[Khan]

Anyone in this group who does yoga to help TOS. I would like to learn, share about yoga for TOS. Yoga helps me overall a lot and keeps me fit but I wonder whether some poses are harmful.

Thanks

Khan

[Peg24]

I tried it once, but it seemed to cause flare ups. Of course, I was not going to a class and learning it properly. I just bought a tape and tried to do it at home. I probably wasn't doing it correctly.

So who knows, it may help the TOS if done right.

Peggy

[Jomar]

I have a set of yoga CDs - but many of the poses have too many arm extended out or up uses -or the leaning over with arms on floor.

arms out or up = stops blood flow in my arms
and leaning over = the head weight pulls on my neck & C & T spine

some of them I can do & should start again

Maybe for us {as beginner/injured persons} we need a geriatric yoga or therapeutic yoga.

[Wittesea]

I have a "yoga for beginners" DVD that I bought to try to help. I have fibromyalgia, connective tissue disease, and a shoulder problem that may or may not be TOS.

I discovered that the actual Yoga was causing flares and pain -- but the pre-Yoga stretches and warm-up exercises do not cause a flare, and they are helpful.

So, I do the warm-up and the stretches, but I avoid the actual yoga.

[annhere]

Hello,

I'm trying a YOGA HOT CLASS this week I'll you know how it goes...they say just the simple strecthing alone it great for our bodies.....and at least it will be warm in there...

[Nolina]

Hi Khan. My experience mirrors Wittsea's exactly - the stretching and warmup, and even some of the stretching-oriented beginning poses are very helpful (and calming) to me but the majority of the actual yoga poses I have to severely modify or skip entirely, as they flare me up. My Pain Mgmt PT from a long time ago actually is the one who got me into Yoga, showed me correct form, and helped me modify some of the poses to work around my arm problems. Any thing with weight-bearing on the arms, wrists, or neck of course is a no-brainer for me to skip. Holding arms out for extended periods is another one that flares so i just don't hold them up that long- but a little bit sometimes gives a good stretch. I'm also working on a Pilates tape - silimlar issues. TOSers just have to be VERY Careful and start VERY slowly & ease into things. Sounds like you are already well into it though - good for you, Khan! Please do be careful, though. I don't remember who it is but there is at least one gal on the board who did get injured while practicing yoga.

Thanks for starting this thread - please keep us posted!

-Nolina

[johannakat]

Yoga and I do not get along anymore as I was in a Vinyasa Flow yoga class when I injured myself (handstands and crow pose, some obvious no no's now)

My neurologist suggested Tai Chi as a very good alternative because it incorporates a lot of the mind clearing and medatative aspects, and is very gentle on the arms, but good for the legs. I am still looking for a class that will fit my schedule, an hoping it will be easier in January.

I have done many kinds of yoga including Bikram (done in a 110 degree room) A note on that kind of hot class- definitely bring your own mat and wash it afterwards!! One of the last bikram classes I took was on a day when the studio's heater was broken. The stench of the room (it was carpeted) was enough to turn me off forever. The warmth really helps harbor the bacteria.

Anyhow, I have (and still do) mourned the loss of my yoga classes..but I can't possibly do it anymore.

[Khan]

Thanks guys for the reply

I have been doing yoga 2-4 times a week for the last 8 months. I went to see Yamuna Zake (look her up on Internet) in New York who works with people with chronic pain and she endorses body rolling for TOS also. She told me to be careful with down-dogs in yoga. Somebody mentioned up-dogs and as you said anything with strain on neck as risky poses as well.
I have not found a direct link in yoga and flare ups yet (although somedays after yoga I have a few bad days but on other days, yoga improves my pain for a few days). So maybe I need to be watchful and make note which poses led to flare ups the next day.
If you follow the concept of Myofascial Release, it tells us that chronic pain in any part of the body leads to distortion or contortions of the whole connective tissue that envelops our body and that leads to misalignment of the body which puts further strain on the area that is causing pain. Because connective (or myofascia) is pulling it in one direction or the other. PLUS, we tend not to exercise our body because we are in pain or fear of pain or just depressed which further tightens the connective tissue and a vicious cycle ensues. That is where in my opinion yoga becomes very important. Strengthing and stretching back muscles, hamstrings (b/c inflexible hamstrings and low and upper back pain are directly linked) and shoulder opening exercises in yoga are very helpful for TOS. I do agree that down dogs or ups dogs or neck straining exercises should be avoided).
I strongly recommend going to a class as that really increases motivation and improves our desire to help our bodies. DVDs are ok but no substitute for a class.
Hoping everyone's quality of life improves.

Khan

[Jomar]

That's good info Khan,
Have you read the Sharon Butler book or looked at her website?
She is a Hellerworker and very much into the myofascial releasing for RSI/TOS & body /pain from those.
she explains the myofascial causes/uses pain relationship very nicely, I think.
www.selfcare4ris.com

[johannakat]

http://www.rxyoga.com/video.html

this thread got me thinking about this website which I ran accross some time ago and forgot about. Maybe someone would find these dvd's useful.

I agree, class is always better if you can go- can't get distracted by dishes, laundry, mail, kids, etc if you are at a yoga studio. Just walking in th epractice room at mine was enough to make most of a days tension disappear. I have not been able to find a class here, though, even with 10 different yoga studios in a 5 mile radius, that I have been able to do.

Johanna