Healthy Living

How to Safely Practice Yoga With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Downward dog modifications

Downward dog modifications

Next time you try a downward dog, try using foam blocks to place your hands on. This pose positions your body in an upside down V, pushing your hips and buttocks into the air while your body weight is isometrically supported by your hands and feet. Blocks can help you take the pressure off your fingers, which tend to be frequently affected by rheumatoid arthritis. You can do this by putting two blocks flat on the floor with the short ends of the block pushed against a wall. Then, face the wall and hold onto the blocks with your hands while pressing your hips back, distributing your weight from your palms onto the soles of your feet.