I've noticed many of us mention we do yoga. I thought we could set up a kind of Lyme yoga support group thread. Someplace where we can ask questions, share Lyme-friendly modifications to poses, etc.

I've done yoga on and off for a few years. A couple months ago, I noticed that pure cardio made me feel sick. I decided to just do yoga for exercise. I primarily do Ahstanga Flow. I've had a incredible difference in how I feel, my flexibility and my strength.

I'll start with a question. When I do balance poses, I get pain in the ankle I am standing on. It's a internal pain, kind of how it felt when my ankle was sprained. Does anybody else get this? Have any advice?

It is most relaxing and energizing at the same time.

I also do accupressure yoga which involves holding points, breathing and moving.

Yoga helps me sleep better, get rid of pain and stiffness as well.

deeeeep breath...ahhh..OK...

I've been doing yoga on and off for several years. in my healthy days, I used to feel comfortable in many standing poses and did mostly Hatha and Ivengar styles. Now I can generally only handle sitting or lying ones, although at times, poses like downward facing dog actually help my head.

I've been recently introduced to Kundalini yoga which someone said may help my spine and nervous systems issues.

My biggest challenge right now is actually DOING it. I can no longer keep up with a class, but because of my neuro sx, I'll get to my mat and only remember a couple poses and then get distracted anyways. I think I would do much better with some guidance. I wish I could afford private lessons!

However, the last DVD I rented, even though I got the beginners one, the woman went so fast I was getting anxiety attacks and my head was throbbing! That defeats the purpose of yoga. Seriously though, she was holding each pose for maybe ONE breath. So anyone have suggestions for helpful DVDs? I have books, but prefer actually following someone right now.

If anyone in the boston area (north shore, middlesex county area) wants to get together to do neuro-lyme-friendly-yoga, I'm there!

DolpinLady, now I am intrigued by the Yin and Acupressure yoga...sounds more up my alley right now. I'll have to go look it up.

I recommend Yoga for Inflexible People. It is very Iyengar focused in style. The poses are all done very slowly. The DVD is set up so you can run lots of different possible combinations of the poses. They even have a pretty good description of some adaptations and props for people who have trouble with the poses.

Also, if you can find a class in restorative yoga in your area, that would be a good bet. Restorative poses are done with supports, like bolsters, blankets, and blocks, so that the body can completely relax into the pose.

Poses are held for extended periods, as long as ten minutes, because there is no effort involved. Iyengar believed these poses could heal the immune system.

Aniek, I would have your instructor check your posture. Maybe you are not holding your foot properly, and too much pressure is coming through the wrong area.

Standing poses require you to have the foot very strongly spread in order to spread the weight effectively. If you are not quite ready to do the pose, you may want to use a support to help you keep your balance accurate.

In Iyengar style, he always recommended using props to keep good form, so that you would not injure yourself in a pose. For example, in tree pose, you could stand against a wall, or just reach out to touch the wall, or the back of a chair, with one hand, in order to be sure you are standing straight enough to transmit the weight directly through the center of the ankle.

I don't know if that is what is giving you trouble, but alignment is always the first place I would look if you are having pain in a pose.

If it isn't an alignment problem, you may need to focus on some poses that open space in that ankle. Maybe the balancing poses put too much compression on an area that is congested. Poses that stretch the feet and ankles might help to give you a little more space.

This is perfect timing to have a yoga support thread, at least for me. I had a PICC line in this last winter, and between that and the terrible herxes, I fell behind in what I can do. I just set a goal to be able to attend a second class each week, in addition to my much loved restorative class.

Ashtanga Yoga and IV Rocephin got me walking again. I really should not have been doing certain poses with my PICC line in, but that's another long, lyme-brain story.

I was trained in Hatha Yoga in college. But, I started Ashtanga when I got sick because I could do it to a class that used to be on FitTV at 5:30 at night - Breathing Space Yoga. It's now on at dawn & my body cannot bend at that hour. So, I bought a couple of DVDs. The one that I like best is called Stress Relief Yoga. It is slow, gentle ashtanga. Gaiam produces it.

