I have rheumatoid arthritis - recommend me an exercise DVD which won't kill me

[0pheliaBalls]

Just that, really. Diagnosed with RA when I was 37 and since then - five years - I've gone from a size 14 (which I was perfectly happy with) to a size 20 (not so much). A lot of my joints are affected but my feet are the worse - I used to keep fit by walking, sometimes ten miles a day several times a week. Walking at all is agonising at times now. Added to that there's the general fatigue that goes with the disease and drugs which can cause weight gain too.

I really want to get rid of a few stone so I'm thinking about exercise DVDs. Never used one before so have no idea where to start. I need something which doesn't involve much standing/jumping up and down etc and that will be easy on my joints. I was thinking yoga of some kind perhaps? Any advice would be very welcome

[Colette]

Barbara Curry yoga videos are supposed to be good, don't think weightwise it would help a lot. But could be good for getting you back into gentle exercise.

How about aqua aerobics ? would be easy on joints

[0pheliaBalls]

Getting back into gentle exercise would be just the job for now I think, just to get back into the swing of it. Probably makes sense not to try to run before I can walk - almost literally I'll have a look at her DVDs. Aqua aerobics sounds good but I don't think I'd have the confidence to be seen in a swimsuit in public right now. Maybe a couple of stone down the line.

Thank you for your suggestions

[bigfatfeet]

I also have RA and have found pilates really good - there are loads of videos on YouTube but I particularly like Fitness Blender and the creepy twins of Pilates on 5th. It's low impact and really good way of strengthening the muscles round your joints - once you start to feel better you can probably build up to other forms of strength training, weights etc. I really believe it helps to keep my RA under control (along with shitloads of drugs, obvs) and I definitely feel better for it.