I am a member of Curves gym. They have hydraulic machines. These stop the thump and strain which a regular gym may feature. Exercise is accompanied by music which is specially formulated to the kind of rhythm that has been found to work well with exercise. So while the songs are familiar they generally arent performed by the original stars.

The Idea is to do the circuit twice and while the machines dont change they regularly change the exercise on the board in between. (Do things like twists, stomps or hands in air shakes). If there is one near you maybe you could see if they are doing a week's free trial or similar. This franchise seems to do that quite often. I really am not one to advertise and I would never have gone except I won a year's free membership initially and it was genuine. Only major thing I have ever won! As a bonus I lost a few pounds without having to change diet!

There is stretching at the end. My gym has a special tower to work round for that but I notice my daughter's curves gym in another town doesnt. (My daughter also has an autoimmune disease and works so finds the 36 min routine fits into her lunch time - of course NZ having such a low population density travelling time isnt usually an issue in towns which are one of big three cities).

It costs so if you are looking for inexpensive exercise the hula sounds fine and could combine with walking - if you can. Specialist told me walking is actually very good for central part of your body too - plus major organs. I walk when I can.

Am admiring of your ability with the hula hoop! (or do you just do hula moves to music island style?) Used to be an ace as a child but there is one at my gym as an option between machines and I am now hopeless!

I've been in PT for a torn ACL and am exercising now more than I have since RA became part of my life. I warm up on a stationary bike, do stretches then move on to weight machines and exercise bands. I've been doing a lot of leg and core strengthening. My balance is better and I'm stronger. I just told my PT that I never imagined doing these exercises again. Good luck finding what works for you.

Since I got RA under control with biologics I have been exercising 6 days a week. Going on over 7 years, now. I was as weak as a baby before I started.

Be sure you do not exercise joints in active flares. I have deformed thumb bunions for not obeying that rule. I highly recommend bicycling as it is low impact for knees and feet. I also do weights, and was up to 15 lb free weights, but a series of set backs has me down to 10 lbs. I did start with the one pound weights.

Today I rode my bike 22 miles or 36 km. It was a long haul, but trying to get my last outdoor riding before I do my inside exercise bike. When I started, I could ride one MINUTE at a time. Today it was 100 minutes and my knees felt better after I finished than before.

So don't give up. My RA is so severe I was bet ridden for 7 years. Find some meds that work, and go at it slowly, and consistently. That is how I became a competitive bicycle rider. (I compete with myself!! LOL)

Start small and DO NOT HURT YOURSELF. Exercise is quadriple slow with RA because you caannot hurt or this will make you fall even further behind. If your pain is controlled by OTC pain meds, then it's ok, but be careful!
And it's great that you have started exercise. We RAers need that!!!!

Wow Kristie, good for you!!. I am truly impressed.

I have a DVD that's called "Walk in your home" and I love it. I live in Florida and it's very humid to walk outside right now. I walk inside my house and it all really depends on how I'm feeling...if I'm fine I'll do 3 miles if not just one. Or I will split, do 1 mile and a few hours later do another. It's great because you don't just walk, you also exercise your arms too!

Camba - I do hula island style with music or an ipu drum and chanting. It's the one thing that would really hurt me emotionally if I had to stop doing it.
Kristie - Thanks. I always thought that my RA would get worse with time. I've had it for 6 years. I'm a little more hopeful now.

My rheumy said nothing weight bearing for now. Pool only. But I haven't even done that for two weeks. I get exercise fatigue. If I exercise that's all I can do in a day and since I work full time and am a single parent, those days are far and few between that I can devote to just exercising and crashing.

I agree with hellodian. Having a dog gets you out of the house walking. I walk with my son and Husky about a mile everynight. I do more walks on weekends. My son or husband hold the dog because huskies pull alot. I just walk with them.

Walk the dog so you have a buddy to make sure you do it every day or so...

I do 'yoga', but really just the sitting pose. It is amazing to realize how weak you are that you can't even sit right. A few weeks and you feel so much happier when you can sit up straight.