Yoga for Fibromyalgia Patients
Why Yoga?
While the thought of twisting oneself into a pretzel may not seem like the best remedy for a chronic pain disease, yoga is actually highly adaptable for each person. As one can see from pretty much any yoga class (online or in person), the instructor encourages students to go only as far as they feel comfortable. There is very little pressure to make the practitioner feel less than for not being able to achieve all of the poses.
Yoga is also helpful for chronic illness because of its ability to calm the mind. During yoga, practitioners are supposed to focus on their breathing, thus slowing everything down, increasing mindfulness, and conditioning the brain to focus on easy, attainable steps while the body performs more difficult tasks. Here are some poses that people who live with fibromyalgia may find helpful.
