they're inspired by a program like this one that really speaks to you directly. now, when you call or contribute online, we have a great group of volunteers that will help you select a great thank-you gift. they can explain how you can use the yoga for arthritis dvd with more than 95 minutes of home workout programs for your $60 donation, or how listening to peggy cappy's soothing voice on her stress relief cd can help you achieve true relaxation. so give us a call right now, contribute online, but help you to help yourself. call right now. >> well, peggy, one of the people that we meet in this special is a man named bob, who was quite an athlete when he was younger. and i was really very surprised that he developed arthritis. are young people today in all their sports and athletics setting themselves up for arthritis later? well, we think of arthritis as an old person's disease, but what we're finding is that anytime a joint is injured, has trauma to it, or overuse, it has

the potential to become arthritic. and so what we're seeing as that with the active sports that people are experiencing today, sometimes... like bob. he was a sophomore in high school, and that one event had repercussions for his whole life, so that by the time of 40, he was really, really in a lot of pain and discomfort. >> i've heard stories about young children who play soccer or, you know, lots of different sports, and they get injured. and i'm wondering if this program would help them if their parents were to add this yoga to their exercise routine. would that help? >> i think yoga is valuable for everybody, and it's something that can be learned and then practiced on your own. i think it's so valuable because it teaches you how to begin to listen to your body, to your mind, to your whole being, and develops an appreciation for how the movements work in the body. >> do something wonderful for yourself. help yourself right now, help this station, and give us a

call. here's laurie with more. >> thanks, anne. you know, i have to tell you that peggy dramatically changed my notion of yoga. you do not have to bend like a pretzel to do yoga. in fact, i had the privilege of going to one of peggy cappy's classes in peterborough, new hampshire, and i was right next to someone who was 89 years old, and she said, "laurie, you can do this." and i tell you, i did. whether it's standing tall leaning on a chair, sitting in a chair, this is yoga that you can incorporate as part or your daily routine. and i think the thing you have to do is stick with it day in, day out. go to that phone, make a membership pledge of $60. we would love to send you the easy yoga workout. call right now. there's a great group of volunteers, and they're standing by for your call. thanks.

>> the physical aspect is very important in yoga. but what happens over time when someone practices yoga is they come to see that the benefits for the mind are perhaps more profound than the physical benefits. and the physical benefits are pretty remarkable. in the beginning, you notice the physical changes that are really beneficial. but over time, you notice that "ah, something else is happening. i have a better ability to focus, better ability to bring myself into the present moment rather than worrying or having anxiety about the future, or feeling overwhelmed by past experiences." another important aspect is it helps develop balance and harmony through all the systems of the body. so it promotes health on the physical aspect, but the mental aspect is just as important.

>> it helps me with balance, which is an issue for me. and i've also felt that yoga has become a part of my reflective meditative side of my life in a way. that this whole business of concentrating on the breathing and being aware of one's body and noticing changes after activity and so on has given me a new kind of awareness. i'm sure it has to do with health, but it's also just interesting to live with. one of the things that yoga helps with is... makes you aware of the relationship between what you're doing physically with your body and and what's going

on in your mind. so sometimes i connect my head with the rest of my body. and it's interesting when you just think in terms of the breath. that's two ways, right? breathing in, you might say, breathing in. i think in some way, what does that say to me about the concept of love? what does it say when i breathe out, right? then if you have two or three things and you're going through a series of motions and you're still... then you're still exploring, say, faith, hope, and love, and each one comes with a different bodily motion at a different moment. and you say, "ah-hah. i just spent some time exploring what these words mean."

>> in addition to the physical benefits, there are emotional benefits that yoga provides. yoga is one of the greatest stress relievers that i know. and there are components of yoga that really help deal with emotional trauma and strain. and slowly down to the left. yoga is a great antidote to stress. and stress is not a friend of people that suffer with arthritis. as you feel stressed, what happens is that you tense up your muscles. you get really tight. and that tension then creates more pain. pain creates emotional disturbance, and then the more upset you are, the more pain you create. and it's a cycle that just continues. all of us at one time or another, and some people more than others, feel run by our minds. the mind's constant chatter seems like it seldom slows down. and for many people, it's actually hard to be in the present moment, to be aware

