Yoga for Arthritis – Gentle Ways to Support Your Joints with Yoga

Yoga for Arthritis – Gentle Ways to Support Your Joints with Yoga

If you’re living with arthritis, you’ll know how it can sometimes feel like your body is working against you. 

The stiffness, swelling, and pain may make you want to avoid movement — but, the right kind of movement is one of the best ways to support your joints and ease discomfort. This is where yoga comes in.

Yoga is not about forcing yourself into shapes or striving for perfection. It’s about meeting your body with aroha, listening to what it needs, and moving in a way that brings relief and balance.

🌿 Why Yoga Helps Arthritis

Yoga offers more than stretching. It can:

 • Ease stiffness by gently moving joints through their natural range.

 • Build strength to support and protect joints.

 • Improve circulation and bring nourishment to tissues.

 • Calm the nervous system, helping with both pain and inflammation.

 • Enhance balance and coordination, reducing the risk of falls.

💭 What to Keep in Mind

When practicing yoga with arthritis:

 • Honour where you are each day — avoid pushing into pain.

 • Use props like cushions, bolsters, or even a sturdy chair.

 • Move slowly and gently, allowing time to transition between poses.

 • Rest whenever you need to — yoga is about listening, not pushing.

 • Check in with your health team if you’re unsure about certain movements.

💪🏼 Practices That Support Arthritis

These approaches can feel especially nourishing:

 • Gentle joint rotations (ankles, wrists, shoulders) to encourage mobility.

 • Cat–Cow to ease stiffness in the spine.

 • Supported forward folds to release tension and calm the mind.

 • Restorative poses with bolsters or blankets for deep relaxation.

 • Breath awareness and guided relaxation to soothe the nervous system.

🕰️ What You Might Notice Over Time

With regular, gentle practice, you may find:

 • Daily movements feel easier.

 • Less stiffness and greater energy.

 • More confidence in your body’s ability.

 • Better sleep and a calmer mind.

🌿 If you’d like to explore gentle, restorative yoga designed with women’s bodies and needs in mind, I’d love to welcome you into my offerings at Aroha Nui Yoga. Together, we’ll move in ways that feel safe, supportive, and deeply nourishing.

Yoga for Calm  - for Self-paced gentle yoga in your own home

Yoga for Wāhine - 12 weeks both Live via Zoom and in your own time

Rongoā Moemoeā Guided Relaxation - audio guided relaxation for at home bliss