Hi - Please please please try hot or bikram yoga.

Do whatever you can manage Kimberlee, and take frequent rest breaks.

At first you are just going to have to push through the flares. I'm not saying ignore them, as we all know that is impossible. Rather, let yourself rest on days when you are having a flare, but still try and do something.Once you have gotten over the flare, resume doing as much as you can.
  Exercising in a pool is said to be great, as it allows your body to do things that you are not comfortable doing otherwise.

Keep in mind that your body isn't what it used to be before you started showing signs of AS.

I find that staying active really helps. It seems so counter intuitive. When you have pain, the last thing you feel like doing is moving. I find Hot Yoga to be incredibly healing and helpful. Take it easy your first few times but it has done amazing things for me.

It is so important to stay active.  It is really painful but when I don't walk and stretch I feel worse.  It is hard to make yourself, sometimes, but I keep thinking about "move it or lose it."  In our case it is so true.  There will be times when you just can't but, as Jackie said, do what you can.

All you can do it to try and eat healthy, and keep as mobile as you can. Do whatever you can even just walk round the block. When things are bad an you can do little, eat less. If you are able to exercise do as much as you can, swimming is good as the water obviously supports you, look through AS literature on the net and follow the excercises described there to help stretch and move your joints. When you cant, thats ok, accept it and but do more when you can.

Deep breathing, Yoga, easy swims, streching, gentle bicycle rides ...When at my worst, and it has been very bad in my 35+ year run with AS...I simply strive to move as much as possible, constaintly moving (and breathing deeply) as much as I can.  One other thing - try not to stay in bed, even when very fatigued I've found a good fitting recliner is better for my spine.

Yes, I try to exercise - 30 minutes of cardio and then strength training three to four times a week.  Although I am tired and my SI joints bother me on a daily basis, It definitely makes me feel better and keeps my weight in check.  

I do have flares though from time to time and  I will then miss as much as two to three weeks of exercise.  It is all a matter of how I feel... When I am in a bad flare, I am usually too tired and sick to do anything.  So, in a nutshell, I try to exercise regularly... But if I feel really bad I don't do it, and I try not to feel bad about not doing it.

It is just the way it is...

I am in the same boat. When I do more than walk, it is too much. Physical therapy, walking and cutting red meat and soda is helping me feel better. I do get that sharop pain in my Si joints that keeps me down on certain days, but when I can, I do what I can. Swimming and yoga are good- I wish I had more time for those. I wish there was an AS group in Chico, CA that would meet and exercise together!

I know the feeling.  I had a flare that lasted for a year and gained 50lbs.  I am not hurting now (knock on wood) but it is harder to move now that I have gotten so fat and out of shape.  I signed up for a gym so I could go to yoga and work out but its hard to get back into it and I am still a bit stiff.  I heard that swimming and water aerobics is good.