MY KNEE JOINT YOGA PROGRAM
Professor Kim Bennell discusses osteoarthritis and exercise
Instructor, Lisa Westlake, introduces the program and setup
What to wear?
- Comfortable loose or stretchy clothes that allow you to move and exercise freely
- Ideally, you are in bare feet for all classes – this allows you to feel your weight shifting through your feet and find good alignment
- If you require a specialised shoe such as an orthotic, or footwear for any other condition, then do wear those shoes through the program
- Socks are slippery and therefore unsafe so stick with bare feet or shoes
Setting up
- You require an open floor area. Enough Space to move and exercise, approx. 1m wide by 2m long
- A clear wall is useful for various options offered each week, especially if you find getting down and back up from the floor challenging
- Set up with your computer, tablet, or laptop in easy view, to follow the videos
- It is important you work on a Stable non-slip flooring such as a sturdy rug that won’t shift under you, or preferably a non-slip exercise mat , a yoga mat is ideal (You can find a yoga mat quite inexpensively at many retailers)
- Avoid bare wood/tile floors as they can be slippery and less safe. We could also write here, For the same reason avoid socks, bare feet or shoes are best.
- You will also need a Sturdy but light-weight chair with a back at a height that allows you to comfortably rest your hands on when you are standing behind. Strong enough that it won’t move, but light enough for you to move it around as we go through the class. Do not use a chair on wheels or any chair that is not otherwise stable
- A couple of towels, cushions, or blankets nearby will also be useful – They will be suggested for various exercises to prop or support your alignment and provide options to suit your body . During class, you will notice that our participants collect these from nearby shelves. At home you will ideally set these up within reach so that you can get them easily without having to move too much.
Once you have your area set up, you’re ready to dive into week one of the program! Remember, you can always come back for reminders along the way