Yoga as Treatment for Chronic Pain

Apr4

Beware of miscellaneous objects falling in formation
Creative Commons License photo credit: Tim Green aka atoach

I have tried everything for my chronic knee pain, and I do mean everything. I have had multiple steroid injections into my knee cavity (more pain inducing than relieving). I have had injections to replace the synovial lining of my joint. I have had FIVE radio-frequency ablations, in which a probe is put into my knee and heated to 100 degrees, in the hopes of burning the nerves. I have done yoga, seen energy healers and naturopaths. I have had two knee surgeries, endless sessions of physiotherapy and massage therapy, and am the proud owner of two hefty knee braces that have significant price tags attached. Yes, I’ve tried it all, but still I suffer.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned a yoga retreat that I was considering. Much like selections of yoga practices, there are equally as many choices when it comes to retreats. However, for me, I’m looking for ones geared towards people who suffer from chronic pain, and my massage therapist has directed me to retreats and lessons by Niel Pearson, who has a physical therapy degree and a masters in rehabilitation science. He also happens to be a yoga instructor. A physiotherapist combined with alternative healer? Right up my alley.

Neil teaches a lot of different pain management techniques through a variety of methods, however, I really like his approach to pain from the points of view of the patient, yoga instructors and healthcare practitioners. For those suffering with pain, he has created a multitude of products to cope including audio and visual DVDs, workbooks and educational books, on top of the yoga retreats that are usually a weekend long and dedicated to helping people, and their spouses, cope with a life in chronic pain. His website, Lifeisnow, provides a ton of free resources to educate, improve and benefit those suffering with chronic pain.

Yoga as treatment for chronic pain is certainly nothing new. The benefits of stretching and holding poses has been promoted for centuries, back when the practice first began. But pain remains a mystery for many health care practitioners, as it is our brain that tells us we are in pain, not the pain site. Niel Pearson’s approach teaches us to look at and relax the brain, combined with the assistance of yoga poses, in order to cope with injuries and the haunting after effects.

I’ve taken the step to sign up for the yoga retreat, and look forward to not just the yoga classes themselves, but the educational classes in which I learn to change my perspective on this nasty thing called pain, and what the actual root of the problem is. At the very least, trying another method can’t hurt. At least, not worse than those injections…

Kelly

Filed Under: Wellness, Yoga Tips Tagged With: , ,

Deep and Compassionate Listening

Feb11

The world is in need of gifted listeners. There is so much suffering out there, so much pain defining so many lives. Many of these people would be helped immeasurably if they had someone to listen to them. An hour of talking about their problems to someone who knows how to listen deeply and compassionately would dissolve tight knots of suffering in their psyches.

We should all aspire to learn to listen with the skill of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, “The one who hears the cries of the world.” This means listening without interrupting, without registering judgment on our faces or through our body language. This is a learned skill that takes practice to develop! When we are engaged in this kind of deep listening, our bodies, faces and auras will make it clear that we are truly hearing the other person; that he or she is free to speak without fear of being interrupted, judged or criticized. Only then will the individual feel safe about sharing what’s inside.

There’s a good reason people spend small fortunes to talk to therapists: there is a deficit of skilled listeners in their lives. Some people go their whole lives without the benefit of finding a person skilled at deep listening; they suffer greatly and needlessly. Resolve to become that kind of listener for the people in your sphere today.

We often have no idea what’s going on inside other people. Outwardly, people may project a façade of sunny nonchalance, while they are in fact in an inward state of turmoil. How often, after suicides or homicides, do we hear expressions of utter astonishment from friends and family? “He seemed to be doing just fine;” “She was quiet and kept to herself, but I never dreamed she would hurt herself;” “He was doing so well at school and with his new girlfriend—why would he do something like this?” These are the kinds of statements and questions that often follow a tragedy brought on by unrecognized emotional illness.

