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Yoga and UC

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/13/2008 9:22 AM (GMT -8)
Hi, I am new to the board. I noticed that some of you have tried yoga to help give you some relief. I was wondering if it worked and if so, what type of postures/exercises you were doing. Is there a yoga DVD that you would recommend?

Thanks.

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I was dxed with UC about 2 years ago. I am flaring really badly right now. I have been doing Asacol and Cortenemas, but now they are saying I might have to go on prednisone (and I am rather frightened by that idea).
Posted 8/13/2008 9:29 AM (GMT -8)
I'm all for regular exercise, I work out with cardio and weights at least 4 day's a week, exercise helps promote properly functioning bowels not to mention all the other benefits...even yoga is a great source of exercise, something is always better than nothing at all...pilates is another great form.

:)
Posted 8/13/2008 12:43 PM (GMT -8)
I have done a little yoga and find that it just helps in my overall health and in feeling fit.

I went to a couple of classes with a friend and plan on signing up for classes with her in the next session.

This may sound dumb but we got a wii fit and it has yoga as part of it. I had my yoga friend come over to see if it is really like yoga classes and she said she thought it was a great start and it helped to see how she did poses.

Sorry no dvd reccomnedations yet. I'm working on that too.

As for how it is with my UC...honestly i don't see a difference. But it does make me as a whole feel better.

ooh and pilates is great too!
Posted 8/13/2008 1:47 PM (GMT -8)

Hi,

Sorry to hear you are flaring. 

I took Bikram Yoga (hot yoga) for about four months to try some kinder gentler exercise.  Yoga is a lot tougher than it looks, however especially in a room heated over 100 degrees.  In bikram there are postures that are said to improve intestinal health.  I have a book, but can't find it now.  I think all their postures and info can be found on the bikram online site.  Actually, looking around online for examples of postures to try might be a good idea so you can experiement a little before spending any money.

Yoga did not suit me nor make a difference with my uc that I could tell, but I came away with knowledge of a wonderful breathing technique that was worth every penny of the several hundred dollars I paid for the classes.

I hope you find relief soon. 

Posted 8/13/2008 4:15 PM (GMT -8)
I got back to kickboxing, weight training and yoga last month. It just feels so good to move and be strong. Yoga keeps me flexible and also helps with balance and strength. I personally like Ashtanga, or Power yoga.

I don't know if yoga will help UC symptoms, but exercise in general will make you feel better all around, if you are well enough to exercise.

Posted 8/13/2008 4:41 PM (GMT -8)

Sara Ivanhoe has great yoga videos. There's also a website w/tons of fitness videos that you cant buy in stores called Collage video. Check it out at www.collagevideo.com.


Posted 8/13/2008 5:49 PM (GMT -8)
I enjoy yoga and have not been doing it as much as I would like. I like the Gaiam - Living Arts yoga DVDs.

I suggest a class for beginners - then a professional can guide you on how to do the poses correctly. After a few classes, DVDs are great.

Good luck - I hope you find one that works for you.
Posted 8/13/2008 5:50 PM (GMT -8)
I almost forgot!

Welcome to HealingWell! Glad you found us - but sorry you had to.

I hope you find remission soon :)
Posted 8/13/2008 6:03 PM (GMT -8)
I love yoga. I don't think it affects my UC one way or another, but it makes me feel better overall (physically and mentally). I haven't found any dvds I really like yet. I prefer taking a class.
Posted 8/13/2008 6:13 PM (GMT -8)

I found these yoga poses listed for IBS sufferers (many of the symptoms are the same):

http://www.helpforibs.com/yoga/poses.asp#poses

I've done a lot of yoga with UC and I'd like to say that it helped, but I really don't think it makes much of a difference.  It does help with stress and makes you feel strong, so that's always a bonus.

Posted 8/13/2008 8:32 PM (GMT -8)
I suggest you start with a few classes if it's possible. You can get injured if you do certain poses incorrectly. After some classes, you will find it easier to follow a DVD.

If you have Netflix, they have some yoga DVDs. This way you can try some out before you buy anything. Check your local library, they may have some yoga DVDs or they may be able to borrow some from other libraries.

I love yoga, it helps me enough to make it worth the effort.
Posted 8/14/2008 4:38 PM (GMT -8)
I love yoga and highly recommend it, especially for breathwork, calming, and inner focus.  I'd recommend a class, too, particularly a beginner class and/or one for people with any physical limitations.  If you find the right teacher, you'll probably be able to learn from her/him if there are any specific poses that are best for you.

