Yoga for Arthritis: Healing Pain with Dr. Steffany Moonaz

Living with arthritis or chronic pain can feel isolating, exhausting, and overwhelming. While medications and physical therapy often provide temporary relief, many people are now turning to yoga therapy as a long-term solution for managing pain, improving mobility, and reclaiming vitality.

In this episode of the Thrive with Cate Stillman Podcast, Cate speaks with Dr. Steffany Moonaz, yoga therapist, researcher, and founder of Arthritis.Yoga. With decades of experience bridging science and practice, Steffany shares how yoga empowers individuals to move beyond pain and build resilience in mind and body.

Why Yoga Works for Arthritis

Yoga isn’t just about stretching—it’s about rewiring how the nervous system interprets pain. As Steffany explains, arthritis pain is not always about joint damage. Instead, it’s often the body’s signaling system becoming overactive.

Through practices like asana, pranayama, and mindfulness, yoga helps calm the nervous system, regulate inflammation, and shift the body’s response to discomfort. Over time, this reduces chronic pain and increases confidence in movement.

Key Insights from the Episode

• Beyond the Joints- Research shows that pain isn’t always caused by cartilage damage. By retraining the nervous system, yoga helps reduce sensitivity and supports natural healing.
• Yoga vs. Physical Therapy – Clinical studies demonstrate that yoga is as effective as strengthening exercises in the short term—and superior in improving mood, self-efficacy, and long-term outcomes.
• Breathwork for Pain Relief – Pranayama (yogic breathing techniques) calms the nervous system, lowers stress, and helps practitioners create a sense of spaciousness around pain.
• The Power of Group Healing – Practicing yoga in community provides accountability, motivation, and emotional support. Group practice accelerates transformation by making participants feel less alone in their journey.
• Props are Empowering – Using chairs, bolsters, and straps doesn’t mean weakness—it’s a way to practice safely, avoid injury, and deepen awareness.
• Whole-Person Yoga – True yoga therapy goes beyond the mat. Mindfulness and applied philosophy shift how people relate to pain, building resilience and self-compassion.

Healing Made Simple

For those living with arthritis or chronic pain, the message is clear: healing doesn’t have to be complicated. With simple tools like mindful movement, breath awareness, and community support, yoga offers a sustainable path to resilience.

Whether you’re new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, the wisdom of yoga therapy for arthritis provides hope, empowerment, and a renewed sense of possibility.

Resources & Links

🌐 Explore more at Arthritis.Yoga
📘 Book: Yoga Therapy for Arthritis by Dr. Steffany Moonaz → Amazon link
📘 Uninflamed by Cate Stillman → Get the book
🌿 Join Club Thrive → Learn more
🧘 Yogahealer Website

About the Host – Cate Stillman

Cate Stillman is an Ayurvedic practitioner, behavior change expert, and founder of Yogahealer and Club Thrive. For more than 20 years, she has guided wellness professionals and conscious seekers to unlock body intelligence, reverse inflammation, and live regenerative, aligned lives. Cate is the author of Uninflamed, Body Thrive, Master of You, and Primal Habits.

✅ Keywords naturally included: yoga for arthritis, yoga therapy, chronic pain relief, pranayama for pain, group healing, resilience through yoga.