How to Safely Practice Yoga With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Props can help you with the shoulder stand as well. For this, try using a folded blanket. The goal here is to relieve neck strain while you lift your back, hips, and legs into the air. Place the folded blanket underneath your shoulder blades before attempting to lift your back and legs into the shoulder stand.

With the shoulder stand modification, you can go one step further by adding a yoga block. This one provides the benefits of inversion without having to raise your legs as straight as usual. To do it, you still put the folded blanket beneath your shoulders. This time, have your yoga block within your reach as you lie on your back. Rather than raising your legs, you bend your knees as you keep the soles of your feet flat on the floor. Then, slide the block at its lowest height under your hips as you lift them up. Place your tailbone flat onto the flat of the block. Once your tailbone and hips are fully supported by this block, raise your legs up.