Using yoga to help manage chronic pain and maintain mobility
SEATTLE — Don’t let your chronic pain slow you down!
Yoga - which blends movements and poses with deep breathing, meditation and stretching - has many potential health and physical benefits that can help you fight back against chronic pain.
Talia Castro-Pozo turned to yoga after developing back pain.
“After my pregnancy and dancing professionally for so many years, I had a lot of back pain, and basically yoga really helped me, you know, feel better," said Castro-Pozo.
Whether it’s your hip, back, knee or shoulder, yoga may help manage chronic pain.
“It improves flexibility and helps build muscle and core strength, which can help alleviate discomfort," explained Catherine Roberts with Consumer Reports.
If you have chronic pain, Chaya Spencer, a certified yoga teacher at Shree Yoga Studios, recommends finding the right type of yoga class for you.
“Find a class that has the words ‘beginner’ in the title, or ‘slow’ or ‘gentle’ [or] ‘restorative,’” explained Spencer. “If your issue is very intense, maybe you want to find a chair class.”
Chaya said the cobra pose can help relieve some stress from back pain.
“[The cobra pose] is very good for creating stability in the lower back and flexibility in the lower back, so it firms all the muscles in the back body," Spencer said.
Have a busy schedule? Try yoga classes online. Just make sure you have a good yoga mat, like the IUGA Pro Non-Slip Yoga mat. It has good ratings from Consumer Reports for cushioning and grip.
“Yoga may also have mental health benefits,” said Roberts. “The deep breathing involved can help alleviate stress.”
“After practicing yoga, I feel integrated, happy, flexible; I feel ready to take on the day," added Castro-Pozo.
Consumer Reports suggests getting your doctor’s OK before starting a yoga program and seeking out knowledgeable teachers. Also, don't be afraid to skip some postures during class or ask the instructor for modifications.