Customer Reviews

Yoga for Arthritis: The Complete Guide

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Get this book if you have arthritis, would like to try some exercise for it, and like yoga. Well, even if you don't like yoga, there are a lot of reasons to try it- such as it's safe and gentle, and you can do it in the privacy of your own home. A few of the things I liked best...

-the book is about yoga for people with "arthritis"-whether you have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or even a form of arthritis known as ankylosing spondylitis. This is what makes this book so good- it works for all the different types.

-the book is written in layman's terms. The book does go into some technical explanations about what arthritis is and explains how the joints work at the beginning of each chapter- but not to worry, its all very understandable

-the book's about an inch thick which is mainly because of its numerous pictures of all the exercises- which is a big plus for visual learners like me

-chapters are arranged by body part, for example the shoulders, the wrist and hand, etc., so no arthritic area is left out. Chapter 5 is an "All-Stars" chapter that contains a generalized program if you don't want to focus on one specific area(s).

All-in-all its just a very well-rounded, complete book that is really well-written and illustrated. If you've got arthritis, I can tell you you're going to feel a lot better when you get those joints working better, and this book can certainly help you do that. Other helpful arthritic books I liked include Treat Your Own Knee Arthritis.

I am 64 and love yoga but i have some chronic conditions, an arthritic knee, flare-ups of trochanteric bursitis, and spinal stenosis. I was trying by trial and error to figure what yoga postures helped and what didn't, but it really helps to have a source book that tells you what you can do and what not to do. This book does that.

I have been waiting for a book like this for a long time, and as soon as it was available turned to it for help. The blessing is that you can quickly turn to an area of the body that you need to deal with, like knees or lumbar spine, and find out what to do, and every time you go back you can deepen your understanding, the book is that rich.

The pictures and explanations are clear. It's really cheap at the price. Many thanks to the authors.

I have bought countless "huge" yoga books that have yielded very little of those special little nuggets that rock my yoga world. This book is so full of amazing little variations on traditional poses and some new poses altogether.

Even if you/your students don't have any health issues, the poses and instructions given in this book bring new life to old, worn-out boring poses (variation breads awareness!).

Not only is this book chock full of useful instructions, health info and safety tips, but the info is presented in the most straightforward, succinct way that you don't have to weed through a whole lot of text that may or may not pertain. No space is wasted.

No, I swear I'm not related to the author! I'm just grateful for a well-thought out, succinct, and incredibly useful book for yoga therapists.

My only negative is the title... this book is so NOT just for arthritis!! It is for all different health issues,... and for no health issues.

Yoga for Arthritis is a fabulous resource for teachers, students, therapists and doctors alike. Everyone can benefit from reading this book! It explains the scientific justification for using yoga to treat joint stiffness and then takes you step by step through yoga practices to increase range of motion.

Long before I understood the degree to which yoga can rehabilitate the body, I was helping people who were unable to dress, bathe or feed themselves independently due to the pain and stiffness in their joints. This has helped me understand the extreme suffering that can be inflicted by arthritis and given me an even greater appreciation for what yoga has to offer.

Loren Fishman and Ellen Saltonstall are longtime students of B.K.S. Iyengar and John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga. In the Author's Note, they explain why they are inspired by both of these great teachers. The appendix describes the alignment principles from Anusara Yoga.

This book will revolutionize yoga therapy for people with arthritis!

--Suza Francina, Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, author, The New Yoga for People Over 50, The New Yoga for Healthy Aging and other books for people at midlife and older.

This book is wonderful. It shows how to relieve pain or stiffness in your hands, your feet, your upper back, lower back, knees, neck .... with easy to understand illustrations. Forget the text (yes that is clear, written in an easy to understand and DO style) but I have to SEE what they are telling me to do. This book is a Must for anyone who has aches and pains -- or for that matter, for anyone who is thinking of getting some :)It's the best book of this type I have ever seen. In fact, I am going to buy one for my daughter just because it is great for people who need to stretch and bend and who think they are too busy.

I purchased this book upon recommendation from a yoga group I post with online, and am finding it to be a good resource - and not necessarily limited to athritis sufferers. The book comprehensively covers almost every area of the musculoskeletal body with plenty of anatomical drawings. It's good to peek inside this body we walk around in before trying to stretch it out!

I recommend it for beginners or anyone dealing with the pain of arthritis most because of the pre-poses and propping options offered throughout the book. I've personally been using the hand/wrist exercises and having good results.

Arthritis and yoga fit well: arthritis restricts movement, yoga increases range of motion. Here science and theory combine into a usable program to offer arthritis sufferers an opportunity to use yoga poses linked to flexibility. From the physiology of arthritis and how yoga makes a difference to exercises for all levels accompanied by black and white photos for step-by-step following, YOGA FOR ARTHRITIS is an indispensable pick for any general-interest or new age health collection.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Knowledgeable and complete. all the info you need to begin reaping the benefits of yoga (pain relief, strength, flexibility, increased range of motion). Good, clear pictures that guide your efforts. Detailed instructions for each pose and adaptation. Breaks down difficult poses into graduated options so you can build into traditional poses over time without hurting yourself or creating more problems. I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter how involved your symptoms. If other forms of exercise or strength training have proved unsuccessful because you get injured and worsen your symptoms, this book is for you. You can do the poses without pain and with progress you can feel and see as your range of motion increases and your control improves.

This book is the clearest explanation of arthritis I have ever read. For a yoga teacher, it offers wonderfully clear ways to adapt poses for students with physical limitations (arthritic or otherwise.)

The explanation of scoliosis was the most helpful I have read, and the 4 exercises I started doing every day have been transformative.

This book is probably most helpful to yoga teachers and experienced students - especially those who understand Anusara or Iyengar principles of alignment.

I was looking for a yoga class for arthritis and getting nowhere fast when I discovered Yoga for Arthritis: The Complete Guide. The physiology of arthritis is explained in layman's terms, with the most common forms of the disease addressed succinctly. A similar approach is given to yoga in its chapter. If you already know or don't care to know this background information, you can go to the chapter featuring the poses that address the joints you want to free up. (The authors are careful to list contraindications to performing each pose.) As my reactive arthritis is most troublesome in my fingers and wrists, I have bookmarked Chapter 12, "The Wrists and Hands". I do some or all of the 11 poses daily, and find them very beneficial. The written instructions are clearly worded and the illustrations are excellent. I highly recommend this book.