Benefits of Yoga for Pain Management

Benefits of Yoga for Pain Management

By integrating a yoga practice into your healthcare and wellness routine, your body and mind work towards a peaceful and comfortable balance. Discomfort and pain in our bodies may be transitory or permanent, and yoga mayhelp alleviate suffering.  

Yoga for Pain Management - Types of pain and your nervous system 

Acute pain is sudden pain, sometimes associated with a fresh injury. Acute pain subsides as the cause of the pain is healed.

Chronic pain is sustained and continues after all possible causes are treated. Sometimes, chronic pain begins without an imbalance or injury, and no reason can be discerned.  

Our bodies perceive pain via our nervous system. One branch of the nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system, prepares the body to fight or flee. There's a quick response as the heart rate quickens and muscles prepare to respond to a threat. When the sympathetic nervous system is alerted, stress levels go up!  

Another branch, the parasympathetic nervous system, supports the body in balance, creating the foundation for rest, healing, and digestion. The physical manifestations are the opposite of the body in a fight or flight situation - the heart rate slows, muscles relax, and there is a slower response time of your nerves. 

When we experience pain, we shift into fight or flight mode. We become physically and mentally stressed, increasing our vital signs with heightened tightness and increased stress hormones.  

Using yoga for pain management helps to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, bringing relaxation to the body to tone down the strains of the intensified sympathetic nervous system. Asana addresses movement and pranayama addresses internal peace and breath. Together, these aspects of yoga for pain management work towards restoring balance in the body and making pain more manageable. 

The benefits of yoga for pain management

Mobility is the cornerstone of a healthy physical body and combines flexibility and strength. With healthy mobility, the physical structures of the body have a proper framework in which to heal. Posture is improved, joints are lubricated, and stability increases which may help prevent further injuries.  

The physical aspect of yoga for pain management also increases energy levels and improves our mood. It's possible to boost confidence we struggle less with daily activities thanks to gentle yogic movement. 

There is also mounting scientific research that supports using yoga for pain management. Wrist pain may be reduced as grip strength increases with yoga. It's also been shown that Iyengar yoga helps with reducing low back pain while boosting mood. Even “pain associated with cancer and chronic pain conditions has been shown to improve with yoga” according to a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

How pranayama helps alleviate and soothe pain

Pranayama (or prāṇāyāma) can work directly to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. Mindful breathing techniques bring a chronic pain sufferer into the present moment, taking the focus away from pain and directing the body out of panic mode. Using pranayama to boost relaxation also takes the body away from the constant physical stress of being in pain.  

There is also research that shows pranayama influences pain levels. One study indicates that deep and slow breathing does influence a decrease in the sympathetic nervous system and decreased pain perception. (2) Other studies have shown that breathing techniques help the laboring mother and chronic pain patients. 

Considerations for managing pain with yoga

Approach your health holistically! There is more than one road to wellness; yoga is just one part of the journey.  

Work with a team of specialists. Yoga teachers and particularly yoga therapists with advanced certifications and extensive educations have the knowledge and skills needed to coordinate a wellness plan with your doctor.  

Enjoy the process and take the tools home with you. Yoga is not a prescription or a quick fix. It's a lifestyle that allows you to connect with movement and breath as needed. There's no schedule to follow - yoga is always there.  

For Advanced Yoga Teachers and studying Yoga Therapists – consider enrolling in Advanced Yoga Teacher Training  at Prema Yoga Institute to better serve your students.

Learning how to better serve your clients with yoga for pain management can be rewarding and open up freedoms for your students in their daily life. Enroll in advanced yoga teacher training at Prema Yoga Institute to study advanced techniques in using yoga for your clients health. Your skills will grow, and you will be better able to serve diverse bodies and ages in your community.   

If you have any further questions about this topic, contact us at Prema Yoga Institute.

Prema Yoga Institute is no longer limited to locals of New York City and is now available online with interactive trainings through 2022. PYI is an accredited program based in New York city, teaching students around the globe through online classes. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you advance your yoga practice and teaching!

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