How many of you with ms do yoga ?

[hollowriver]

Hi ever sense I was put on rebif I have seen a drastic recovery stage
I took up yoga for beginners
my balance has become much better but of course not fantastic.

How many of you with ms do yoga to help your balance and stregthen muciles that have become weak?

do you know any good sites or videos?

[Erin0313]

Lu,

  I just signed up and ordered a copy too. It will be interesting to see the difference between this DVD and my "library" full of yoga for "normal" people.

Thanks for the website - I think that we should all order one!

Hugs,
Erin :)

[Lulu54]

I just tried this again and registered as a health care professional - it allowed me to skip all sorts of information and took me back to the home page where I could order the DVD.  

this is a free dvd, so you have nothing to lose by ordering one.

-Lu

[Lulu54]

I had trouble with their order form - did anyone else try this?  let me know, please.

[Lulu54]

Biogen offers a DVD of yoga specifically for MS patients....

http://www.mymsyoga.com/yoga/en_US/msyoga/home/get-my-ms-yoga-dvd/index.xml

I'm ordering a copy tonight ....
Lu

[hollowriver]

thank you so much
It was a surprise to see this many replies
I just haven't done the ms help group thing yet
so thank you
I just want to add that yes I am only doing beginners and a few posses that were hard at first but I can do now.
The butterfly is so relaxing.
crow pose is fun and makes the head stand easier.

well once again thank you

[Erin0313]

Hi! Good for you that you are staying active.

I used to do advanced yoga almost every day. Then somewhere along the way I found that I couldn't do most of the poses or if I could get in to it I would lose my balance or start shaking really bad.

At the time I was pretty depressed with everything that MS had taken from my life so I quit. This New Year I bought a Wii for fun excercise and from there I found myself getting back in to the yoga. I now only do as much as I want and for as long as I want and even the neuro said that my gait had improved in 4 months and my lower strength is a bit better.

If you are a social person you could join a club but I find that I don't like being watched or trying to keep up so I like doing it at home alone with the dogs the only ones watching.

I have several VHS tapes that I could send you if I knew where or you can probably pick up old copies at your library or new copies cheap at the Walmart or Target.

Good For You - Keep It Up!!!
Hugs,
Erin :)

[HVAC]

I had one yoga instructor who was great. Let me only do what I could. She left and the one who replaced her ended up hurting my shoulder by grabbing it and pulling when I told her it hurt. I had to get medical attention. Just check any instructor because one size does not fit all. I do the exercise at home now.

Our local MS Society has fitness scholarships and a lending library of yoga books and DVDs they will mail you and you mail back.

Alex

[Wobbly]

Hi there.. the Neuro I see recommended I start Yoga.. but to check into yoga for people with MS as it is abit different then just Yoga...

I started it a few months ago and love it, I never did it before.  

take care
wobbly

[Karen99]

Glad to hear you are having improvement with Rebif and taking up Yoga.

When I was diagnosed 9 years ago, I was wound so tight that a friend suggested yoga.  It helped me a great deal then and now.  I use very gentle stretches and a lot of relaxation techniques.  

Enjoy.

((have belly danced for 25 years too.  The simple moves keep the body supple))

[tonyad]

   Hi there and good for you in being pro-Acive in your health.
I would like to add though that although yoga (strectching) is AWESOME for people w/ MS if not done at a level where it fits for them...It could actually do the oposite and cause insult to injury..

    There are many, many Yoga classes out there and the majority of them are aimed at folks who are healthy,(by that I mean not being "bound up" like some of us MS'ers get) enough for their bodies to adjust.
  
    So finding a class that is either specific for people w/ MS, like Kathy takes, or very gentle (extreme beginers) like you are in now, is key.

    So stretch away my friend as it is good for your mind and body. I thought I was going to take a class once maybe twice a week but it was far from beginners!  I am hoping to find something in the extreme gentle Yoga mix....Lol
Take Care,
~Tonya
  

[Guitar_grrrl]

Hi, and a belated welcome!

I've been practicing Yoga since I was 12 (that was 1970!!).  Before MS, I found it complimented all my favorite sports: I was an avid surfer and road cyclist.  I still ride my bike.  I find it easier to bike than walk.  I sold my surfboard this week.  I've backed down a level (level II-III to II) in Yoga, but it's my path.  It's as essential as breathing to me.

It has indeed helped me with spasticity.  My balance poses are mostly done near a wall any more, but the important thing is I'M DOING THEM!  Some days are better than others.  I'm always so happy to leave the rest of my life on hold while I focus on my practice.  I'm stretchier, stronger, and WAY happier.  My husband practices with me, and sometimes our daughter joins us as well (she's a 27 year old belly dancer).

Good luck with your path in Yoga.  Check out Eric Small's books.  They inspire me, and I adjust my practice accordingly.

Namaste,
Guitar_grrrl
RRMS on Tysabri

[Fluffysmom]

Hi.  I've started doing Gentle Yoga for People with MS.  It's only once a week, and I haven't practiced much at home, though I know it should.  I do feel a lot better after my class.  My outlook on life is better, I'm more limber, and my balance has improved a little (except when my dizziness flared up).  My legs are definitely getting stronger, and I remember to improve my posture and body alignment.

I use Avonex, and the company that makes it (Biogen Idec) gives out a free DVD, MyMS Yoga with Baron Baptieste and Dr. Elliot Frohman.  I got a copy, but haven't had a chance to check it out yet.  I'm not sure if you have to be using one of their medications to get a copy or not, but you can check it out; www.MyMSYoga.com.

Good luck on finding more information about videos and/or websites; I'd like to see more, too.

Kathy