Yoga for Bone Health: Upper Body

I really appreciate your clarity and emphasis on being gentle and careful. Great demeanor. I echo the commenter who suggested checking out Loren Fishman’s poses. I would love to see a routine designed for everyday practice based upon them.

Hello, David. I am 74 and have osteoporosis. I began doing yoga in my 50s for my back. I have done your 2 classes for strong bones, but would like something more. Are you aware of Loren Fishman’s 15 poses for osteoporosis? I can’t find them in a well-put-together flow. Perhaps you could do another class for strong bones that speaks to students who are more experienced with yoga? You can find Fishman’s poses on the internet. Just a suggestion, and thank you for all your wonderful classes for beginners/intermediate.

David,
I’ve been doing research and just took a PT class for osteoporosis. The experts I’m following say no forward bending especially if you have osteoporosis in spine which I do. I love your classes and I can adapt these poses, but I’m concerned that many may not have that knowledge. Please be sure it’s appropriate for those of us with osteoporosis. Thank you

Thank you David! A great help for mobility and release - counting on it to help my bones, too!

hello-
my mum has osteoarthritis, and I am looking for my classes like this for her, could you help? This class is a bit of a challenge, as she has to stand for so long.. but she has persevered.
i'm afraid she cant sit on the floor, but can sit on a chair.

Any pointers would be welcomed.

Wonderful soft stretch practice. Thank you, David, for explaining it so thoroughly.

great for YTT
David is so good and explaining everything

I definitely love the way this feels. I will be adding this in regularly. Mahalo!

Thank you so much for making classes for people with osteoporosis. I really appreciate this. I hope you can feel my gratitude :)

I'm 35yo and have been doing yoga for years. This gentle upper body stretching felt great this morning when i was feeling sore from yesterday's workout.
This class is straight-forward (no yoga jargon used here) and accessible to everyone. As David mentions, owning a mat and strap is not necessary, since you can replace the strap with anything rope-like that's about 4 feet long.

Found it to be a gentle, yet effective class to stretch the shoulders and neck

Excellent and just what I needed today. Thank you David

This would be a great class for the mid-afternoon slump! I love how I feel afterwards.

Excellent session for osteoporosis. I continue to be amazed at how powerful seemingly simple stretches can be! I am delighted to be receiving guidance on the correct way to move my body to help it be strong, flexible, and relaxed.

Nice practice, look forward to sharing this gentle practice with my seniors, and adults with disabilities. Thank you!

An excellent start to the day. tarted to feel some ease with the process and my body welcoming the movement. It definitely brought energy.

My neck feels much better. Thank you!

Loved this class. Thank you.

Lots of creaking and crackling today, but feel amazing. Thanks!

Lots of creaking and crackling today, but feel amazing. Thanks!

Awesome stretching and release of tension by softening . Balance of effort and release in a gentle way! I find myself being more aware of my breath and movement.
Thanks
Cynthia

I love the neck stretches...must add these daily.

As a person with osteoporosis and headaches, I am happy that I could begin doing some safe, gentle movements to help with the stiffness and pain I experience. I'm looking forward to making yoga more a consistent, daily activity in my life.

Wonderful!

loved the slow movement and concentration on upper half of body. Looking forward to lower half of body tomorrow!

Loved the slow movements.

Nice way to loosen things up. I look forward to tomorrow’s focus on the lower half.

fantastic gentle moves

Great neck stretches. Namaste!

Ahhh...............so good

Very good stretches for the neck.

wonderful! I feel looser the reminder to keep muscles soft is so appropriate.
Namaste

very effective

Great shoulder and neck stretches.

Nice stretches. Missed my shavasana. :-)

Perfect again David! What a beautiful way to start my day....I'll finish up with one of your meditations and be ready for anything...Namaste

Perfect again David! What a beautiful way to start my day....I'll finish up with one of your meditations and be ready for anything...Namaste

This was so invigorating and at a perfect pace for someone who doesn't done any yoga for a few years. Thanks David.

Thanks for letting me do yoga with you for years! But I have recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis, especially in the upper spine, and have been warned by two MDs to not twist or round my back, including forward bends. However, I cannot find any real evidence that bending or twisting has actually caused spinal fractures. What's your opinion? Do you know of good quality research done on this topic? Thanks in advance.

Hi David - I'm not necessarily your target audience for this class, but as a teacher I still loved slowing a sequence down to cater for a specific type of student. My Yoga for Men classes I run locally have many that join my class and would benefit from some of these more subtle movements to realise the benefits without overstraining themselves. It can be so challenging moving in space through poses, so I really like the use of the strap through many of these poses. Really looking to practicing the lower body class next - thank you.

Enjoyed this class. It was nice to slow down and remember to be aware. Softening is something I need to work on. I feel myself stiffen in a lot of poses. Thank you.

LOVELY, David. How come you always know just what I need? I appreciate how you articulate the essential minutiae of each pose; even after doing yoga for decades this was still a challenge resulting in a Warrior One more grounded than ever before. SOFTEN is such a lovely reminder for every minute. As the seasons pass I observe your environment; you're back outside and looks like you've got a drought; as we have in Australia.