Some of the most reported signs and symptoms of arthritis are:

• Painful inflammation of joints
• The stiffness of the affected area
• Redness around the affected zone
• Tenderness and swelling
• Restricted range of movements
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty in walking
• Insomnia
• Reduced digestive power
• Increased digestive issues, including susceptibility to IBS

The good news here is that yoga could help to ease and managing all the symptoms of arthritis outlined above, thereby enhancing the life’s quality.

Some of the benefits you could enjoy by making yoga a part of your life include:

• Lesser pain and inflammation
• Better range of movement
• Better physique
• Eases stiffness
• Better flexibility
• Could ease digestive issues
• Could help with weight loss
• Reduce stress
• Could restore the balance of the body and mind
• Could help with better depression management
• Enhanced overall quality of life

It could improve blood circulation while stretching and strengthening the joints and muscles. The better the flow of blood is, the better the movement will be. Enhanced blood circulation could also lower the pain as well. The posture could help in rectifying postural issues while gifting better flexibility.

Stand straight with your feet separated one-palm apart. Press your feet into the mat while elongating your spine to the ceiling. Allow the arms to rest on either side of the body, palms facing the thighs. Roll the shoulders down and back, bringing your shoulder blades together. Engage your core and thigh muscles.

Inhale and swing your arms overhead. Join your palms. Close your eyes and take five to ten deep breaths. Once you are comfortable, lift your heels and try to balance on your toes. If possible, close your eyes and balance. Or else, focus on the space between the eyebrows. Hold the posture for ten deep breaths.

The Asana stretches your entire body while improving circulation. Make a micro-bend on your knees if you experience pressure on your lower back.

Come on all the fours, stacking your shoulders over your wrists. Separate your knees hip-width apart. Tuck your toes. Lengthen through your spine, keeping it neutral. Pressing the palms into the mat, inhale, and push your hips to the ceiling. Breathing through the nose, lengthen through the spine, and press the heels into the mat. Keep your arms straight, aligning wrists, elbows, and shoulders in a straight line. Let the head hang between your elbows. Rest the abdomen on your thighs. Gaze at your thighs.

Pull the muscles of your stomach towards your spine and open your chest by rolling down the shoulders. Breathe and hold the posture for the next ten breaths.

It is a seated yoga posture that opens up the chest and could help to ease the stiffness in the back. While the actual position requires the practitioner to sit down stacking the knees, you could choose to sit in simple cross-legged position, if the

Sit down, maintaining a straight spine. Stretch out the legs and rest the palms on either side of the hips. Lengthen your spine. Engage your core muscles. You’re your right knee and allow the right foot to rest close to your left sitting bones. Cross your left knee over your right and rest your left foot close to the right sitting bones. Rest your hips firmly on the mat. Adjust the posture so that knees are stacked.

Inhale and lift your left arm up. Bend it at the elbow and rest your left palm on your upper back. Bring your right hand towards the left arm from behind and interlace the fingers, if possible. If the fingers are not in contact, use a strap or a towel in such a way that you experience a stretch in your arms.

Roll your shoulders down and away to open the chest. Hold the Asana for the next ten breaths. At the end of the tenth exhalation, release the posture. Repeat on your other side.

There are three different Pranayama practices that you could follow for arthritis management. Each one is unique and has various benefits.

According to Ayurveda, excess Vata or the air element in the body creates dryness in the joints and muscles, in turn leading to Arthritis. Kapalbhati, or skull cleansing breath, could promote elimination of excess air. It could also encourage detoxification, thus offering relief.

The Alternate Nostril Breathing is one of the most effective ways to calm the racing mind. It could also help alleviate the stress and depression associated with arthritis. Regular practice of this breathing technique could be beneficial for pain management as well.

The Humming Bee Breath, as it is known in English, also works on calming stress and relieving anxiety. The beautifully powerful humming reverberates in your brain, stimulating the release of the tension.