While the thought of yoga might bring to mind images of contortion and gymnastics, in fact, there are several types of yoga practice that involve stillness or very gentle movement. Yoga practices typically include deep breathing and mindfulness practices, which can be of benefit to some people with chronic pain.
To learn more about yoga, or to access online yoga classes, I recommend visiting the Yoga International website: https://yogainternational.com. This website houses a large library of online yoga classes, including classes in yin yoga, therapeutic yoga, guided relaxation, pranayama (controlled breathing), guided meditation, and gentle yoga. The site also offers an online course in Yoga for Lower Back Pain, and a helpful article on how pain works and how yoga can be helpful for people with persistent pain.
Another resources of interest is a 5 part series of yoga videos designed for people with chronic pain, which is available via the Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain & Disability. You can access this video series here: http://www.cirpd.org/Webinars/Pages/Webinar.aspx?wbID=16
To learn more about yoga, or to access online yoga classes, I recommend visiting the Yoga International website: https://yogainternational.com. This website houses a large library of online yoga classes, including classes in yin yoga, therapeutic yoga, guided relaxation, pranayama (controlled breathing), guided meditation, and gentle yoga. The site also offers an online course in Yoga for Lower Back Pain, and a helpful article on how pain works and how yoga can be helpful for people with persistent pain.
Another resources of interest is a 5 part series of yoga videos designed for people with chronic pain, which is available via the Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain & Disability. You can access this video series here: http://www.cirpd.org/Webinars/Pages/Webinar.aspx?wbID=16
The following resources are presented to illustrate some lesser known yoga practices that can be accessible for some people with chronic pain. As always, if you would like to try a new type of exercise, I recommend talking to a healthcare provider who is familiar with your health history about how to do so safely, in a way that is likely to benefit your health.
AWARENESS PRACTICE
Awareness practice, or mindfulness practice, is a core element of yoga, and also of chronic pain treatment. In this video, physiotherapist Shelly Prosko describes strategies for beginning an awareness practice.
PRANAYAMA
Awareness practice, or mindfulness practice, is a core element of yoga, and also of chronic pain treatment. In this video, physiotherapist Shelly Prosko describes strategies for beginning an awareness practice.
PRANAYAMA
Pranayama is the yoga practice of controlled breathing. If you search YouTube, you will find a wide variety of pranayama exercises, many of which are quite difficult. Here are a few pranayama exercises designed for beginners:
Introduction to Breathing (Moffat Cancer Centre):
Ujjayi Breathing ["conqueror breath"] (YogaForTransformation.com):
3 Yoga Breathing Exercises (Caren Baginski):
YOGA NIDRA
Yoga Nidra means "yoga sleep". It is a practice designed to help people achieve deep relaxation. Some people find it helpful to do this practice at bedtime, to help them nod off to sleep. The following video is designed to introduce beginners to the practice of Yoga Nidra.
CHAIR YOGA
Gentle Yoga In the Chair (Moffat Cancer Centre):
Gentle Chair Yoga Routine (Cara Kircher):
YIN YOGA
Eastern medicine often strives to bring yin and yang energy into balance. Yang energy creates heat in the body, while Yin energy is still and cooling. Yin yoga is a practice in which practitioners relax into yoga poses for several minutes at a time. For people whose bodies respond well to prolonged stretching, yin yoga can be an enjoyable practice.
Mindful Yin Yoga (Jennifer Raye):
LAUGHTER YOGA
Laughter yoga is a type of exercise in which people voluntarily laugh for a prolonged period of time. It is thought that this practice stimulates similar psychological and physiological benefits to spontaneous laughter.
Laughter Yoga (Robert Rivest):
Eastern medicine often strives to bring yin and yang energy into balance. Yang energy creates heat in the body, while Yin energy is still and cooling. Yin yoga is a practice in which practitioners relax into yoga poses for several minutes at a time. For people whose bodies respond well to prolonged stretching, yin yoga can be an enjoyable practice.
Mindful Yin Yoga (Jennifer Raye):
LAUGHTER YOGA
Laughter yoga is a type of exercise in which people voluntarily laugh for a prolonged period of time. It is thought that this practice stimulates similar psychological and physiological benefits to spontaneous laughter.
Laughter Yoga (Robert Rivest):