At the very least, Pranayama (the yogic art of breathing) work is empowering and may be able to help you through difficult and painful times with UC.  

There are lots of different schools of yoga that range from really fast moving, physically demanding to very slow and also physcially demanding to very relaxing and meditative.  The main thing to remember is yoga is not a competitive sport.

    

Posted 8/14/2008 4:45 PM (GMT -8)
good to know that yoga doesnt cause any problems..

i always thought that yoga postures were good for forcing out the farts and was worried about that as i cant fart unless im on the can cuz my farts are usually sharts and that would just not be good at all!

and who wants to wear a diaper to yoga class! hell no!
Posted 8/14/2008 5:12 PM (GMT -8)
kazygirl - lol. My boss jokes around that he can't take yoga b/c it makes him really gassy (he doesn't have UC), but I haven't had that problem.
Posted 8/14/2008 6:34 PM (GMT -8)
I used to take a class where the instructor always started by saying that certain poses may make you fart and you should feel free to let it rip because holding it in is not good for you. She would then say that we are all adults and can handle other people's bodily functions.

My husband followed her advice and let loose with a big blast and didn't realize that our current pose put my nose about 8 inches from the blast zone. It knocked me off my mat and I couldn't stop giggling. I can't help it, sometimes farts make me giggle.

Don't let that scare you, we were doing partner yoga so we were closer than usual.
Posted 9/17/2008 11:38 AM (GMT -8)
Sorry that I have been away for so long, but this flair has been really bad. And I had to take antibiotics for a bad tooth, and that made things even worse.

Thanks for all of the great responses. When I get well enough I think I will try taking a yoga class, if for no other reason than to get my mind on other things.
Posted 9/17/2008 12:14 PM (GMT -8)
I have to follow up on what kazygirl said -- there are specific postures that might make you uncomfortable during a yoga class. One is even called wind-releasing posture (you lie flat on your back, legs extended straight, then pull one knee in to your chest at a time). Squat also could be tricky. I say this as someone who's done yoga classes for more than 15 years, and only recently, while flaring, have I ever thought, "Whoa, this is getting dangerous. May need to make a bathroom run!" But I haven't actually had to leave the room yet (as if anyone would care).

Taking classes with a good instructor is definitely a great way to start; on your own, it can be hard to tell if you're doing the postures correctly, and alignment is important.

Also, yoga can be much more rigorous than people expect. If you're not feeling 100%, I'd suggest looking for a gentle or restorative class to start (that's all I can manage these days). Even though yoga's not supposed to be competitive, it can be hard on the ego to slow yourself down when everyone else seems to be keeping up.

Mat pilates is another good option.

Hope you're better soon, WeirdBeard --
emory
Posted 9/17/2008 2:27 PM (GMT -8)
Hi there!

I started doing yoga again in the mornings recently. I feel pretty good after, although I have to wait awhile after waking up before I can start because I have to get my morning bathroom trips out of the way first or else I can't practice. Nothing like a downward dog position to get your stomach moving, haha. But I haven't felt up to going to a class so I've been going to www.yogajournal.com and they have a "yoga TV" section where you can watch and practice with these videos. I have the actual page bookmarked at home, I'll have to post it in a bit.

It can definitely be quite the workout though and sometimes I have to skip poses or drop out of them early because I can't handle it. I think maybe working up to it is the key anyway.
Posted 9/17/2008 2:58 PM (GMT -8)
I don't know the differences between the various kinds of yoga.  I'd be looking for something calming and health boosting, but not really strenuous or difficult.  Not looking to build muscles or get a "workout" but being overall healthier and more centered would be great.  Does it matter which type of yoga I go for?  I suppose they'd all be similar in the sense of beginner classes being less strenuous, but am wondering if the different types are better for different purposes?
Posted 9/17/2008 4:09 PM (GMT -8)

funny that i happen upon this thread tonight ...

i have my first yoga class ever in the morning!  

hoping it helps/gives me some insight for controlling stress.

a little anxious about my grumbling gutt ... 

Posted 9/19/2008 3:59 AM (GMT -8)
Did you enjoy the class? How did it go?
Posted 9/19/2008 6:51 PM (GMT -8)
Hi WeirdBeard:

I enjoyed it a lot!!

The class is focussed more on Meditation. I have been in a consistent mini flare for the past month and I found, just slowing down and focussing on my breathing was a relief.

The one thing I did wrong -- I didnt have something to eat before the class in fear of having to run to the washroom ... but I ended up feeling a little weak and light headed ...
lesson learned!
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