Yoga Therapy for Chronic Disease

Yoga therapy work targets relieving muscle tension deep in the body. This gentle practice works on muscles on the surface layers of the body, but also relieves tension deep in the pelvis and through the layers of muscle and fascia on the inner side of the spine, between the spine, and the internal organs. Where there is less tension, there is more space for the internal organs to function appropriately – more blood and nutrients can flow more easily to all parts of the body, decreasing inflammation and increasing ease.

Stress and tension in the body is one of the root causes of disease, and therefore yoga therapy can help alleviate a number of physical discomforts – for example, problems related to poor circulation, digestion, elimination, low energy, depression, and any sort of pain. From this place of ease and relaxation, the yoga therapist and client can work to gently strengthen and improve balance, therefore improving endurance and balance – leading to increase quality of life, increase participation in activities of daily living, and decrease falls.

Everyone’s journey throughout yoga therapy is different, so while this practice may not be used in direct place of prescription medications, it can work wonders alongside them. Our intension within the yoga therapy practice is to become more familiar with the patterns of dysfunction within the body, by bringing awareness into these realities (which are often unconscious to start with) yoga therapy can serve as a brilliant preventative measure. In this way, for some clients, yoga therapy can decrease the frequency and/or amount of medications required to alleviate a symptom of pain.

Yoga therapy is a practice which provides insight into your reality with chronic disease or chronic pain. This is difficult. Often we don’t want to go there. However, but bringing in some awareness to your everyday reality you can start to be proactive about symptoms management rather than reactive. Yoga Therapy provides a number of strategies unique to your own body to help with this.

*** Interested to learn more and participate in a custom yoga program specific to your body and your needs?? Contact me!
Robyn Emde
www.robynemde.com
778 989 3847

References

Carson, J., Carson, K., Jones, K., Bennett, R., Wright, C., & Mist, S. (2010) A pilot randomized controlled trial of the Yoga of Awareness program in the management of fibromyalgia. Pain; 151 (2): 530 DOI

European League Against Rheumatism (2011). Significant benefits of yoga in people with rheumatoid arthritis, study shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2011/05/110526064641.htm

Indiana University (2011, June 4). Yoga helps older stroke victims improve balance, endurance, study suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2011/06/110604181903.htm

Ohio State University (2010). Yoga reduces cytokine levels known to promote inflammation, study shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100111122643.htm

Schreiber, J. (2011). Yoga improves mood, reduces inflammation and relieves chronic diseases. Natural News. Retrieved November 20, 2011 from http://www.naturalnews.com/031721_yoga_mood.html#ixzz1eIZ6DXJE

Schrun, C. (2004). Yoga Therapy for Chronic Diseases: Discovering Yoga’s Health Benefits. Iowa Source. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://www.iowasource.com/health/health_1004.html

Streeter, C., Whitfield, T., Owen, L., Rein, T., Karri, S., Yakhkind, A., Perlmutter, R., Prescot, A., Renshaw, P., Ciraulo, D., Jensen. J. (2010) Effects of Yoga Versus Walking on Mood, Anxiety, and Brain GABA Levels: A Randomized Controlled MRS Study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine; 16 (11): 1145 DOI

Streeter et al. Effects of Yoga Versus Walking on Mood, Anxiety, and Brain GABA Levels: A Randomized Controlled MRS Study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010

Temple University (2008, April 4). Yoga Poses Can Prevent Falls In Women Over 65, Study Suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/04/080404114445.htm

University of Alberta (2010). Special yoga classes aimed at breast cancer survivors improves recovery. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100817111835.htm

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (2011, May 18). Yoga improves quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy, study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2011/05/110518181257.htm