I was recently dx although I have probably had Lyme for 40 years. My MD states it is "deep in my tissue". I was always an avid exerciser and distance runner, weight lifter, etc. Now I can only tolerate walking and light weights. Can anyone share their experience with yoga? I am considering this. My joints are not affected and I have no pain. This disease seems to be in my CNS and possibly heart.
Posted by Taytsa (Member # 30097) on :
I do yoga twice a week....its great for me....i can tolerate it pretty well....and it also helps deal with the anxiety some....if you can tolerate it, definitely go for it
Posted by Dawn2137 (Member # 27238) on :
If you can tolerate walking/weights, than you should be able to do yoga just fine!
I started in January. It definitely made my sx worse to begin with, but I think in the long run it has and will continue to be very beneficial for me.
On days when I am experiencing more heart sx (SoB, palpitations, blacking out) I may have to go down to child's pose to rest. Yoga is a do what you can type of thing though(if you find a good class).
Just make sure to find a gentle yoga class (I don't know the names of the different types?).
I was a martial artist and a runner prelyme, so for me finally being able to do SOME form of exercise has boosted my spirits. Not being the BEST has been different for me, but if I can walk in, do the class, and still walk out again I feel accomplished!
Yoga can be really beneficial for you, especially if you have heart sx (IMO). I'd say go for it!
Posted by koo (Member # 30462) on :
Dawn, do you see a cardiologist for your heart symptoms? I had an echo late in '09 which was normal. It just seems my heart/body cannot tolerate strenuous exercise, but I can't pinpoint why. Do you by any chance see Dr. C?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Look into pilates, too. Pilates is light strength training with stretching included.
Posted by AnnaOD20 (Member # 29942) on :
I do both yoga and pilates. I also do body sculpting classes. I was doing spinning but have slowed down a bit on that.
Posted by peacemama (Member # 17666) on :
I'm a big fan of Pilates for people with lyme, even though I started practicing yoga 25 years ago and taught for 7. I gave it up when I realized that I was using the incorrect muscles and damaging my lyme filled fascia even more.
If it is REALLY, really gentle yoga, I think it is okay for people with lyme. However, most yoga isn't.
I look back on my yoga teaching exam and I got all the questions wrong that asked about what muscles were being strengthened/stretched in each pose, because my body wasn't doing that.
I did more damage trying to continue yoga. I wish I had put that energy into good pilates, really learning the muscles from an experiential point of view.
Stay clear of Vinyasa Yoga because of the aerobic nature. I think senior yoga classes can be good. Or light anusara classes. Anusara focuses on joint stabilization.
My overall concerns about yoga center around the fact that hyper mobility/flexibility is celebrated. And for people with Lyme, that is dangerous.
Just my two cents!
Posted by FYRECRACKER (Member # 28568) on :
i have hyper flexibility and i CAN do yoga, but it's not recommended by my physical therapist.
he loves the physio-ball for gently stabilizing and strengthening the muscles. i would agree, but have been too sick these last two weeks to perform them.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
If your joints are ok and you have no pain, I think you'll do well with yoga.
For those of us with joint issues, ie, me, we need to do it with our body supported in any way needed as we do stretching. I do about 25 supported yoga stretches as a regular form of exercise.
Posted by Dawn2137 (Member # 27238) on :
Yes, I currently am seeing Dr. C.
I have also been seeing a cardiologist the past 4 years. Initially I had an echo as well, which was "unremarkable".
They sent me to cardio since I had ongoing tachycardia (120s+ at rest). They did a few 24 hour holter monitors and found that my heart rate would go up to 180 doing minimal activity (ie going from my computer to the kitchen/bathroom and back).
So now I take 100mg atenolol (betablocker) daily which keeps my hr around 100. BIG difference!
What type of heart sx are you experiencing? Depending on the sx, it might be worth checking into more before starting yoga.
Posted by koo (Member # 30462) on :
It's more of a sense that something is not right cardiac-wise. I have a lot of anxiety which in turn for me turns into hypertension. I have just been bumped to Atenolol 150 mg. a day, although when the Lyme is not in a flare, I barely need to take any. I just wonder if this difficult to control hypertension is doing a number on me. Heart rate is fine, but prior to dx I noticed I could not get my heart rate up at the gym. I did have the extra beats or skipped beats, but haven't experienced that in a while. It just seems my heart is telling me not to over-exert, which is difficult being a distance runner and avid fitness buff.
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