Chair yoga: new treatment for arthritis sufferers

There are many different techniques and strategies that can help reduce symptoms associated with arthritis. A new breakthrough approach has been shown effective in what’s known as chair yoga, or a movement based approach that can add more strength to one’s muscles.

One common approach is by grabbing a chair that’s normal for your given height, and you focus your attention on controlling your movement each time you sit down. So instead of simply falling back into a chair quickly without effort, you gradually sit down with intent of building your leg strength. As simple as 10 to 15 repetitions are advised, though more can be done to suit one’s energy and fitness levels.

By gradually improving this movement you’ll use your arms less to sit and instead your legs will provide all the support. There are other movements and exercises available from this low impact movement as well which includes:

Iyengar Yoga: This focus in making sure one is precise and correctly aligned in their posture, as well as having strict control on one’s breathe. The main intention of this yoga is to help ensure the body is properly in order to have a more stable foundation. It’s more of a general approach to chair yoga, and it can include numerous movements.

Each pose is transitioned to gently without sudden bursts of movement. So instead of not paying attention or making sudden drastic movements, the pacing is slowed down to reduce the risk of injury or impact.

For arthritis sufferers this is great as it has the ability to deliver a long steady workout to strengthen the body, while limiting the risk of any complications or symptoms. It can also help relieve stress and tension in the body, which has overall benefits for reducing pain and inflammation.

Cat-Cow Stretch: Both feet are on the floor and hands are placed either on the knees of directly on top of one’s thighs. After each inhale the shoulders should come down while the spine arches. The shoulder blades should be held up against the back.

Chair Pigeon: One leg individually is rested against one’s thighs in a crossed position and there should be a slight strain or pull in the crotch and quadriceps area. For further tension one can pull the leg towards the hips. After a few breathes legs can be alternated slowly.

Forward Bend: First breathing deeply and then collapsing with legs bet forward in front to the left, and both hands resting on the floor immediately in front of you. One exhales at the same time that the body comes right back up. A great stretch should be felt in the back between each steady movement.

Raised Hands Pose: At each inhalation both arms come up as if one is holding a box from the sides as high as possible. The shoulder blades should come down and one should look to reach up as high as possible with one’s finger tips. This stretches out the hands and can prepare ones back for further movements. This can be an easy to perform movement that improves the range of motion.

The Benefits of Chair Yoga

This is considered a very low impact and easy to do movement combining different approaches to stretching as well as overall body and mind focus. Some classes are offered to seniors in order to promote better fluidity and range of motion. This is often done to help those who are in need of rehabilitation, or people who need additional support to keep weight off the joints. This makes it great for those who suffer from conditions such as:

• Multiple sclerosis, carpal tunnel, chronic pain, hypertension, anxiety, vertigo and much more.

Since all it requires a chair it’s also a cost effective approaches to fitness. One can do it in the comfort of one’s home without any needed equipment. Also one can add a towel or mat to help further provide more comfort.

You can do this kind of movement without having to rely so much on balance as regular yoga would. Instead you have the stable support of a chair to hold you in place while you stretch your body. It can also be modified to be made harder, as you’re able to push further to add an extra challenge.In sequence this can become a great way to stretch the entire body and make it more limber to join more strenuous workouts in the future. It can help build a much stronger base so you can develop an overall stronger body. Other benefits of this can include:

• Increased awareness of the body: By pushing the body and making it more limber, it’s easier to see where your limitations are and what parts of the body are more fluid than others. Perhaps there are certain limbs or joints which ache more, or certain parts of the body which are more flexible and mobile.

  This can make one more considerate of doing other movements in their day to day life so you know where there is need for improvement. It can also make one aware of when there is improvement. By adding an increased push each time chair yoga movements are done, it will gradually add more strength and mobility.

• Reduced risk of injuries: Stretching has long been known to help aid recovery as well as prevention of any trauma to the body. By keeping it fluid your body is in a sense activated, so you have the ability to work on more difficult or sudden movements.

  To suddenly have to burst into action can cause excess tension. Therefore by relieving the body of tension beforehand, you prepare yourself for other movements which may be sudden.

• Released stress: Yoga has long been used as a way to help prevent the buildup of tension and to control breathes. Breathe can cause one to remain calm even during duress, as oxygen can provide numerous benefits.

  Also, by adding more oxygen you provide joints with what it needs to prevent stress.

With chair yoga you’re able to add a helpful and easy to do movement with many benefit