| Chronic Pain sufferers deal with pain most of the | | | | want to reject all movement. But people who live |
| time with no relief. With awareness, the gentle | | | | with this pain know that movement is essential. |
| movements of Yoga can relieve some of that pain. | | | | Unless your arthritis is severe, exercise is |
| Studies have shown that a Yoga practice can reduce | | | | recommended for people with arthritis due to |
| the amount of pain in people who suffer from | | | | decreased strength and endurance. You may not |
| fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic back pain and many | | | | want to practice first thing in the morning when pain |
| other painful ailments. | | | | is sometimes at its worst, but later in the day, once |
| Chronic pain carries anxiety and frustration with it | | | | your joints have warmed up a bit, a gentle Yoga |
| because we constrict our breathing when we feel | | | | practice could be the best form of exercise for you. |
| pain. Constricting the breath can lead to anxiety. | | | | When you do practice Yoga, adjust your poses so |
| Anxiety can make the pain worse. Constricting the | | | | that you feel your stretch. Don't' go so far into any |
| muscles when they hurt, also increases pain. The | | | | pose that you feel sharp pain in the joints. Some |
| frustration of it all can make us not want to do | | | | days you might be able to stretch certain muscles |
| anything. Sedentary lifestyles can be detrimental to | | | | and other days the same stretch might be painful. |
| the whole body. Your muscles weaken, your | | | | You need to really listen to your body and adjust |
| immunity levels drop and your state of mind can | | | | your poses and the intensity of your stretches |
| move from frustrated to depressed. It can be a | | | | accordingly. |
| vicious cycle or a downward spiral. | | | | There are studies that recently revealed that Yoga |
| Even with the popularity of Yoga today, some of | | | | can help with chronic back pain. Practicing restorative |
| you may think of a bunch of old men wearing sheets | | | | types of Yoga, such as Iyengar Yoga, can help with |
| and sitting in pretzel poses. The actuality is that if | | | | posture, range of motion, and reducing recovery time |
| you can simply calm your breathing, you can reduce | | | | from injury. |
| the anxiety associated with chronic pain (and you can | | | | Chronic back pain patients need to focus more on |
| wear any comfortable clothing that you choose - no | | | | alignment, using props such as blankets and Yoga |
| sheets required). Once you can relax a little, you can | | | | blocks to achieve some of the poses. The muscle |
| generate some healing properties into painful areas | | | | strengthening and lengthening should be practiced |
| and the focused energy and blood flow can often | | | | slowly while focusing on the breath-work. The same |
| reduce some of the pain. | | | | benefits previously discussed will provide relief with |
| Deep, slow breathing into painful areas can reduce | | | | stress, anxiety, frustration and depression. |
| the constriction in the muscles and send a fresh | | | | Chronic pain is a maddening issue to deal with. Always |
| supply of oxygen to body parts that are in need of | | | | being in pain, sometimes worse than others, can |
| healing. The breath is a powerful tool that everyone | | | | carry negativity and depression with it. The breathing |
| possesses but many people don't take advantage of. | | | | practice that is incorporated into Yoga poses sends |
| Can Yoga cure you? We won't go that far, but | | | | fresh oxygenated blood into areas to warm the |
| wouldn't it be worth it to try to alleviate some of the | | | | muscles. Gently moving through breath connected |
| pain? Let's look a little more into some specific | | | | poses is stress relieving, immunity building and mobility |
| analogies. | | | | promoting. |
| Fibromyalgia is a condition that gives you widespread | | | | Even slow strength improvements can make a big |
| chronic pain in your muscles and even into your | | | | difference with chronic pain. If Yoga can be a |
| ligaments and tendons. It is described as a deep ache | | | | comfortable form of exercise why not try it? |
| with trigger point areas that are more painful when | | | | Awareness of your body and adjustments are |
| touched. Basically ~ everything hurts and you can | | | | important while practicing Yoga, but that awareness |
| experience extreme fatigue. | | | | can carry into your everyday life. Being aware of |
| Yoga can provide less pain, better sleep, more | | | | breath constriction and adjusting as necessary can |
| strength, endurance and stamina and increased | | | | ease some discomfort ~ even while you are not |
| positivity in everyday life. It is a practice of easy | | | | practicing. |
| postures that can be adjusted according to your level | | | | As always, please check with your doctor before |
| of activity and pain on any given day. You can | | | | beginning any exercise program. If he or she thinks |
| practice Yoga to reduce fatigue, to strengthen | | | | Yoga could provide some relief to you, have an open |
| muscles or to simply relax your body. | | | | mind and breathe into your Yoga practice. |
| Arthritis sufferers also have chronic pain. The sharp | | | | Namaste, |
| intense pain associated with arthritis can make you | | | | Peace to you. |