Osteoarthritis 1-12-26

Your Vision

Moving forward not backwards!

Dear Reader,

Come on. Celebrate. You did it! You survived the first full week of January. You sent the kids back to school and you may have watched a few football games in preparation for the Superbowl. You cleaned up your celebration decorations and you returned to work with a positive attitude (or at least an attitude of some sort. LOL).

In honor of all your achievements, I'd like to introduce some surprising information for you or someone you love who has now heard the dreaded words "Osteoarthritis" from their friendly doctor. It can sound foreboding or it can be a wake up call to implement change now. Giving up things is difficult but adding some new and positive can be quite energizing.

In 2026, I am asking you to think bigger. What is your vision for this year? What are the wins that you'd like to claim for yourself? What is stopping you? These are hard questions. Many of you now caregivers for people you wholeheartedly love. Life may seem unforgiving somewhat. Some of you may be sick or suffering from the Austin curse: Cedar Fever. It's no joke. You feel like you're dying but you don't always get sympathy. Perhaps thinking out into the future a bit can be helpful. Time can heal as it has for me.

As much as I could dig into this rabbit hole, there is too much good stuff to share. So, with your permission, let's get to it!

Exploring OSTEOARTHRITIS & YOGA

  I am truly excited to share some practical insights with you and with others my age and older. You'll see here a pic of my brother John and I at my niece's wedding shower. John and I are navigating our 60's with a positive attitude and a few challenges. I do love this picture!

Learn more about OsteoArthritis and Yoga

Healing the Axis: A Personal Approach to Osteoarthritis and Yoga Therapy

In my practice as a Yoga Therapy Specialist, I recently sat with a 75-year-old client who came to me with a common goal: she wanted more strength and better balance. But like so many others living with Osteoarthritis (OA), she walked through my door simply hurting.

When a client is in pain, that is our first priority. We don't just "push through" in Yoga Therapy; we work to get you out of pain quickly so that the real work of healing can begin.

The Two Faces of Osteoarthritis

What many people don’t realize is that OA wears many masks. I often see it present in two contradictory ways, and you have to know which one you are experiencing in order to work through it safely.

• The "Noisy" Joint (Pseudo-Hypermobility): Are you hypermobile? The markers here are asymmetry and noisy joints (that familiar popping or grinding called crepitus). As cartilage erodes, the joint space becomes inconsistent. The ligaments may overstretch as the body desperately searches for stability.

• The "Stiff" Joint (Hypomobility): Is this you? Do you have sharp pain and a reduced range of motion. Here, the body "splints" itself, using muscle tension to lock the joint down and protect it from further pain, which unfortunately leads to a cycle of deepening stiffness.

Axis and Intrinsics

Once we address the immediate pain, my job becomes that of a detective. We look back to find out what caused the body to get to where it is today. Was it a postural habit? An old injury?

Regardless of the "how," the solution always returns to the Axis.

1. Aligning the Axis: We begin by finding your neutral structural line. This is where you get to stand in front of my man skeleton poster.  By aligning the skeletal system properly, we ensure weight is distributed evenly across your joints rather than grinding down on the "hot spots."

2. Awakening the Intrinsics: We then awaken the "intrinsic" muscles—those deep, subtle stabilizers that sit close to the bone. These aren't the big muscles you see at the gym; they are your internal scaffolding. They balance and support your structure to keep it from "falling" into the joint space.

Learn More About Working with Your Axis

From Pain to Inspiration

The danger of "DIY" yoga with osteoarthritis is significant. Without understanding whether you need to stabilize a "noisy" joint or mobilize a "stiff" one, you are likely to cause further injury.

My goal is to show you how to move in a way that promotes true well-being. Once we find your axis and awaken your support system, the fear of movement fades. I want to inspire my clients to keep moving—not out of obligation, but because they have finally rediscovered a body that feels supportive, aligned, and, most importantly, capable of healing.

Ready to Rediscover Your Axis?

Don't let joint pain dictate your quality of life. Whether you are struggling with stiffness or feeling unstable in your movements, a personalized Yoga Therapy assessment can help you find your way back to balance.

Contact me today to schedule your initial consultation. Together, we will identify the root of your discomfort and create a movement plan that empowers you to heal from the inside out.

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