Craig Daily Press

With her right hand held up to her face, Susan Chenoweth placed her middle and index fingers on her forehead, pinched her nose with her thumb and ring finger — and burst out laughing.

Such was the result for many attempting the respiration technique of Alternate Nostril Breathing, especially upon seeing one another’s faces.

The yoga-based breathing exercise was part of the multiple sclerosis support group’s monthly meeting, which convened Monday afternoon in the basement of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse As­­sociation.

Karrie Booth introduced the participants to the breathing method, which is purported to balance the brain by rotating breaths in and out through each nostril. She also led the group in a series of modified yoga poses — done while sitting on chairs — as a method of inducing relaxation and reducing stress.

“Yoga has been proven in studies to be beneficial to people with MS,” she said. “Once the factors are identified, the breathing and stretching of yoga can help alleviate the symptoms.”

Booth teaches yoga classes regularly and is owner of the Craig wellness center, Holistic Health & Fitness.

“We’re hoping to find ways to make people more comfortable in the gym and in fitness classes,” she said. “We also want to try and start programs directed toward people with MS and make them more confident in their physical activity.”

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system and causes bodily numbness and blurry vision, among other symptoms.

Diagnosed with MS in May 2000, Chenoweth found the yoga techniques relaxing.

“You can just close your eyes and feel the energy moving through your body,” she said. “I don’t even know how to describe it, but it really helps with the stiffness and spasticity that I get sometimes.”

Chenoweth considers herself “very lucky,” because her MS symptoms are minimal. The meeting was her first, though she has been doing yoga long before joining Booth’s session.

The latest meeting of the support group was oriented toward combating MS symptoms through wellness and activity. Neurologist Dr. Pam­ela Kinder spoke about the importance of diet and lifestyle choices for those living with MS.

The group also watched a clip from “The Show Must Go On,” a short film by MS personality Kristie Salerno Kent, in which she demonstrates the difficulties caused by the disease in a public setting.

Annie Smyth of Grand Junc­tion is the regional program manager for the Colorado chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

“I would have liked to have seen more people come, but the turnout was still good,” she said.

Attendance dwindled from the initial crowd of about 12 until only half that number were left by the meeting’s end, but Smyth was not discouraged.

“These meetings are always successful as long as everyone walks away with some new knowledge.”

A resource for information is the NMSS Web site, www.cureMScolorado.org.

Group member Nicole Beck­um was diagnosed with MS in October 2003 and has since become involved in the cause.

“It’s hard for some people to come to the meetings because they’re uncomfortable with talking about the problem,” she said.

“Even if they only come for part of a meeting, it can help them. The availability of resources lets you know that you’re not alone. We can really come together like a family.”

Andy Bockelman can be reached at 875-1796.