I discovered yoga 17 years ago at the end of a strange journey that began with an attempt to extend my breathing and lessen the hurt in my joints as a result of slouching over my desktop.
At the time, I suffered from a slipped disc ─ a condition where a soft cushion of tissue between the bones in your spine pushes out and presses a nerve ─ from doing too many limbo moves.
I suffered excruciating pain along my spine, and at times, my legs would hurt as well.
Similar to other ‘busy’ individuals, I ignored the pain and resorted to painkillers; I knew it wasn’t the best option, but I had to do something about it.
The pain worsened over the years and I was quite fortunate to have found relief ─ through yoga.
Last week, I received a Direct Message from Kak Bedah (not her real name) ─ a tough cookie of a rally driver ─ informing me that she had developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and damage throughout your body.
As her movements were limited due to the sharp pains she felt, she sought my help to immediately arrange an online class for her.
I must admit, it was not easy to teach an injured person yoga in a virtual setting, and ─ with additional connectivity problems ─ I was worried she wasn’t getting my instructions as well as she should.
Fortunately, everything went well, and she felt immediate relief right after our one-hour session.
Considered the most active flow of yoga, I chose a Vinyasa class specifically for her as Vinyasayoga (as well as Ashtanga) is good for building and maintaining muscle. By strengthening and activating her muscles, Kak Bedah’s joints won’t be hurting as much.
Anyway, I’ll be seeing her virtually again this week, so yay!
The practise of yoga can reduce pain, improve joint flexibility and mobility as well as lower stress levels for people with varying types of joint problems.
Apart from stretching your muscles and promoting great sleep, I would strongly suggest Vinyasa yoga as a way to reduce tension in your joints.
This week, I would like to flow with you in a simple Vinyasa so let’s do this, even if you don’t have joint pains. ─ The Vibes, 3 February, 2021
