Yoga, walking, Tai Chi, swimming and a water aerobics class specifically for arthritics are all good choices.But, you have to pace yourself. Everything must be attempted at a snails pace.

It sounds like you did too much in a short period of time. Try again when you feel better. Be proactive and anticipate that you might have an lipstick in pain afterwards.Use a muscle rub, take a hot Epsom salts bath etc.

You'll have to figure out by trial and error what works for you. It is important to keep moving. Take care.

What Fantod said.

I began yoga with five minutes out of a 30-minute video (TV show back then).

Every *other* day.

Then it was every day.

Then it was ten minutes every other day, five on the days in between.

It's verrrrry slow. Very very very slow. But it's really the only way to go. Trial. Error. FM is not forgiving.

Think of it this way, which I think I say so often that I might as well just ask DS to make it a motto, LOL....

The baseline in fibro is the same as someone else's post-hard-workout.

Approach it like that.... as if you're adding on to an already exhausting workout, rather than "jumping in".... see if it helps.

Meantime, blessings and I loved yoga. Fifteen years of it, up to over 30 minutes a day, amazing for the fibro for me. Worth the slow buildup, and I miss it dearly. (Messed up my pelvis in a fall. I can't *bend*, literally. Argh.)

Go easy and go slow and good luck!

This is one of those things where we're all very different. My fibro doc finally told me to stop trying to do yoga, as every time I do, I tear a muscle. I'm not talking about anything strenuous - I wouldn't even attempt that. Just a simple downward facing dog or plank will do it.

Most, as Fantod and Leo said, can start slow and pace.

You have to do what works for you.

Aloha!

Yes walking a little here and there / around the block helps me. I also swim a little bit when I can. I used to swim 1-2x a week but the weather this time of year (at the beach) isn't nice swimming conditions and our pool at the complex is small and the water is freezing, we guessed about 50 deg. I still try to go in when it's not raining just to move around a little, then get a nice hot shower.

Anyway, I tried yoga 1x / week for 2 months and was in a lot of pain each time. Everyone kept telling me just hang in there you'll get better at it, but I didn't. To make matters worse, they kept increasing how much we did and then they increased length in time from 1 hr to 1.5 hrs. I could not keep up and the pain wasn't worth it so I quit.

Like Peace says, it's not for everyone and what works for one person doesn't work for another. You just have to find your thing. Keep trying, don't give up. Btw, I found a slow gentle work out series for seniors and chronic pain sufferers called "Sit and Be Fit" You can find some of their stuff on Youtube. I use some of their workouts when I don't feel like leaving the house. They give you the option of sitting in a chair, which comes in handy. Half way through the work out or my back / hips is in too much pain I can just sit the rest of the time and still get a little work out.

Good luck to you!

I had physical therapy yoga for a brief time, and my therapist demonstrated that very little movement was needed to effect positive change if done with focus and intention. Fortunately, I have a restorative yoga class nearby that accommodates everyone.

I studied iyngar yoga for almost five years, and if I try to take a class or perform my old poses, I'm in pain as well.

I read a book on Fibro, where the author herself is a researcher and a fibro sufferer. She wrote that every time she does Yoga, she gets a flare up. Some of those yoga poses are just detrimental to fibro sufferers.

I, myself, don't do yoga. Before I got fibro, I did it a few times since people say it's relaxing and good for you, but I found yoga didn't do a darn thing to me good or bad. It was more relaxing to swim or take a nap!

In my personal experience, I have found certain types of yoga to be helpful. However, it may depend on what method of yoga Is good for you. I have found that gentle and restorative yoga work for me. Vinyasa yoga, for instance, was too much and caused flares. You may want to sample the different methods and find what works for you personally. The gentle stretching helps my muscles tremendously, the breathing great for stress, and the meditation great for my mind.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I guess this is just another example of how I am struggling to accept my fibro and have patiently adjust to this new way of life. Man, it is hard.

I think I am going to try gentle or restorative yoga and if that still causes flare ups, then I will find something else. Oh, and swimming sounds like it could be wonderful but it is so cold outside the thought of swimming makes me shiver.

I swam BEFORE I had fibro. I wonder now if the cold feeling right after you jump into the pool would cause your muscles to contract and tighten--thus making fibro worst. (Even on warm days with a regularly heated pool, you'll still feel cold for about 10 minutes before you warm up with movement.) Does anyone have an such swimming experience to share?

I swim all summer in an unheated pool. I actually like it because I am numb for awhile from the neck down. I find that my aquatic workout prevents any cramping etc. I do have to be very aware of my fatigue level. If it increases suddenly, I have to get out or I will have issues such as body temp control. I get very cold and it can take a couple of hours for me to get comfortable even with a heated throw.

I specifically recommended water aerobics for arthritics which is done in a heated pool. It is a very slow moving class. Heated water and slow motion are perfect for someone with Fibromyalgia. Take care.

I do not have a pool at home but I do try to attend water aerobics once a week at my local YMCA. I do it in the regular pool and do not feel as though it makes my muscles contract and tighten. Besides fibromyalgia, I have arthritis in my foot so I had to turn to the water instead of the speed walking I was doing. For me, it gives me some cardio but does not make me flare. Again, you have to ease into it and only do what you can and take breaks here and there. I refuse to let these disorders stop me and try to keep active with the yoga, pilates and swim. I believe the movement helps as much as it can.