Yoga and Fibromyalgia
By Martha S
I have lived with Fibromyalgia for over 30 years and have tried a variety of remedies and modalities in an on-going effort to manage the pain, chronic fatigue, stiffness, and restless sleep that are part of the syndrome. I tried many approaches with varied results ranging from making the situation worse to bringing limited relief to some of the symptoms. So, it was with some hesitation that I decided to try Yoga.
I first tried Bikram's Yoga, and while it brought short-term relief to the pain, I found the pace and level of exercises to be too strenuous and taxing on my body; sending me into a roller coaster of great relief followed by increased pain a day or two later. Then I came across HeartSong Yoga's approach and was very encouraged by the variety of offerings like Gentle Yoga, Adaptive Yoga, and Therapeutic Yoga Classes. I felt I was in good enough shape to forgo the Gentle and Adaptive levels and go straight to Beginning Yoga; though it was comforting to know that I could transfer to the more gentle classes if necessary. My body welcomed the HeartSong Yoga approach as if wrapping myself up in a warm soft blanket on a cold winter evening. I felt the immediate pain relief that I had felt before with other types of Yoga, but noticed that the relief was longer lasting and when the pain returned it was not as intense. Initially I didn't understand the difference but I happily accepted the longer term benefits of better sleep, less stiffness, more energy, and of course the most relief from pain I had felt in many years.
Now that I have been at HeartSong Yoga for over a year I understand the difference; it is the education I receive. The education that is given in every session of what muscles to engage, how to stack the bones up, when to use what part of the body to transition from one pose to another, that is what brings me the lasting improvement because even without trying I apply these concepts throughout the day as my body learns to correct itself. An example is that my most tender Fibromyalgia point is in the left corner of my sacrum. This spot is always screaming with pain, even more so when I drive long distances. Not too long ago I was sitting in traffic when my sacrum started to throb with pain. Without thinking I started to analyze my posture based on the concepts I have learned. I lifted my rib cage, moved my shoulders down and back, and engaged my inner core in the lower abdominal muscles. The pain went away! I then let my whole body droop back into the bad posture and the pain shot back. I corrected the whole posture, the pain went away. I started laughing, because after 30 + years of constant pain a simple shifting and engaging of the right muscles had done the trick. My thanks to Leslie and other teachers at HeartSong Yoga for giving me the gift of a pain-free, strong, and happy body.
Namaste'.
