Advertisement The 50-year-old Winona woman participated in a study on yoga and fibromyalgia conducted by Lisa Rudrud of La Crosse for her doctoral dissertation at St. Mary’s University. Rudrud got the idea for the study after talking to a fibromyalgia support group in Winona.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on the body where slight pressure causes pain.
“Yoga did help me with some flexibility, which in turn helped with some aches and pain,” Wolf said. “There was less tension in my muscles, which helped with stress reduction.
“I couldn’t do high-impact aerobics, so this yoga was very good, especially with Lisa, who always gives you options,” she said. “Lisa made me feel I can do something that has a positive impact on my health.”
Rudrud has a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science/fitness and a master’s degree in sports management, both from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
She is fitness director at the Winona Family YMCA, where she conducts yoga stretch classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Her study found that fibromyalgia patients who practiced gentle Hatha yoga reported improvement in their symptoms.
The study showed patients continued to report pain in their journals, but the amount of pain was less, Rudrud said. Patients also reported they started doing yoga on their own at home without her suggesting it, she said.
“I’ve incorporated yoga exercises in my day and that has helped me,” Wolf said. “But not one thing, including yoga, will fix everything.”
Rudrud said yoga stretch is a series of poses targeted at certain parts of the body that are known to be areas that can cause chronic pain. “Every movement is linked with breath,” she said.
Yoga can help the neck, upper and lower back, tight hamstrings, weak abdomen and tight hips, she said.
Rudrud said yoga has made a big difference in her life because she has suffered from back pain for 20 years.
“It’s been a cure for me at times, but now it’s just helping me and I needed
intervention,” she said. “Yoga can help you, but it’s not a cure for everything.”
Rudrud said yoga stretch reduces tension and stress, and loosens up the joints so they function better during the day.
“Yoga is cheaper than therapy,” she said.
Rudrud said many of her students do not have fibromyalgia but have other medical problems such as back or knee pain, stress, anxiety or depression.
“Some of the problems went away,” she said.
At a recent class, Rudrud led students through the postures. One of her focuses was opening hips and strengthening the back.
“Try to keep tension away from the neck and shoulders,” Rudrud told students.
Students rotated their trunks and stretched many parts of the body. In one stretch, they lay on their backs and walked their legs straight up the wall and held the position.
Rudrud reminded students not to shortchange a stretch.
“If you’re not feeling good, you’re not doing yoga,’ Rudrud said.
Gretchen Schade, 60, a retired English teacher at Rushford-Peterson High School, said yoga has helped with stretching, strengthening and relaxation. “It has helped my flexibility very, very much,” Schade said.
Mary Jo Fetsch, 67, of Arcadia, Wis., said she has taken Rudrud’s class because she is trying to avoid or lessen symptoms that come with age. “It keeps me very flexible, and it keeps me working on balance,” Fetsch said. “I’m very relaxed and feel good after class.”
Peggy Killian, 34, of Winona, had back surgery in November and yoga stretch helps her move better in her daily tasks.
“It gives me back my movement,” Killian said. “Overall, I feel like a young kid again.”
Sue Wolfe, 44, of Winona, said yoga stretch has helped her with her recovery from surgery after she had borderline melanoma. “I feel so much better, and I’m starting to run again,” Wolfe said.
Crystal Bengtson, 27, of Winona, attended her first class recently.
“I feel good, very relaxed,” she said. “I want to strengthen my back.”
Rudrud said not all types of yoga are suitable for everyone. She teaches gentle yoga and vinyasa flow, more strenuous yoga that requires strength and flexibility.
“I do not do pretzel yoga,” she said.
Rudrud said people should consult with their physicians before doing yoga, and doctors should become educated so they can accurately prescribe it.
“I know a lot of people can give some relief of their pain and become stronger and more flexible with yoga,” Rudrud said. “Besides, they will feel better.”
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com, or (608) 791-8227
Yoga stretch
Lisa Rudrud leads her yoga stretch class at the Winona YMCA at 10:05 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. She also has produced a DVD of yoga stretch, called “Feel Good Yoga,” available for $20. For information on her class and DVD, call the Winona YMCA at (507) 454-1520 or e-mail her at yogalisa@live.com.
‘gentle yoga’
Franciscan Skemp Healthcare is offering gentle yoga courses starting today at its Onalaska, Wis., clinic. Classes are taught by Emily Walburn. One session runs from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 10. The other session, from 11 a.m. to noon Thursdays, starts Thursday and runs through Sept. 11. The cost is $80 for 10 sessions or $15 for a single session. The cost is $10 for first-timers. To register, call (608) 392-4172. Walk-ins are welcome.
