Elina From Sweden’s Yoga Routines (and Tips) for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Elina manages her ankylosing spondylitis entirely medication free. She’s created a YouTube channel where she shares exactly what works for her
Check out Elina’s awesome YouTube channel here and Instagram channel here.
As well as yoga she discusses her life with AS and some of the things that have helped her. I find it really inspiring seeing some with my condition doing impossible looking handstands!
I’ve shared some of my favourite videos below for easy reference. Do check on her channels as she adds new content frequently.
Elina’s AS Diagnosis Journey
Elina shares her ankylosing spondylitis (AS) journey, covering diagnosis, biologics, workouts, and diet. This includes her experience with Humira during severe flare-ups, which helped in the short term but didn’t feel like a permanent solution. For Elina managing AS without biologics means low-impact exercises like weightlifting, Pilates, and yoga. With diet, she recommends experimenting with various nutritional approaches to find what works best for you.
Click here to view this video in YouTube
Top 5 Ways to Manage AS
Elina talks about the importance of getting good sleep with ankylosing spondylitis. She covers diet and how we need to find foods that work for us (tip: avoid refined sugar and sugary drinks!). She talks about reducing stress levels, getting a good exercise routine in place (with low-impact activities like Pilates, weightlifting) and also taking advantage of supportive tools like foam rollers and resistance bands. Finally, she covers some of her favourite pain relief strategies.
Click here to view this video in YouTube
5 Things to Avoid With AS
Elina shares 5 things to avoid with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). She advises against being sedentary and emphasises the importance of movement (even light exercise). She highlights the importance of minimising stress as this can exacerbate inflammation and also avoiding online forums for chronic illnesses, which can often be negative. She suggests focusing on what you CAN do rather than what you can’t (I love this), even during flare-ups. Lastly, she highlights the importance of maintaining good posture.
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5 Tips for AS Flares
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5 Things to Avoid With AS
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How To Workout With AS
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Exercise Routines
Hip Flexibility For AS
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Spine Stretches for AS
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Everyday Stretches For AS
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Upper Back Stretches
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Arthritis Friendly Arm Workout
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The Best Stretch for AS
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Tip: Most Smart TVs let you play YouTube videos full screen on your TV which make these exercises much easier to follow. Simply save these videos as favourites (or in the playlist of your choice) in YouTube on your computer. Now you should be able to access them easily on your TV. You can also achieve the same thing using a ChromeCast.
Once again, this is just a small selection! Make sure you check out Elina’s YouTube channel here and Instagram channel here.