The human psyche is a fragile thing; the slightest biochemical imbalance, blow to the ego, or sense of loss can have a disastrous effect. As far as we know, we are the only species in the animal kingdom that requires a sense of meaning and purpose beyond the fulfillment of basic needs. Our highly-developed cerebral cortex is what has enabled us to thrive as a species, but it also makes us vulnerable to despair. Without a sense of belonging, a higher purpose, and meaningful goals to aspire to, we fall easily into despondency. When we feel hopeless and also feel that no one understands us, the problem becomes magnified and more serious. Finding even one person who will truly listen to us in a deep and compassionate manner can make all the difference in the world!

I’ve found that conscious breathing and meditation are an absolute must in developing one’s listening skills. In order to hear what another person has to say without reacting in a counterproductive manner, we have to be fully grounded and calm. Different people have different subjects and modes of expression that “hook” their reactive minds and send them into an emotional tailspin. If you’re going into a situation that you know is fraught with emotional landmines for you, the importance of preparing with conscious breathing and meditation cannot be overstressed. There’s nothing wrong with delaying a listening session if you don’t have adequate time to prepare your mind, body and spirit—in fact, the other person is better served by it. Even better, you can get help from someone who understands and/or shares your spiritual practice (without betraying any confidences, of course).

The bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and his female counterpart Kuan Yin are often depicted in statues with many arms, symbolizing the universal help they offer to those in need. These mythological beings are also known for their listening; they are “[those] who hear the cries of the world.” I recommend taking the time and effort to become a deep and empathic listener in the tradition of Avalokitesvara/Kuan Yin. It will have a wonderful effect on your sphere of influence, relieving suffering in many people and giving you a deep sense of connectedness and usefulness.

All the best,

William

Filed Under: Everyday Spirit, Yoga Tips

The good, the bad, and the Bikram

Oct11

Fire from the Earth Creative Commons License photo credit: Oxymoronical

Years ago, when I was initially “shopping around” for a yoga studio that suited me back in Ontario, I was open to trying any kind of practice that might be possible with my knee. I had heard a lot about Bikram yoga being taught at a studio downtown, so I decided to give it a go. An interesting article on the creator of Bikram yoga can be found here. As most of you know, Bikram is a series of twenty-six poses in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. I’ll admit, intense exercise in a sauna-like atmosphere didn’t really sound like my idea of a good time, but for the miracle work I heard it could do, I was willing to give it a go.

I was advised, as a newbie, to place my mat closer to the door, where there would be a little more “fresh air”. Hmm. Promptly upon place my mat at said location, I kept asking myself, “And THIS the coolest part of the room?” I was sweating already and I wasn’t even doing anything! And who were the crazy women situated on the opposite side…the hottest part of the room?! Were they nuts? I was also a little put off by the number of women in the class who didn’t even come close to approaching a size two and were all scantily clad in sports bras and short-shorts. I was wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt. It was going to be a long hour and a half.

As it turns out, I spent most of my time in child’s pose on my mat, unable to do anything else without literally blacking out. It was almost funny, actually. When the class was over, I was beyond excited to be one of the first one’s out the door (finally, a benefit to being in the “cool” part of the room!). I arrived in the ladies change room, took off my cotton shirt to wring it out (literally), and I fainted. The instructor and my fellow yoga-lovers rushed to my side and spent the next half an hour trying to peel me from the floor. Solidarity ladies (and the nice man, called out from the men’s change room, to help walk me to my car).

As it turns out, if my doctors are right, then I’ve had this Grave’s Disease for quite a few years. One of the many Grave’s symptoms is an extremely high heart rate and increased blood pressure. And so, Bikram yoga is now out of my reach considering the multitude of blood pressure pills I have to take every day. So there is probably a reason why my body reacted so negatively. And I should say that I know lots of people who a firm believers in the Bikram practice and the healing it provides. But little did I know that this was such a debatable topic! When I researched online, there were slews of forums dedicated to the lovers and haters of Bikram. And the debate was heated, pun intended.

