While going through total hip replacement we want tools at our disposal to support the journey both on and off the yoga mat. Blocks, bolsters, walkers, canes, and other devices help but one of the best supports is our hands! Think of the kinds of subtle information...
Go Slow – Build New Neural Pathways
When you learn to waltz for the first time it is natural to start by taking each step deliberately and slowly. This is how our brains and bodies learn new things. This slow patterning builds neural pathways so that after awhile, the movement becomes second nature and...
Relax and Restore – Because it feels so good!
Intentional relaxation is as important as building strength for health and healing following total hip replacement. Yoga offers a whole range of wonderful ways to relax in the form of Restorative Poses. The main goal of Restorative poses is to prop your body in the...
Yoga Technique & Alignment: For the health and longevity of THR
Technique and alignment in your yoga poses is essential for the health of your new hip(s). If you are practicing proper technique this means you are using proper alignment and this will make your hips happy!! On the physical level, practicing proper technique and...
Strength – THR’s Best Friend
Strength stabilizes joints. It increases bone density. And it helps you avoid dislocation. Which means that strength is every Hippie's best friend. When I was preparing for hip replacement, my brother, who had already had both his hips replaced, said “Whatever you do...
Dislocation- No Thanks!
Dislocation for a person with total hip replacement is when the ball of the prosthesis pulls out of the socket. It happens to only about 2% of THR cases within the first year. The most common cause of dislocation is an accident – a fall, a crash, a hard impact – and...
Mountain Pose / Tadasana / Samasthiti
Standing is an everyday activity. In yoga we make it a mindful practice by bringing a focus to alignment, muscular strength, and a cultivation of ease. Some consider it the launchpad for all other standing poses and it is a perfect place to start for total hip replacement because it establishes principles that support our hips as we move forward in our practice.
Yoga and Pain Management: Take a deep breath
Almost every person who is going through THR experiences pain in one form or another. I experienced pain in the months before my surgery because I was dealing with bone-on-bone in my hip socket as well as a labrum tear. Yoga helped me manage the pain; I’m not just...
Questions for your Surgeon
"The more you understand about your total hip replacement surgery ahead of time, the better." Here is a list of questions that were important for my understanding. Look for links at the bottom for more detailed information. These questions are specifically for your...
What is the “Core?”
“Core Trunk” muscles stabilize our spine. We have muscles in our trunk in the front of, on the sides of, on the back, on the top of (diaphragm) and on the bottom of (pelvic floor) the spine. All these muscles play a role in supporting our spine and play a crucial role...