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Community Corner

Moving Along: Yoga for Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in America. More than 20 million individuals with arthritis have severe limitations in function on a daily basis.  Yoga can provide a gentle and safe way to move.

"Yoga for Arthritis" is a two hour workshop where we will talk about how yoga can provide gentle and safe movement for all your joints with gradual progression. I will be teaching poses for strength, balance and flexibility with individualized modifications. We will be using chairs, blanket and bolsters as props to support the body and to make the poses comfortable for you.

Benefits of this workshop include:

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  •  Strengthen joints
  • Reduce stiffness
  • Improve balance
  • Increase flexibility
  • Manage pain

Deep breathing done with poses allows increased relaxation and mindfulness which can help with pain management associated with Arthritis. Neil Pearon, a PT, Yoga therapist and a clinical assistant professor at the UBC says, “Yoga provides a path toward calming your body-mind-spirit. Through yoga we can create positive neuroplastic change, leading to less pain, better movement, and improved quality of life in the face of chronic pain.” Steffany Moonaz, Yoga therapist and a researcher at John Hopkins Arthritis Center says, “Yoga can play an important role in reducing stress and frustration that results from pain and disability, and increasing positive feelings and wellbeing.” Visit her website http://yoga4arthritis.com for details on how yoga can help you cope with arthritis.

 This workshop will be held at Sohum Yoga and Meditation Studio, 30 Lyman street, Suite 108B, Westborough on Sunday, Dec 8th from 2 to 4 pm.  Early bird price of $25 applies till Dec 4, $30 thereafter.  Please visit www.Sohum.org for registration. Email Ritu.Kapur@Sohum.org for any questions.

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Ritu Kapur, OTR, CYT completed her Advanced Masters in Occupational Therapy from B.U in 1993 and has since been working with seniors and adults at many different local hospitals and Nursing homes.  She was exposed to Yoga at an early age in India and became a Certified Yoga teacher in 2009 which influenced her life dramatically.  Developing a daily personal practice came naturally and after some introspection, she knew she had to combine OT and Yoga. She has since taught Yoga to private clients and at Whittier Rehab to many people with different conditions including stroke, MS, and Fibromyalgia.  Yoga Therapy is her passion; she loves to be able to help people with typical shoulder, neck, hip, knee, spinal and other injuries by combining her knowledge of yoga and 20 years of experience as an OT.  She is a published writer and likes to blog regularly on topics related to yoga. Her humble goal is to offer gentle Yoga to those who need it the most as a form of therapy or Yoga-chikitsa.

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