My take on the whole thing? Do what feels good for your body and your body alone. If that means Bikram in a steamy room, then so be it! If that means a series of poses in your living room, great! If you thrive in a classroom with a studied teacher, then that’s where you should be. But whatever your path, you should never close your mind to other options, new practices, and different ways of getting to your yoga destination.

Kelly

Filed Under: Styles & Poses, Yoga Tips Tagged With: ,

Getting back into the flow…literally

Oct4

Jacquie Keeney, Instructor at The Asana Room

For me, yoga, much like my religion, has been more of a private practice. I used to go to classes quite often, liking the feeling of being surrounded by comrades and others who appreciated the exercises and stretches. But much like many of us do, I allowed life to get in the way, and soon, most of my practice happened at home to the tune of books, DVDs, and other instructional techniques, all of which, can be valid if done properly. But there is something to be said for instruction from a trained professional that I have always missed.

To make matters worse, seven years ago, I broke my right leg at my knee joint, and after two surgeries, five pain ablation procedures, and endless hours of physio, I am no further along in my healing process than I was the day I was injured. For those of you who don’t know, I was in the military for eight years, and recently, was released from the military due to this injury, which was caused by a week in the field doing all the fun army stuff! Sadly, my pain persists to this day.

For this reason, I allowed myself to be even more of a yoga recluse. I was embarrassed of my cumbersome leg brace or my inability to put pressure and weight on my right leg. I felt shame for not being able to move into downward dog with the same ease that I once did. Each pose is now accompanied by my grunts, groans and adjustments until the position can work for me.

I was struck in a proverbial yoga rut until recently, after talking with my friend, Jacquie, who is also a fantastic and compassionate yoga instructor at The Asana Room in Courtenay, BC. After explaining my plight, she told me that we can never learn unless we push ourselves beyond our comfort zone. She then promptly invited me to the class she teaches. Touché, Jacquie. After allaying my concerns that there would be professional yogis in the room, fully into Salamba Sirsasana, I agreed to make an appearance, full of advance apologies for not being able to do anything right.

Jacquie in Warrior Pose

I walked into the wood-laden room and instantly was filled with nerves, once again, forgetting what yoga is all about. It’s more about the journey, isn’t it? Not how I get there? Of course! I get it now! And so, filled with some semblance of confidence, the class began and I allowed myself to stretch into each Sun Salutation, reaching my arms toward the sky, and really appreciating what the move was doing for my body. When our pelvises settled into Warrior Pose, I remembered that in my previous military life, I was a warrior! And here I am, being one right now, in the moment. I am capable and strong, occasionally in ways that aren’t always physical. And it felt good to recognize that.

I went through the rest of the class somewhere on the brink between emotional and elated. I smiled when I realized I wasn’t the only one who grunted or groaned when moving into tricky poses. It’s all part of getting there and giving your body permission to make that noise. And when a certain position was too hard on my knee, I just stopped. I focused on my breath. I realized that I was taking a big step today, by putting myself, and my yoga practice, out there in the real world. I did something worthwhile today. When another pose pinched my knee, I adjusted until it worked for me. And in the room of The Asana Room, with other eager students, there was no judgement or gawking at my changes. There was acceptance.

And that, ladies and gentleman, is part of what yoga is all about. Accepting yourself, your body, and your fellow students for all that they are.

So, my thanks go out to Jacquie, for creating such a positive environment for me to practice and providing a skillfully delivered class full of diversity and relaxation. I’d be lying if I said the class didn’t challenge me, but someone wise told me that if I don’t get out of my comfort zone, I’ll never learn.

Kelly

 

Filed Under: Everyday Spirit, Styles & Poses, Teaching, Yoga Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Mediocrity in Meditating

Sep29

Photo Credit- Jessica Dozois of Girls With Film

Hello to all yogaflavoredlife.com readers! My name is Kelly Thompson, a freelance writer/editor/yoga lover.  It is a pleasure to “meet” all of you and I’m really excited to be writing for this blog where we’ll delve into meditation, total wellness and all things yoga!

