> their email addresses? For example:
> JesseMosier@hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (JesseMosier)
> JacobMori@hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (JacobMori)
> RhondaGivens@hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (RhondaGivens)
> AudreyDeen@hotmail-dot-com.no-spam.invalid (AudreyDeen)
>
> Isn't it strange that they should all use exactly the same format to
> block spam?

Apparently, this conversion is done by the Web/Usenet gateway program
(seemingly something called newsSync) automatically, to protect the
posters from spam.

>
> Furthermore I have found some of their messages on boards going back to
> 2003 with different names.   (See the thread "Troll Invasion alert" for
> more details.)

Some web forum admin (or perhaps several admins) seems to have got it
into his head that seemless integration between his bulletin board and
Usenet is a good thing. He'll get free content for his site, and maybe
make it look more lively than it really is.

S.

Report this post to a moderator

[  Post Follow-up to this message ]

On 2005-07-22 10:08:49 -0700, "Gromit" <gromit@glabrous.net> said:

>
> Thanks for the great link!  I've seen the book on Recovery Yoga before,
> but never picked it up.  I'm definitely going to spend more time with
> the site, and check out the book when I get a chance (probably today).
> I'm still studying Iyengar's "Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" at
> the moment.
>
> Thanks again,
> Heather in Oregon

A good read.  Apparently the old man has another "Light on.." book
coming out.  He is coming to the US in September to promote it.  He
will be teaching in Colorado.  A contingent from my regular yoga class
is making the pilgrimage to see him.  I understand he will also be
giving a talk at UCLA.  I hope to see him there.
--
~Stu

Report this post to a moderator

[  Post Follow-up to this message ]