Aniek: Riversong is right about your alignment, spreading of the foot (toes) and possibly sing a prop. Sometimes I use the mantle over my fireplace to hod me up until I get into tree pose. But, if your ankle hurts it may be an old injury that is being stirred up by Lyme. So, I would go slow and baby that ankle. Maybe forget the poses that aggrevate it for now. I have a lower back injury. At first I couldn't even do downward facing dog but, after about 6 months of slow movements I can now get into a shoulder stand with no back pain. Take it slow and easy is my advice. Trey the DVD I mention - take it outof the library maybe.

I like this thread. Yoga has helped me so much through this seemingly endless Lyme journey. Shavasana is about the best pose we can treat ourselves to - we deserve it.

Yoga on and enjoy.

Bc

I do mostly Vinyasa yoga. I wouldn't recommend Vinyasa to someobody with Lyme who is just starting out. I find it gives me so much energy, and for the first time ever, I love how my arms look!

As for my ankle, I'm not 100% sure whether it is from my ankle or hip. My hips have never moved the way most people's do. In boat and similar poses I can get a pain in my hip that refers to the ankle. As of now, I do poses until I feel a sharp pain, and then I stop or modify.

I've decided to have a private lesson with one of my instructors. That way she can check my alignment and give me some modifications.

I've also managed a yoga retreat center and practiced with a number of different teachers during the years among other things. I certainly recommend finding a good teacher. And when I say good I mean good.

There are an awful lot of "get certified to teach yoga in just three weekends studying at home" programs out there. Don't take yoga from one of those teachers-they are likely to hurt you.

Ask how long they've been practicing and where they studied, with whom and for how long.
Ask them about the style they teach and have them tell you why it is good for you and why they've chosen it. Ask for referrals from other students.

Most styles have wonderful things about them but not every style of yoga is for everyone. Each person will have their own preferences.

Some require quite a bit of strength and flexibility and other are so gentle it almost seems like you aren't doing anything.

DVD's and videos are nice but they can't answer questions. It would be good to go to a class once a week and then use the DVD or video to help you practice on your own at home.

I personally practice Anusara yoga which grew out of Iyengar. I practice daily and only missed a few months when I got sick with LD.

I really listened to my body and if practicing didn't feel good I didn't do it.

BTW yoga translates as "union" its about unifying the forces in your body, mind and spirit. Its a wonderful, powerful and healing practice. Most of the styles you hear about (Anusara, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Vikram, etc) are all forms of Hatha or physical yoga.

There is also bhakti-the yoga of devotion, karma-the yoga of service, Jnana-the yoga of wisdom, raja-the yoga of meditation, mantra yoga-the yoga of chanting, tantric-the yoga of harmonizing the yin and yang, and others.

Okay enough pontificating from me.

About your ankle- I agree with many of the other responses you've gotten so far.

The pain in your ankle could be an alignment issue and it could start at your hip or knee.

The Universal Principles of Alignment from Anusara Yoga:

OPENING TO GRACE Having the intention to place oneself--body, mind, and heart--in alignment with the flow of supreme consciousness. This involves approaching asana practice with an attitude of softhearted devotion.

MUSCULAR ENERGY A drawing of energy from the periphery of the body into the Focal Point (see below), which increases stability, strength, and physical integration in the pose.

INNER SPIRAL An ever-expanding energy spiral that moves outward from the core; it runs from the feet up through the pelvis into the waistline area. Inner Spiral rotates the legs inward, moves the thighs backward, and widens the thighs and pelvis.

OUTER SPIRAL An ever-narrowing spiral that moves inward toward the core; it runs from the waistline area down through the tailbone and out through the legs and feet. Outer Spiral rotates the legs outward, moves the tailbone and thighs forward, and draws the pelvis and thighs closer together.

ORGANIC ENERGY An outward extension of energy from the Focal Point through the core lines of the body to the body's periphery, which increases expansion, flexibility, and freedom in the pose

Here's an article that might help explain it a little better
http://www.yogachicago.com/sep01/anusara.shtml

Make sure your foot is tracking forward and is in alignment with your knee and hip so that you aren't torquing it.

Its also important to use some muscular energy to support your joints in any pose. Be sure not just be a raggedy ann when you are practicing yoga. Its a balance between strength and letting go.

Being gentle with any kind of exercise, including stretching, is best.