Selecting a Yogo Instructor

Regular exercise can be important in controlling arthritis, and, for many, the combination of deep stretching exercise and meditation offered by yoga is particularly appealing. Although more than 11 million Americans practice yoga at least once a week, according to a recent Roper poll, finding a qualified teacher can be a challenge.

The Arthritis Foundation recommends first asking about an instructor?s training?where and how many hours. According to the Yoga Alliance (www.yogaalliance.org), a minimum of 200 hours of training?including instruction in technique, anatomy and physiology, and teaching methods?is the minimum standard. The person should have been teaching no less than 6 months to a year. It is also very important to tell the instructor about your own complicating conditions, such as arthritis, says the Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org).