When arthritis strikes, it can do a real number on your hands. Your hands may swell, get stiff and achy and, in a worse case scenario, become disfigured and dysfunctional due to rheumatoid arthritis.There are yoga postures that you can do to stretch your hands, which will help you deal with the hand pain and stiffness caused by arthritis and age.
Boost Dopamine Levels
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and plays a crucial part in controlling mental and motor functions, regulating attention, mood, memory, learning and movement. When normal levels of dopamine are present, a person can feel pleasure, attachment, love and altruism and it is possible to integrate thoughts and feelings. Sex, money, food and work rewards motivate humans, but when dopamine is low, you are less likely to experience happiness from one of these "rewards." Low levels result in a lack of pleasure and remorse, an inability to feel love and attachment, and a decline in memory, attention, focus and problem solving.
Do Yoga Ball Exercises for the Legs
Yoga balls are giant inflatable balls used in physical fitness. These large balls provide a base for performing stretches and exercises. Also called stability or fitness balls, yoga balls allow the user to engage various muscles all at once as the body works to balance on the yoga ball. Yoga ball exercises for the legs effectively work to strengthen and tone while benefiting nearby muscles with an added workout. Yoga ball leg exercises work the hamstrings (backs of thighs) and quadriceps (fronts of thighs) as well as the calves and buttocks muscles.
Treat Anxiety With Yoga
Anxiety is a mental health condition that can cause feelings of panic or shortness of breath. There are several diagnosable categories of anxiety, but treating anxiety with an alternative healing method, such as yoga, may be effective, according to B.K.S. Iyengar, author of "Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health." Yoga can calm the nervous system, ease the mind and lower your heart rate -- all beneficial when dealing with anxiety. As with any new exercise routine, consult your doctor first.
Plank Pose in Vinyasa Yoga
In vinyasa yoga (also known as power yoga), the Plank Pose serves to build strength in the arms, wrists and spine. The Plank Pose happens to strongly resemble another widely-practiced exercise, except that the Plank Pose is done with more care and focus.