Question:
Has anyone done yoga?
Although I haven't even had my surgery yet, I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row. I was wondering if anyone else has done yoga as a form of post-op exercise rather than walking and doing aerobics. Both my knees have to be replaced and walking is just excruciating to me. Thanks so much, Claire — gramof3 (posted on September 26, 2002)
September 25, 2002
I do a tape 3 times a week called "Yoga Conditioning for Weight
Loss." It has 4 different women on it, all doing different levels of
modifications depending on your flexibility. It has done WONDERS for my
back. I had a lot of postop middle back pain, the doctor said it was from
being on the table and from my body carrying the weight differently as I
lost so quickly. The tape has been a wonderful tool. VERY relaxing and
helps tone. I got it at Walmart for less than $15. Good luck on your
surgery!
— Carolyn I.
September 25, 2002
I think you might find at least some yoga poses to be very, very hard on
your knees! I have one arthritic knee that prevents me from doing some of
the poses. But the upper body stuff would probably feel good. Have you
thought about armchair aerobics? We had an instructor come into our
support group and show us how to do aerobic exercise in our chairs without
stressing our knees and ankles. Everyone says yoga is so easy and
relaxing, but I have found it to be rather challenging and I'm 23 and down
to a size 14!
— PT LawMom
September 26, 2002
I have done yoga and it improved my flexibility immensely! If you get a
good beginner's tape or class, the instructor will show you modified poses
if you can't handle the regular one. I could do almost all the poses for my
beginner's yoga tape with no problem--getting better as I went along. Now,
Pilates was a different story! My daughter came in looked at the TV then at
me and said, "What ARE you doing?" She was only 3 at the time and
even she could tell I was not doing it right! LOL
— ctyst
September 26, 2002
Altho I love yoga, it IS very challenging. Pre-op, I would huff and puff
and not be able to achieve all the required positions-too much in the way!
As I lost weight, the poses became easier and easier to achieve, but each
and every class, I felt like my body had really been worked out-not cardio
wise, but muscle wise. Unfortunately, due to disc problems in my back, I
had to give up the yoga, and I do miss it! I would suggest you wait until
you have had surgery and have lost weight before you start yoga. you will
find that the more weight you lose, the less stress on your knees. Your
knees do get stressed during yoga.
— Cindy R.
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