Yoga for Scleroderma Is Not General Yoga
When people hear “yoga for scleroderma,” they often picture gentle stretching.
That is not what this work is.
Scleroderma is a complex autoimmune connective tissue disease. It can impact:
Skin and fascial mobility
Hands and fine motor function
Digestive motility
Respiratory capacity
Fatigue levels
Pain patterns
Autonomic regulation
This is not a population that benefits from generalized cueing.
It requires clinical reasoning.
What Makes This Different
In my work through Yoga for Scleroderma, yoga is adapted with an understanding of:
Raynaud’s and vascular sensitivity
Skin tightening and contracture risk
GERD and dysmotility
Interstitial lung involvement
Energy conservation principles
Trauma-assumed care
For example:
We do not cue aggressive stretching for tight skin.
We do not load wrists without modification.
We do not push breath retention in a population that may already feel breath-limited.
Instead, we focus on:
Fascial glide over force
Joint protection
Lengthened exhale for autonomic support
Digestive positioning
Functional hand integration
Pacing and rest
This is where my background as an occupational therapist matters.
It is not yoga layered on top of disease.
It is condition-informed intervention.
Why Training Matters
Well-meaning yoga instructors often want to help this population.
But without understanding the medical complexity, there is risk.
Well-meaning healthcare providers may want integrative tools.
But without practical frameworks, implementation feels unclear.
That is why I developed the Yoga for Scleroderma Teacher Training — to bridge the gap between:
Yoga teachers
Yoga therapists
Occupational therapists
Rehabilitation providers
We focus on:
Pathophysiology translated into practice
Contraindications and red flags
Adaptive sequencing
Hands-specific work
Digestive protocols
Rest and regulation strategies
Not theory.
Clinical application.
The Bigger Picture
People with scleroderma are often told what they have lost.
Mobility.
Energy.
Predictability.
What they deserve are tools that restore agency.
Yoga, when adapted correctly, can support:
Sleep
Regulation
Hand function
Breath capacity
Participation
And just as importantly — confidence.
Upcoming Training
The next Yoga for Scleroderma training is designed for professionals who want to work responsibly with this population.
If you are:
A yoga therapist
A yoga teacher
An OT or rehab provider
Or someone working in autoimmune or chronic illness spaces
This training may be a fit.
Details and registration are available here:
https://www.yogaforscleroderma.com/teacher-trainings
As always, I’m happy to answer questions.