Yoga as Self-Care for Arthritis in Minority Communities

This study used Hatha yoga (influenced by Integral, Iyengar, and Kripalu yoga) which includes postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation \[9\]. Biweekly, 60-minute, bilingual yoga classes were offered for 8 weeks at a yoga studio in Washington, DC. Classes were kept small (3-10 participants) to allow for pose modifications as needed for each participant. Participants were given instructions, bilingual manuals, and yoga equipment to encourage home practice. Participants were asked to keep journals to document the frequency and duration of home practice and their experience while on the study. After the last class, a yoga DVD and a list of local yoga studios were given to encourage continued practice.