Wellbeing & Chronic Pain
According to the Canadian Pain Task Force, almost 8 million people of all ages live in pain. It is more common as we age. The estimate is that one in three people over 65 experience chronic pain.
Could Yoga Work to Help Pain?
Research is ongoing.
We do know that yoga works on a number of levels and on the connection between mind and body. When yoga techniques like movement and conscious breathing are practiced your heart rate slows, your body may release fewer stress hormones and for most, the “relaxation response” is initiated. All positive things for our nervous systems.
We do know the strongest research findings so far are for yoga and back pain. And recent research offers encouraging evidence that mind and body practices including yoga may help relieve some fibromyalgia symptoms.
It seems that yoga works like other exercises do. Regular, steady practice over time is the most likely way yoga will positively impact any aspect of wellbeing.
Keep in mind there is no one yoga for every body and it may not be a stand-alone solution for you. In a perfect world yoga could be one part of a broader pain management plan developed for you by a healthcare provider - a plan that is tailored to you.
What Does the Science Say?
Here are a couple links to current biomedical research findings on yoga and pain.