of what's happening. deep breathing itself is known to bring about decreased blood pressure. and with better breathing, sometimes it even affects sleep. people sleep better once they're doing a yoga program. i began yoga... i had the good fortune to begin yoga when i was only 21. and as a result of my very first yoga class, i knew this was something i would do for the rest of my life. and coming from that place for myself, having that experience myself, that's what kind of drives me in my teaching. i want... i love teaching first- time people. i want people to have that great first experience with yoga so that they too know that all of the benefits are theirs. >> i think one thing about yoga is that there's a more calming effect, perhaps a little more peaceful... i'm more peaceful with myself, and a little more

at ease. >> he liked it. he liked, i think, being able to move again. and he stayed with it. and so for the past ten years, he's faithfully done yoga probably two to three times a week. and the changes are nothing less than miraculous. >> meditation and yoga is your life. there is no separation. yoga is almost like a cultural feeling. when you come into contact with yoga, it affects all parts of your life. i felt like i had found somewhat of a spiritual home base. allow the energy to flow. and after about three months of really just doing the breathing with her, because i wasn't strong enough to do the gentle stretch exercises, but just doing the breathing, i

found a great reduction in my pain. in the mornings, i do get up and i meditate. not for long. just about ten minutes. and i do my own personal practice first thing in the morning. and it's usually a fairly quiet practice. and it has... it's a flowing practice, just to get the juices flowing. i knew... when i went to that yoga class, i knew i wanted to know more. i knew i wanted it to be part of my life for the rest of my life. i also knew that it filled a spiritual gap that i had, and that i'd been searching to fill that gap for quite a long time. >> i just think that yoga has kept me in the best of health. and i'm so thankful for that. it has made such a difference in my life. people can't believe that i walk

with my shoulders back. my balance isn't always the best, but that comes with age. i just can't say enough about yoga and what it's done for me. and people say, "but, oh, i can't do that now, you know, i'm too old for that." and i keep telling them that "well, you'd be surprised. and just let me know when you want to go. i'll take you." yoga is my life. and i don't think that i would ever miss a day of it. and so it's one of the most important things i do every day. >> yoga is my life. i feel very alive and healthy. i look at people my age, and some people just seem like they've given up, that they really aren't very comfortable in their body.

and i feel tremendously vital. i feel young and full of energy, enthusiasm, and i attribute a lot of that to yoga. >> it's allowed me to find my true self, which is really the goal of yoga, to find the light within yourself, but to find your true self and be confident in that, and in the decision of being yourself. and then you find that people are just fine with that. >> so what helps you have a good yoga practice? first of all, yoga poses that are safe and effective. second is a well thought-out program. third is being able to practice from home. and another factor that i think people often neglect is you can invite a friend over, or do it with a family member. and then there's a social

component to the yoga as well, where you just really enjoy taking care of yourself with somebody. >> peggy leads the class with her heart. she's very aware of everyone in the class and their needs, and while she directs the class, she can very discreetly give adaptations out. and she knows exactly who they're for, and so do we. but it never feels like, "i don't think you can do this, so do it that way." it's always a choice, and it's always a wonderful way that she enables us, everyone, to be able to do yoga. >> sometimes people are hesitant to start yoga, because they feel like they don't have time in their lives, or they feel like not only are they too busy, but they just can't fit in an extra moment to spare. if someone feels like that they're going to benefit even more from a yoga practice.

other people say they're too tired for yoga, they don't have enough energy. and it's precisely for that reason that they should begin. tremendous energy is released internally, and you end up feeling so much better and have more energy and endurance for the other daily activities. my recommendation is for you to focus on what you want. you want a better body. you want to move with more ease. you want to be able to enjoy the activities in life that you've always loved. turn the torso, come into side facing warrior. bend that knee. and by adding a little yoga to your day, you bring about a sense of ease on every level of your being. i think we live in an instant culture where we're used to having instant results. with yoga, you don't need to be afraid that you're moving too slowly. in fact, i encourage you to slow down, to not expect results

overnight. but you will see those results very soon. >> i think yoga means to me... it's more of a... it's a lifetime learning for me. i'm hooked on it now, and it's something i can do for the rest of my life. >> the beauty of this yoga program is that anyone can do it. and what i mean is i've provided three different variations of the poses. you can do the yoga from a seated position, you can do the yoga with the support and aid of a chair for balance and alignment. or you can do the yoga as a preventative to ward off any problems. my students hear me say all the time, you hold a yoga pose as long as it remains comfortable and steady. if it's no longer comfortable or steady, time to come out and just be with the conditions that you've created in the body and be with what your needs are.

