Yoga/Flexibility exercies for Arthritis

bbateman123

Greetings everyone,

I am searching for a yoga/flexibility exercise that I can do a couple times a week to help relieve some of the stiffness and pain that my arthritis is causing. I have a form of arthritis called Ankylosing Spondylitis, AS for short. In short it basically causes the vertebrae in my spine to fuse together over time. My chiropractor recommended doing some form of stretching and flexibility exercises daily or as often as possible.

I have tried a few of the youtube beginner yoga and such, but without any basis of how to properly do the moves or anything I am kinda stuck. Looking for people with Yoga experience, even arthritis experience for some wisdom.

Thanks,

yoginimary

I'm no expert, but I know where the experts are.

I know you don't have scoliosis, but the symptoms sound similar, so here is where I would go for poses:

book:
http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Scoliosis-Journey-Health-Healing/dp/1936303027/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354889360&sr=8-2&keywords=yoga+for+scoliosis

dvd:
http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Scoliosis-Elise-Browning-Miller/dp/B000AB0Z4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354889360&sr=8-1&keywords=yoga+for+scoliosis

basic poses (it's usually easy to find a used copy of this book):
http://www.amazon.com/B-K-S-Iyengar-Yoga-Holistic-Health/dp/1405322357/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354889809&sr=8-1&keywords=bks+iyengar+yoga+the+path+to+holistic+health

I'm sure your doctor or chiropractor could recommend some basic exercises as well.

My only immediate thought is if you are experiencing kyphosis, to bend the other way as much as possible. Lie over a rolled towel (make sure your head is supported). The towel can either run the length of your spine or be placed anywhere along the spine perpendicular to it.

Hope that helps