Good morning RA... | Arthritis Information
I always feel worse in the morning...stiffness and joint pain. Over the years I've developed the following routine which I think really helps. I thought I would share it and see if others have suggestions they would add.
1) 15 mins of yoga when I first get up...slow, gentle postures to loosen up
2) long hot shower
3) walk for about a mile (...with Joey of course!)...eat a fresh apple from the local farmers market during walk
4) healthy breakfast (usually flax cereal with omega-3 with blueberries and walnuts in organic non-homogenized whole milk and organic orange juice)
5) double cappuccino (hey...life still has to be fun!)
6) mid-morning: 15 mins yoga outside and 1.5 mile walk
Alan
Mmmmm....sounds great! I am really hungry for blueberries now. I also have a routine, although not as healthy. I always struggled to figure out how long I had morning stiffness, because when I get up, I have a chair in the bathroom where I sit for about 30 minuttes, and watch a tiny TV in there while I start to get ready (eyebrows, etc. so I guess you can't relate there!) and slowly wake up. Then, a hot shower, then breakfast, and by the time I'm out the door, I don't hurt all that bad, usually.
That sounds like a much better routine though...I need to start eating fresh frutis more..thanks for posting!
That's really cool that you can do yoga so early. I always am too stiff/totally ravenous to even try. What poses do you do? And do you use a pad under your mat, out of curiousity?
I've found that hot showers and taking walks helps a lot, too. But my (6 year old) puppy tends to pull my shoulder out of its socket, quite literally, so no walks for her.
a sidenote... woohoo, someone else who drinks whole milk!
Hi Alan, I really look forward to your posts as you are so positive and inspiring, I too shall now develop a new routine, I try but often fail. Cheers Janie.
I don't use a mat in the morning. I do standing postures inside, early, and outside when possible around 9-10am. In the evening I do about 30 mins of yoga on a mat in our spare room with bees wax candles and some soft music. I also walk another mile or so in the evening with Joey. I do postures from a book by the Kripalu Center in Massachusetts. It's also a great way to reduce stress.
I don't shop much at the big grocery stores anymore. I buy what I can at the local farmer's market every saturday and most of the rest from Trader Joe's. Strawberries are now in season in CA and, of course, my favorite, blackberries, will show up later in the summer. Fresh fruit is so much better than the preservative-laden stuff from the stores...tastes better and is better for you. And every evening I have some organic yogurt and some green tea...which is right about now!
Alan
hi allen . good to see you have found a routine that helps
and you are staying on top.. when i first got ra i was at work so
i would push through the pain and inflamation while doing my job.
nowadays the inflamation is not as bad but i find as the day goes
on the worse i get. probably putting pressure on damaged joints.
i did try honey and cider vinegar once but never stuck at it.
good luck to you.. Boney
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