Is Hot Yoga for You and Your RA?
Last September, I woke up one day and sat in the terrifying sense of feeling wildly out of control. It was a feeling quite unlike any emotional state I had ever felt. Stress, overwhelm, fatigue, pain, and grief all bundled into one swell of dread.
I recognized the traumatic year I had losing my mother while I was actively in the thick of motherhood to be the catalyst for these feelings. It made sense to me in a way I couldn't explain with words but understood by feeling alone.
My body was telling me to move
In the same way, I knew what I needed to do to feel better as well. I felt a deep need to move my body. I knew that exercise would help funnel all the negative feelings into an outlet, any outlet.
Have I ever been the exercise girlie you are picturing right now? The one that gets up at 6 AM and meets the early crowd at the gym? You would be surprised to find out: No, that is not me, but that is exactly what I turned into an effort to help myself. (Side note: I am a proponent of all mental health treatment — therapy, medications, meditation, etc. I believe they all serve a role in positive mental health. I just know my body was telling me to move, so I tried that avenue first.)
Within weeks, I was on the path to recovery
One of the activities I decided to join was a hot yoga class at 6:30 AM, twice a week.
Now, as a mom to 2 young and energetic boys, this is a sacrifice. Shaving any time off my sleep schedule is a gamble, but again, I knew I needed to move, and this was the only time I had available when the house was still quiet with sleep to sneak out and focus on me.
Within weeks, I knew I was on the path to recovery. I felt calmer and more able to cope after my classes. My nervous system sizzled less with misdirected energy, and I was able to handle stressful situations without getting overstimulated. Additionally, I felt a safe space internally to process my grief, and what followed was overwhelming relief. Going to yoga was the helpful choice for me. Thank you, dopamine!
Enjoying the benefits of regular yoga practice
What surprised me more than the mental benefits were the physical benefits of becoming a regular yogi. In the past, exercise has helped my joints, but it was too hard to sustain with my busy schedule. However, practicing hot yoga twice a week made a huge difference in comparison to the minimal time it requires. It was truly a pleasant surprise to see how the physical benefits outweighed the time requirement.
I can’t end this article about my experience without giving credit to my creaky old joints. I wasn’t sure how they would hold up when I started my yoga journey. I expected more pain and stiffness, especially in the beginning, but I was surprised to find minimal discomfort.
To my surprise, yoga has so many benefits. Yoga is a low impact exercise that can help us find improvements in:1
- Joint flexibility and range of motion
- Posture and balance
- Nervous system function
- Digestion
- Sleep quality
Yoga can also reduce stress and anxiety, lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and help you manage chronic pain.2
Take it slow and listen to your body
I noticed an improvement in many of the areas above. I was sold on this being a worthy endeavor, both physically and mentally.
Bonus tip: From my own personal experience, don't push yourself too much too fast. Take it slow and listen to your body. Doing too much could lead to an injury and exacerbation of painful joints.
Give it a try — why not? Then you can decide if hot yoga is for you. Namaste!
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