Hello and welcome.
I'm Rachel,
Yoga and mindfulness teacher,
Founder of Yoga Flowly and someone who truly understands what it feels like to live with arthritis and being sure about where to start.
I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis over 20 years ago.
I've been practicing yoga for over 15 years and teaching for 6 years.
I created this talk especially for you if you've ever thought,
I'd love to try yoga but I'm not sure that I can.
Maybe you've worried about being too stiff,
Too sore,
Too tired,
Not knowing where to begin or maybe you aren't sure if it's safe for you to do.
Let's change that today because you can start,
It is safe,
You can do yoga and you don't have to do it perfectly.
You just need to begin with kindness and patience for yourself.
So step one is take small steps.
The most important thing I can share here is this,
When starting yoga,
When you have arthritis,
Small steps matter far more than big ones.
This is not about pushing yourself or forcing your body to move in ways that don't feel safe,
It's about listening to your body.
Even five minutes can be enough,
Even one pose can be enough and you don't have to do everything today.
In fact,
It's actually better if you don't.
Step two,
Find your best time of day.
Our bodies are all different and when you live with arthritis,
Timing matters.
Personally,
For me,
Mornings can be stiff and uncomfortable.
In the evenings,
I often find that my joints feel tired or inflamed.
So afternoons,
That's my window.
This is the time when my body feels its most open,
Awake and safe to move.
And when I became a yoga teacher,
I made sure that my classes were late morning and into the afternoon to suit my body.
So what's your time?
Maybe you already know when this time is for you.
But if you don't,
Spend some time over the course of a week,
Noting down when you feel most open and safe to move.
Notice when your body feels most spacious.
When do you have the most energy or ease?
And then let this be your gentle starting point.
Step three,
Start with just a few poses.
So you don't need a long sequence or a full class to feel the benefits of yoga.
Just pick two or three poses that feel simple,
Comfortable and supportive.
Maybe you start with a gentle seated twist.
Maybe it's a supported child's pose,
Or maybe a standing pose like one of the warriors.
Or maybe you prefer to start with a relaxing pose lying down on the floor with cushions or pillows for your support.
The options here are endless.
Stay with these poses for as long as you like and breathe into them.
Repeat them as much as you feel you can and let your body guide you by noticing how you feel in each of the poses and also how you feel after them.
This is your practice,
So no pressure,
No comparison.
What's important to note here though,
Is yoga should never feel painful.
If you feel pain or discomfort at any point,
Retreat from the pose.
Step four,
Stay consistent,
Not perfect.
So you don't need to get it right,
You just need to return gently.
Even if you skip a day,
Even if you skip a week,
Your mat or your bed or your chair will still be waiting for you.
Over time you'll build confidence,
You'll learn which movements bring relief and which ones to save for later.
You'll be able to craft a practice that feels completely and beautifully your own.
And finally remember,
Be patient with your body and with yourself.
So let's gently let go of the idea of doing yoga the right way and instead let's focus on doing yoga your way,
With patience,
With kindness,
With curiosity.
You can begin anytime,
Even right now.
I hope this little talk has given you some confidence to get started with a yoga practice,
Even if you have arthritis.
Thank you so much for being here with me today.
Remember to be kind to yourself,
You're already doing beautifully.
Namaste.
