Yoga & Prednisone

Yoga. It seems to be everywhere you turn. Everyone's doing it. Everyone's singing its praises. Even one of MyBestBuds says it would be easier to get the pantyhose up in the morning, if we only did yoga.

With the economy down, we dropped the Y membership we've had for years, so going to a nearby class was not a viable possibility. I had bought a "Yoga for Dummies" CD several years ago. Now, truly was the time, in every sense -- health, financial, spiritual -- to put to use my best intentions. I dug out the disc and began.

I dutifully sat down and was immediately struck by the emphasis on breathing. I'd forgotten about that. I was coming to this in the hopes of keeping my bones in tact during the prednisone onslaught. I wanted to feel that I was at least doing some physical activity that would counteract the negative effects of all the debilitating medicine.

And here was Sara Ivanhoe, the instructor, telling me to focus on breathing, and breathing out to "clear my lungs."

So my deep down reaction was, "OMG -- I thought she was talking just to me."

Of course, I knew about yoga's emphasis on breathing, but I was having one of those "I've found this again" moments. I'm home.

You do have to laugh, when you can't do some of the poses in a way you know you should, because of the prednisone pad you've grown on the back of your neck, or the prednisone flesh that thickly rings your neck.

And, I did try to find it funny, as Sara suggests, that I couldn't do the tree pose, because I can't stand on one leg.

The first two times I completed the 12 poses of the beginner's routine. As Sara drew her hands together to end the session and wish the audience "Namaste," tears welled up.

Relief? Finding something so appropriate? Just physical release? Who really knows why we cry? I have always had trouble understanding it.

Note: While I would like to end this posting on this gloriously emotional upbeat note, I need to just bring this report down to earth a notch.

While I have happily gone through the beginner's routine, I confess I found it too strenuous. At first I was full of energy, my mind clear and active. But, I would be pretty shvach* for the rest of the day.

It's clearly an indication of my condition, that even these gentle routines can be too much. Currently, with some fine-tuning from a Friend, I am learning to modify the routine...more to come.

*worn out