I'm a firm believer in weight training. I lift weights four days a week on my lunch break. I make sure and devote on day to just back exercises. If something happens and i can't workout for a couple weeks I start getting the old back spasms again. Something about working those muscles keeps them loose. In the mornings I often watch a video I have for people with Arthritis on my office computer, it's just sitting in a chair and doing range of motion exercises. It helps a lot. I believe if I could do the video and go to the gym every day I will always have good posture.

I wonder if I could find a local gym, that charges by the week... And could find a trainer who understood AS and would be willing to help me. I used to work out when I was young, but the past 20 years have whipped me.

Every gym i've ever been to charges by the month, but many of them have a "guest pass" that you can buy for one day, usually about $10 a day (ripoff). Good luck finding a trainer that understands AS. I can't even find a doctor or therapist that really understands what we deal with every day . You really don't need a trainer though, most good gyms have a trainer on staff that can show you how to use the machines. Just tell them you have arthritis and you need to start really really slow at first. If a certain exercise hurts then don't do it. Just do what feels comfortable. It's been so beneficial for me, right up there with diet. If I ate a typical american diet and didn't lift weights I think I would be in a wheelchair by now.

I do stretching in my hot tub for starters than a gentle yoga and my eliptical in winter and cycling in warmer months. You can purchase great DVDs on yoga so you can do it at home.

Thank you everyone! It seems that most of you really believe in swimming so I'm gonna go with that. I have been doing better working out and staying active so if I add swimming and some stretching I should be in good shape. Thanks again:)