Yoga?

[Megraven]

I have recently gained about 15lbs (and counting) and even though I'm not big, I need to start doing something to at least stop the weight gain. (I quit smoking March 18th) I want to try Yoga but I'm afraid of some of the positions upsetting my bladder. Has anyone tried yoga?

[Sarojini]

Yes! And it can help immensely if you start out slow! A good place to start is the video "Hatha Yoga for People With Interstitial Cystitis" and this tape is sold in our ICN Store. I bought it and really enjoyed it. It teaches relaxation, as well as easy yoga poses that help stretch the pelvic floor and back (sites of pain for a lot of us). Later, I enjoyed it so much I went to a few yoga classes! My uro actually recommends gentle yoga for her IC patients. :)

[poetgirl]

Yes, yoga can be very beneficial for IC patients. Initially, I would recommend staying away from more energetic forms of yoga, like ashtanga (or power yoga) and try hatha or vinyasa forms, which are slower, gentler and place greater emphasis on stretching and your breath. Reputable yoga instructors will encourage you to go at your own pace, and if you have trouble with a position, either don't do it or don't force yourself to go into it completely. I haven't done yoga in a while (hope to go back to it soon) but because of a vertebrae problem in my neck, I cannot do any headstands, and that has never been a problem in class. Good luck and I hope you find a class you enjoy and receive benefit from!

[kadi]

Hatha yoga has been very helpful for my overall health & does help my IC also. I started with a small studio close to home, talked with the teacher privately before class. I just told them simply what IC is, that I'm excited about trying yoga, and that if something is uncomfortable I'll drop out of the pose & I'd love it if they could show me a modification. The classes were small enough that they could do that & they were delighted to help. Yoga teachers in general are pretty accepting people & many were drawn into yoga due to health problems of their own, so I've only had trouble with one out of perhaps 6 different teachers I've gone to classes from. I just took the "easier classes" on the schedule & dropped out of any pose that bugged my bladder.

Hope you find something you like:)

[classyblue]

I've been taking yoga classes for about 6 years. We have a rec centre in our complex and the class is held there. We've had the same instructor for the whole time. Last year, she started teaching us Pilates as well and she sort of does a combo class. Because the class is quite small, she knows us all. She knows about my health issues and knows I will try the poses but pull out of them if I have a problem. Even when I'm not feeling well, I still attend and do what I can. The relaxation period at the end is very helpful too.

[Sherry5]

I have been doing yoga since I found out I had IC and have enjoyed it immensely. I believe it contributes to your general health and can help keep your muscles toned. I also gained about 15 with IC and I have to say that although Yoga is beneficial, it does absolutely nothing for my weight. Of course, everyone is different. I have a slow metabolism, and before my IC I worked out at least an hour a day everyday just to keep my healthy weight in check. Now that I have gained 15 pounds, I am officially overweight. My friends and I like to call yoga,"exercise for skinny people."

Hopefully your experience is different from mine. Good luck!

[icsue]

I've been doing yoga since I was diagnosed with IC (8 years). I do the more difficult kinds and also teach. I think it has helped keep everything in order. I have had problems bending forward because the back of my legs are very tight. I don't have a lot of bladder symptoms like frequency etc anymore. I do have pain in my bladder and in pelvic floor muscle. It does make everything hurt if I get sore. I'm sure a more gentle yoga would be helpful and wouldn't cause much problems.

For some reason I keep thinking even though the yoga hurts my bladder, it is also helping to make it better but I'm not really sure about this. Maybe I over do it sometimes.

[diane57]

I'm another power yoga junkie, I do a lot of advanced yoga videos. I have mild IC, though. I think yoga is beneficial to the whole body. Occasionally I will feel some bladder achiness in the hours after a yoga workout, but to me it feels like a "good" achiness, if you know what I mean - kind of like a good massage may make your muscles a little sore the next day...

[Bianchi]

I also do Hatha yoga. I swear I feel better afterwards. I have been going to same teacher for 3 years, a very nice and gentle young lady.
Bianchi

[Franny]

When I am in Yoga my ic symptoms go away. I can't explain it. I was taking hot yoga about 6 mnths before my ic symptoms began. I felt maybe the stress from the heat had something to do with gettiing the disease so I changed to regular Hatha Yoga which is less stressful to the body and now it gives me this wonderful relief I look forward to 3 x a week.

[icsue]

If you practice yoga, do you have problems bending forward. The back of my legs get so tight and I've been doing yoga a number of years. I also have pain back there. I assume it's all from IC but I was wondering if anybody else notices pain and tightness back there.

[classyblue]

I often have low back pain and sometimes I seem to just ache all over. Most times I can manage a regular yoga class without any increase in pain. There are times though when everything hurts but I usually still go to the class and just do what I can. My instructor is very understanding and just gives me a nod when I have to pull out of a position. The class is really important to me because it helps relieve some of the stress.

[dansfever]

I have never really tried yoga myself I don't think I would ever have the paciants for it. I have in the past taken so many dance classes that you can not even count them on two hands to me that was very benificial I lost some wieght that way and just like yoga it gives you a full body work out. For me that relieved a lot of stress I should really go back.

[trytosmile]

I do yoga and have since I was first diagnosed with IC over 7 years ago. It really helps. When in a flare I know my limits on twisting in the bladder area. I've also branched out and do pilates. I've some tapes that I got through Kelloges cereal not that long ago. Kinda a cross between yoga and pilates. Love them.

We have a satalite dish and there is a station called "One, Mind, Body and Spirit" It is great, lots of yoga, t-chee (not sure how to spell that), really good relaxing programs.

[Franny]

I know this thread started out asking about Yoga and weight loss. I speed walk 1/2 hour every day I do not do yoga and my weight has not been a problem. I think the two exercises together keep my weight at a happy place.