Practically speaking, I that regular yoga practice for helping me improve doing daily tasks. I get dressed twice as fast as when I started practicing. For example, putting on pants would sometimes consume 3-5 minutes. I'd try and miss the leg, try and miss the leg again and again. All this because standing on one foot and lifting the other without falling or getting the lifted leg stuck takes concentration and time. Simple things like fastening bras, pulling on tight tops that have to be pulled over my head, working zippers on the backs of dresses can be done by myself if necessary and definitely quicker.
Most notable is that I can get in and out of my soaking tub without assistance. This is a big deal! I like to use my tub everyday, if possible. I need independence
When we built our house on the home farm in Mills River, we designed almost the entire house around this Victoria Albert tub. I saw one similar to it at my friend Eleanor's home in Durham. We were gathering ideas about what we wanted to include in our new house at the time. I especially liked it because Eleanor told me it is made of volcanic ash which is an organic material. That means it holds the heat of hot water as long as it needs to stay hot. Plus, it felt like an elegant smooth rock to touch. Having had other acrylic and fiberglass in jacuzzi tubs, I knew what I wanted when I saw it. Keep in mind it never occurred to me that getting in and out of the tub would be hazardous. The handrail is an important tool in the process. I am glad to report that other than the water sprayer making a mess occasionally, I have had no issues with my tub.
Aside from the physical benefits of improved balance, flexibility of ankle, knee and shoulder joints, and strength, I have enjoyed many physiological benefits. For example, I use to have headaches regularly. Those began diminishing very early in my practice. Numbness of fingers and arms has decreased significantly. I was diagnosed with carpel tunnel syndrone about the same time of the MS diagnosis. Up until a year ago, I wore an arm brace overnight to keep from having severe arm pain that would wake me up and be very difficult to shake off. I no longer do the arm brace and rarely have numbness that interferes with anything during the day. Constipation was always an issue as was bloated stomach. Those issues are gone completely.
Perhaps the most significant benefit I receive is the stress reduction medicine it affords. Stress is a big deal for MS people. I know I don't handle stress well. Donnie takes care of all the household duties that cause me stress. Luckily, he enjoys doing financial work. That stresses me. He picks up duties related to hosting parties that he knows stress me. We love doing parties on our patio, but, that does add a certain element of stress. Donnie sets up everything and cleans up everything. By the time we are done, I'm usually very tired.