i myself come from a family that has arthritis all over. not only my mother and grandmother suffered from arthritis, but now my sisters and my brother also complain. one sister i've shown stretches to, and she said they make all the difference in how her hips feel throughout the day. >> you're elated for one thing you know? you just have this feeling... you feel so much better, and everything's moving okay. voile. >> i think for sure i would suffer from arthritis had i not been doing yoga my whole adult life. from time to time i have a little twinge, and what i do is just rededicate myself to the poses and activities that i know are going to benefit the circulation, benefit the joint and in no time that twinge is gone. >> don't wait. do it now. you're never too old. >> when things might get difficult, it still is a process that lifts my mood.

if i am having any frustration or sadness, i get on that mat, or i go to a class. go to a class with people. it's important to go with people too, not just the personal practice. and it will lift your mood as it lifts your body. >> yoga is such a very important part of of my life, because it enhances my well-being on every dimension. it also puts me in relationship with the cosmos, with the universe, in a way that is very important to me, where i extend the idea of who i am to a bigger picture. yoga for me, and the philosophy, helps me understand about the mystery of life, and have appreciation and really awe for the fact that we are alive.

and by the practice of yoga, i found my life's purpose. such a beautiful program, peggy cappy. thank you. this was an inspiration, and i hope that it's going to inspire you to go to the phone right now and support this public television station, and also do something really wonderful for yourself. because the dvd is just such a treasure trove. and tell us about some of the things that make it different from anything else. >> this dvd is different, as are all my programs, because i start with a warmup. and this one has warmup for the whole body, but then one specially for the hands and wrists. and it's important because i was trained as a dancer early on and a dancer would never not honor the body by warming up before going into a combination. and so i use that gentle approach. but what's interesting is that so much can be worked in in the warmups themselves. we use both halves of the brain,

so it's a brain exercise, as we sometimes do figure eight movements, or infinity symbol movements. >> well, this would be great for somebody who suffered from stroke, or... >> i learned that information from someone who did suffer from a stroke, yeah, so it's very good. >> that's fantastic. and then there are 95 minutes of workout programs on this dvd. so you can do this in the comfort of your own home. go to your phone and support it right now, won't you? thank you. >> thanks, anne. you know, peggy created this special because she wanted to help alleviate the symptoms of the leading cause of disability in the united states. but i think the tendency is when you feel pain, do nothing. but the fact is, you need to move. and i'm telling you, the best way to move is go to that phone, get off the couch, make a wonderful membership pledge of $60, and we will send you the dvd. this dvd includes the broadcast show you just saw. but what you will love is it also includes 95 minutes of home workouts. there are three varieties of poses that you'll see.

you can do it standing, you can do it seated, and you can also do it just holding onto a chair. you will love this. trust me-- a few sessions and it will dramatically change your life. so go to that phone, make a pledge right now, and we're going back over to anne. >> thanks, laurie. pbs helps you follow your individual passions, like the people in the yoga for arthritis program that you've just seen. we offer ideas, models, advice and practical guidance to help you discover your place in life. you can explore the really big issues, like identity and religion, or you can learn a hands-on skill. we're here to provide resources to inspire everyone to realize their inner potential, and lead fulfilling and enriching lives. support quality public television today. here are ways that we can say thanks when you do. >> with one out of every three adults suffering from the pain of arthritis, it may be time for you to join the thousands who have made yoga a way of life.

when you contribute $60 to your public television station, we'll send you the easy yoga for arthritis dvd with our thanks. >> it's made me more flexible, more able to do everything i want to do. >> the dvd includes the 40-minute program you've been enjoying, and more than 95 minutes of home workout programs. learn safe and effective ways to reduce pain and increase your mobility. it's the perfect introduction to yoga for those challenged by arthritis or the stiffness that comes with age or injury. >> i've been able to still consider... pursue hiking, walking, golf, things of that nature. so yoga has helped restore some of my life's activities that i used to enjoy before. >> you too can change your life. and for your $100 donation we'll send you the easy yoga for arthritis dvd and peggy cappy's deep relaxation for stress cd. give us a call now, or contribute on our secure web site.

