Yoga for Fibromyalgia Pain Management

Cures for Fibromyalgia

The term fibromyalgia literally means pain of the connective tissues and muscles. This is a chronic pain disorder that affects the joints and muscles in all of the body. This is one of the chronic conditions of which the causes still remain unknown. While scientists are still trying to find a cure for this disorder, fibromyalgia pain relief still largely remains elusive in the world of conventional medicine.

Fibromyalgia chronic pain can be quite debilitating. Unfortunately, the incidence of this disorder is on the increase and as more and more people suffer from this strange disease, it has become important to try to find an alternative pain management therapy which can help reduce and manage the pain.

Exercise for Firbromyalgia

In a disease like fibromyalgia, the body’s alignment is altered from what is normal and expected. The body needs realigning and rhythmic movements that help create a balance in the body. Exercise for fibromyalgia should therefore concentrate on rhythmic poses which are followed by restorative ones. One can start with the simple sun salutation which helps provide rhythm to the body and follow it up with the open butterfly pose which is a resting pose.

Yoga for Fibromyalgia

If you plan out a twenty minute routine for yourself, you can repeat these poses several times. After each cycle of these two poses, break it up with a five minute inclined rest. This will help your body come into a restive state and allow the muscles to relax. If you are using yoga for fibromyalgia as your primary therapy, do remember to avoid downward bends. Though these downward bends are otherwise healing, in fibromyalgia, these can cause complications. Instead, go for backward bends like the Cobra Pose, Camel Pose, and Upward Facing Dog Pose. These can help generate heat in the body, allowing the muscles to relax. When in your restive position, you can also add a passive backbend which is far gentler.

The stress management function of yoga is one of the most crucial aspects in the management of symptoms of fibromyalgia. The Fibromyalgia symptoms can be aggravated by stress and therefore stress has to be eliminated from the daily routine. Since the pain is chronic, the sufferers are not able to rest properly, getting only a few hours of sleep. Sleep is especially crucial because the patients of fibromyalgia require relaxation and rest. The restive poses in yoga help the patient rest to a large extent. Some other specific benefits for fibromyalgia are increased strength, stamina and endurance.

Yoga for Fibromyalgia | Exercise for Fibromyalgia

Cure for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that is characterised by chronic, widespread pain all over the body, and extreme sensitivity in the form of a painful response to what would normally be perceived as a gentle touch. Other symptoms include a range of allied problems like debilitating fatigue, sleep problems and joint stiffness. People also tend to suffer from breathing difficulty, bowel abnormality, numbness and tingling and cognitive dysfunction, to name a few related problems.

This is a problem that doctors are still learning about, and new research is helping them understand. There are varied cures for fibromyalgia, which include Analgesics, antidepressants and anti-seizure medication. Unfortunately, patients often report that a medical remedy for fibromyalgia is not enough, and the symptoms do not disappear. Because of them, many sufferers look to an alternative treatment of fibromyalgia. One of these treatments is yoga, which has been shown to help a lot.

Yoga - Alternative Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Yoga originated in India thousands of years ago, and is a system of exercise designed to strengthen the body and mind, and unify the body, mind and breath. While the practice of yoga spans all your activities, the basis of yoga is a set of exercises that include stretching and breathing, in the form of poses known as asanas. Yoga provides spiritual relaxation, and helps you to know the true state of your body and mind. It may be that during this search, you will also realise why your body suffers the way it does, and gain the tools to be free from suffering.

To learn yoga, you will need to study under a trained guru or teacher. There are many qualified teachers across North America, and they all teach varied forms of yoga. These include Hatha Yoga, Kundalini yoga, and Ashtanga yoga. There are plenty of newer forms too, like Power yoga and Bikram yoga, but it is suggested that you stick to basic forms of yoga, which have a strong emphasis on the mind–body–breath connect.

How can yoga for fibromyalgia help?

When studied with dedication, yoga has many mental and spiritual benefits. But, even at the most basic level, it has physical benefits that can help with fibromyalgia. A good guru can help you with a tailor-made program for your own needs. He or she may even teach you exercises that do not need you to lie down, which you can do till the pain decreases. The benefits include:

• Increased muscle strength and decreased pain.
• More endurance and stamina.
• Improved mood and relief from depression.
• Better sleep.
• Improved concentration.

How to practice yoga?

A good tutor will teach you everything you need to know about yoga, and keep you from injury. Remember to follow these few pointers to keep it safe and beautiful.

• Always warm up. Before your session, start with a few minutes of warm up by moving your hands and feet.
• Start slow. Don’t dive directly into it, but start with a few easy asana, for 10 to 15 minutes every day.
• Be regular. You need to practice it every day to gain the maximum benefit.
• Do only what you can. The rule in yoga, unlike in western exercise, is that there should be no pain. If you feel any pain, immediately stop what you are doing and inform your teacher.