I have practiced yoga for over a decade, which is saying a lot for my young twenty-seven year-old self. I have always found peace in each pose and solidarity in each breath. And in fact, I’d even say I’ve become pretty good at it. I can bend and stretch with the rest of them, despite a nasty knee injury. But here’s a little secret about me: my hours spent practicing yoga are the only hours of my life in which I feel any semblance of calm. The rest of my existence is spent in a constant state of anxiety and stress. Essentially, I need to take the techniques that I learn in yoga and apply them to the rest of my life. I need to meditate.

The problem is, I believed that some people are incapable of meditation, and that I am one of those people. We often hear, “My brain is never silent!” or, “But I can’t stop thinking about my To-Do list!”. Oh, fellow practitioners who are mediocre at meditating, I can relate. My mind runs at full speed, 24/7. When I try to go to sleep, my mind whirs with a complicated array of thoughts that grip me like a choke hold and refuse to let me drift peacefully into sleep. It’s so bad that I now keep a pen and paper by my bed so that I can put my anxieties on paper and get it all out of my system. Only then can I fall asleep and turn my brain over to a bout of fitful dreams.

To make things even more complicated, recently, I’ve been diagnosed with Grave’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid, and on Monday, I’m having my thyroid radiated with radioactive iodine. (For more information on Grave’s Disease, please check out this link to the thyroid foundation of Canada.) Grave’s is also known to heighten any feelings of stress, since patients often experience a feeling of constantly being “on the go”. So because of all this, I find that my mind is rapidly carrying away with me and creating scenarios that might not actually come to fruition, especially before some major medical intervention. What if something goes wrong? What if I end up feeling more rotten after treatment than I did before? What if, what if, what if?! Haven’t we all played this mental game at some point or another in our lives, when we allow our anxiety to get the better of us? The What Ifs can quickly control our lives.

My symptoms led me to discuss my mental health with my doctor, an endocrinologist and quite possibly the most compassionate and kind human being in existence. He said, “Kelly, my prescription is you need to chill out. Look into meditation.” He’s right. I need to calm my mind for both my mental and physical health.

After lots of determined research on Google and Amazon.ca, I thought my first step would be to read a book on my new obsession. The book I picked as being worthy of my attention is The Best Guide to Meditation by Victor N. Davich. When it arrived, I held it before me like some sort of religious text that would solve all my problems and answer all my questions. Unfortunately, this can never really be the case.

I should say, that the book is great. What makes it so fantastic is that it isn’t only accessible to newcomers to meditation like myself, but rather, the book goes into the deeper meaning of calming your mind, the origination of the practice itself, and holistic approaches to health that go beyond medications. It also simplifies things for the laymen but offers a more focused approach for those more learned and experienced. All in all, I felt I learned a lot when I read the final word on the last page.

So all filled with new-found information, I sat on the floor, relaxed my pose, and felt myself slip into peaceful relaxation. Or at least, that’s what I thought would happen. It didn’t really. My mind was concerned with what was happening around me. When am I supposed to start cooking dinner? Man, these pants are feeling kinda tight in the mid-section! What time is it? Oh dear, here we go again. The old Kelly rears her ugly head. Not the most successful meditating session. I was allowing myself to stress over the fact that I couldn’t relax! All in all, it was little more than counter productive.

But when I really took a few minutes to calm myself, focus on my breath and the teachings I’ve received in years of yoga classes, I realized that we all have our own path to meditation and finding balance. Mine might be a little more muddled than others. But in finding patience and permission to allow myself the time for my body, and this pesky brain of mine, to calm themselves, I will eventually find the peace I am looking for.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, was it? Neither will the perfection of my meditation practice. In fact, it will never be perfect. Then again, nothing worth having ever is.

All the best to all all readers on your own meditating paths. Just remember to give your brain all the time it needs. Dinner can wait.

Kelly

Filed Under: Meditation, Yoga Tips Tagged With: , ,
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