"Yoga to Spread Your Wings: Expand your mind and your motion. Sit with soles of feet together. Hold on to feet with hands, lean forward keeping back straight and chin at 90-degree angle to chest. Breathe slowly and deeply. Continue for 1 to 3 minutes. Feel your body transform with the strength to soar throughout the day."
Doesn't seem too difficult, right? Well, it is if you are the person most likely drinking the Joint Comfort tea and struggle just to get your knee to bend enough to get up and down the stairs or move from standing position to sitting position in a chair. I know many of us with rheumatoid arthritis do some type of yoga, but this just seemed wrong to have on Joint Comfort tea. Perhaps it is there to inspire us, but instead it seemed like a sad joke put on a box. Maybe it seemed wrong to me because after a few great days my knee is again throwing a temper tantrum or maybe it is because so many of my RA blogger friends are having bad days right now and struggling just to type a post on their blog. Whatever it was, it just felt wrong to me yesterday. In fact, looking at it again today, it still feels wrong.....almost like the gal in the photo is showing off that she can bend her knees so easily when I can't right now.
Here is me doing the same pose. My right knee bends with ease as the Yogi model does, but the left knee just doesn't want to cooperate. Maybe Yogi will use me as their model for Joint Comfort.
Oh, wait, with a little work and a little pain I am not doing too bad. Reminder to Cathy - we don't have to look like the models on the side of tea boxes. We can always make modifications in our workouts. The goal is not to have a perfect pose but to keep our bodies moving!
What would your photo on Yogi tea look like?
*By the way I do love Yogi products and this tea is actually REALLY tasty!
My photo on the Yogi Tea box would look much like your second effort -- except a lot chubbier! ;o) I think it's wonderful that you came to the conclusion that it's not the perfection of the pose; in the end, it's effort you put into trying it. I can't tell you the number of times I've looked at that little lady on the Yogi Tea boxes and thought, "Yeah, in my DREAMS." Well, you've given me a new way to think about them, Cathy. Thanks for that. :o)
ReplyDeleteAs for the teas -- I love Yogi Teas, though I have to admit I haven't actually tried the Joint variety yet. I'll have to pick up a box. I have my doubts as to how actually effective they are, but there's no arguing that they taste delicious and that's no small thing when you hurt.
I hope your knee will ease up today as time passes. Warm compresses? A heating pad? Heat always seems soothing to me. I'm still dreaming of a bathtub and a long, hot soak ...
Oh -- and thanks for your kind wishes. My hands are much better today. Long-distance healing! Hooda thought?
-Wren
Never heard of Yogi teas, but loved the way you turned your thoughts around re the comment on the box. My photo on the box would look something like Tweedledum doing your first effort!
ReplyDeletePolly
My photo would be more likely used as an Instructional Training photo for Emergency Room personnel. Some days I hurt so bad putting my socks and shoes on. 3-4 minutes after I have them on I'm ok, my hips and knees just can't bend.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up, you're doing great. I wish I could bend as well as you do.
I'd do the warrior pose!
ReplyDeleteI got my mom a box of Yogi Tea sampler pack for calming/relaxation but I didn't read the "other ingredients" and some of them had barley! Oh no. I still love the company though and now I know to look for hidden ingredients.
Yikes! I will have to check the "other ingredients" also. That is scary.
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