Yoga for Chronic Pain/Chronic Fatigue
Introduction
Yoga has abundant resources to help relieve chronic fatigue and chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia and even MS. Yoga may not cure, but it can help you live a more comfortable and fulfilling life.
How Can Yoga Help?
Hatha-Yoga uses the body to reveal your True Self. The asanas (postures) in Hatha-Yoga can help you gently stretch your muscles and other connective tissue, so that you are more comfortable. It provides a sense of health and wellbeing. Hatha-Yoga has an amazing capacity to induce strength, mental and physical flexibility, and relaxation. Many of us who have chronic pain or chronic fatigue not only deal with the pain but also with non-restorative sleep, which results in decreased energy (what Yoga calls prana). It is a vicious cycle, which Yoga can break.
Yoga also teaches you to be gentle and accepting of yourself. Non-harming to everyone, starting with YOU, is a basic principle of Yoga. Yoga can enhance your self-confidence and self-acceptance.
Everyone and anyone can do Yoga. Even when you are in crisis, Yoga teaches methods of breath control called pranayama, that can help you reduce pain, increase energy, or increase relaxation. Yoga also teaches meditation, concentration, and even chanting methods (aloud or silently) that bring deep peace.
How Does Yoga Work?
For those in crisis: We recommend gentle relaxation and restorative postures. These classes use props to gently open and stretch the body. Classes include meditation, stretching and strengthening, and breath work. These practices are excellent for anyone at anytime, and they are essential for those having a pain or fatigue crisis. In restorative classes, students are guided into supported postures through the use of props, pillows, and blankets. These supported "restoratives" activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the body's natural healing system) and are beneficial to everyone seeking stress reduction and deep peace.
For everyone who experiences chronic pain/fatigue: Gentle classes or any class is fine. You must, however, get to know your body and not add to your stress. You must always work “behind your edge,” not going to the place where your body is straining. Active Yoga classes are OK, as long as you feel like it and can pace yourself. Yoga is noncompetitive – you do not compete with yourself or anyone else. Your Yoga belongs to YOU!
What Else?
We offer Yoga classes that are supportive of every individual. You will feel
comfortable asking for advice from your teacher or fellow students about how to
practice and other methods of ‘treatment.’ Our intention is to support you with
safety, love, and peace.
To Register
Call us at 302 226 0401 or register online. We are always available to answer your questions and address your concerns.
Resources
Books
Fibromyalgia & Chronic
Myofascial Pain Syndrome, A Survival Manual,
Devin Starlanyl, M.D., and Mary Ellen Copeland, M.S., M.A.
The Pain Cure, Dharma Singh Khalsa,
M.D. with Cameron Stauth
Brain Longevity, Dharma Singh Khalsa,
M.D. with Cameron Stauth
Meditation as Medicine, Dharma Singh
Khalsa, M.D. and Cameron Stauth
Recovery Yoga, Sam Dworkis
Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit, Donna Farhi
Relax and Renew, Judith Lasater,
Ph.D., P.T.
Yoga and the Quest for the True Self,
Stephen Cope
Yoga for Wellness, Gary Kraftsow
Web Sites
Living with Fibromyalgia
and Myofascial Pain,
http://www.tidalweb.com/fms/
Fibromyalgia Network,
http://www.fmnetnews.com/
National Fibromyalgia Research Association,
http://www.nfra.net/
American Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Inc.,
http://www.afsafund.org/