title: A Qualitative Study Exploring Community Yoga Practice in Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Yoga may improve physical function and reduce disease symptoms in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, little is known about how patients with RA are practicing yoga in the community. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore community yoga practice characteristics and thoughts about yoga practice for adults with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a semi-structured telephone interview with open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 17 adults with rheumatologist-diagnosed RA who had participated in yoga within the past year were asked about the decision to start, continue, and stop yoga; the perceived benefits of yoga; components of yoga sessions; and general thoughts about yoga as it relates to RA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although eight different styles of yoga were practiced, commonalities in yoga class components (such as stretching, strengthening, deep breathing, meditation, and positive messaging from the instructor) reveal examples of preferred types of yoga for patients with RA. Three main themes emerged, each with multiple subthemes: (1) motivators (physical fitness, influence of others, reduced price), (2) barriers (cost, symptom burden, class difficulty), and (3) benefits of yoga practice (mind-body, a tool for coping, pride/achievement, social, and "yoga meets you where you are").
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, patients with RA described how yoga practice helped improve physical and psychosocial symptoms related to their disease. Yoga practice, a dynamic exercise, encompassing many different styles, can provide many benefits for adults with RA; however, yoga may not be beneficial for every adult with RA.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing , Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Greysen
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: S Ryan
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Greysen
authors.affiliation: 3 University of California San Francisco School of Nursing , San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 3 University of California San Francisco School of Nursing , San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Oi Saeng
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: 4 University of California San Francisco School of Medicine , San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: 3 University of California San Francisco School of Nursing , San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leutwyler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015013:Yoga
keywords: physical function; qualitative; rheumatoid arthritis; symptoms; yoga