>> the yoga poses help bring increased circulation to the joints, and that's very important. it's kind of like the motor oil for the body. >> when you think about it, one in three people have arthritis and yet only one percent of them are actually doing something beyond taking medications. we wanted this show to inspire you to get off that couch, do gentle easy yoga for arthritis. for just five dollars a month, you can make a $60 contribution, and we will send the dvd right out to you. you will love it. more than 95 minutes of home workout with three varieties of poses-- seated, standing, or holding a chair. or why decide? let's have the $100 dvd and cd gift combo. you will love this. this will teach you to relax. and this is the program that you can follow every day for the rest of your life. so go to the phone right now. we've got great volunteers standing by, and right now we're going back over to anne and peggy. you know, peggy, one of the

things that i found so heartwarming and so inspiring in this program is to see these people who started off not being able to do anything, and they seem to be getting so much better. what are the cumulative effects of doing yoga? >> well, personally i think we're all getting younger by doing yoga. but there is something that happens. once you start taking care of yourself and you start feeling better on every level, then you'll be able to think about your family in a way that takes care of them. and soon it's you're thinking about your community, and finally the whole environment. and we're really attuned to the needs of our planet today. and i think it starts first with being able to take care of yourself, and to give yourself the nurturing and the care and the support that your body needs to be its best so that you can go forth and do whatever your passions lead you to. >> you know, and this sounds exactly like what we're actually doing here by creating programs like this and showing them to people and sharing with them what they can do, how they can make their own lives better. so when you're watching these

programs and then you're calling and you're making a donation and asking for the program for yourself, you're going to get so much better and so much stronger, but so is your community, because you're supporting public television. this is why you've come to public television for all five of your specials. >> well, it's my passion to do yoga, and it's my passion to teach yoga, and that's what i can do this way. >> so pick up the telephone and give us a call right now, and give your support. here's laurie. >> you know, public television is different from other businesses. in fact, you know, it might be easier to think of it more like a co-op, because everyone has a stake here at the station. some of our funding comes from sponsors, another portion comes from the corporation for public broadcasting, but, you know, the bulk of it comes from you, our viewers, who make annual financial gifts. it's worked this way for decades, and what we like best about this model is there's really a sense of ownership and responsibility that it gives to you, our supporters. so please consider what you can do right now. get started with a gift of just

five dollars or ten dollars a month, whatever is comfortable for your pocketbook. but help contribute and help support programs like the one you are watching right now. the volunteers are standing by and we are waiting for your call. back over to anne and peggy. >> if you're not a member, what are you waiting for? think about all the wonderful programs that you watch on your public television station and how much you depend on it day after day, year after year. you always know that you're going to walk away from watching public television feeling better than when you tuned in. so check your membership card. if you are a member, maybe it's time to renew. if you're not a member, join now, and do something that's really good for you. when you call and contribute just $60, we'll send you this wonderful dvd. and this program that you've been watching will be on that. it's the 40-minute broadcast program that is that inspiration, and helps you reconnect with all those people whose stories are so inspiring. and then you'll get 95 minutes

of the home workouts. this is something that you can do all by yourself or with a friend at home. so go to your phone, give us a call, and support us right now. can we talk? i want you to go to that phone right now and do yourself a favor. make a membership pledge of $60, and we would love to send you the easy yoga for arthritis dvd. you will love this. this will be a lifesaver in your life. there is more than 90 minutes, a home workout session. and what i love about it, it's designed in seven sections, so you can do them all at once if you really feel like it or you can take them two sections at a time. the other thing that is terrific is that depending on your level of ability, you can do it standing up, you can do it holding onto a chair, you can do it sitting down. the most important thing is in our busy lives, we need to take time for ourselves. we need to make ourselves feel better. and i think this dvd can really help. so go to that phone, make a pledge right now, and back over to anne and peggy. >> well, i hope that you've

seen now that you really can do something to help your arthritis symptoms. but peggy, if there's somebody out there who's hesitating about taking on yoga, what would you say to them? >> i would say that... karen's line of, "what have you got to lose?" it's such a simple thing you can do to get this program. become my student. do yoga with me. i'm passionate about what yoga can do for you. so get the dvd, do it with a friend. if you want a family member to do it, do it with them. just do it. >> i think that's very, very important, that there's somebody in your life who you know would benefit from this program. and you can have some quality time with them at the same time. so bring it over to your mom-in-law, or your father- in-law, bring it to your athletic friends, do the workout, make yourself stronger, make your community stronger, and make your public television station stronger by donating it and supporting right now. go to your phone, we'd love to hear from you. thank you.

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>> explore new worlds and new ideas through programs like this, made available for everyone through contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. be more. pbs.