Restless Leg Syndrome
Question:I have a massage client who has been diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome. Is there any type of yoga routine or poses that can help her? She has tried all sorts of drugs, she is 65yrs old, knee surgery 3 years ago . Thanks Suzan

Response Hi Suzan, nice to hear from you.Restless leg syndrome is something that is diagnosed by its symptoms. Each individual who has it may have a different cause. Therefore, each individual may different results with treatment. Has your client had her iron levels tested? Iron deficiency can sometimes be involved. The best yoga therapy technique I have found is moving from Viparita Karni (shoulders on floor, hips elevated, legs vertical) to uttanasana (stranding forward bend). Place the student in Viparita Karni at the wall. Bolster under the hips and buttocks touching the wall or as close as possible. Stay for a bout 2 minutes and then roll to the side, stand up and bend over into uttanasana for about 2 minutes. repeat this sequence for a minimum of 15 minutes. If you are there to help, tie the legs together with 4 straps. If she can do this by herself, all the better. But the straps might make it to difficult to transition from one position to the other if she is practicing by herself. I have found that the transition between the two postures creates a flushing feeling in the legs that can be beneficial. Try this sequence for a minimum on 15 minutes for a minimum of one week and see if there is any benefit. I am also going to send you a sequence of therapeutic exercises for for correct functioning of the pelvic and sacral bones. I use it for treatment of sacro-iliac function. However, it also works with the sacral nerves which may be involved in Restless Leg Syndrome. Use #5 for the piriformis if time is limited, but the entire sequence might help, too. How is her virasana (kneeling) after the knee surgery? If it is at all possible, try it for a short period of time, and then stand up into uttanasana. This also creates the flushing action. Please keep me posted on any effect these postures might have. Namaste, PoseMasterK"