Yoga for Back Pain and Fibromyalgia Syndrome

By Dr. Neel Freedom

Many Fibromyalgia and Back pain sufferers practice yoga for symptom relief. Yoga also helps fibromyalgia patients with mental, physical and spiritual balance; energizing the body and relaxing the mind. Prescription drugs and other forms of therapy are sometimes not enough, therefore it is important for fibromyalgia sufferers to take part in their own recovery and try alternative therapies and self care practices.

Practicing Yoga Postures can be a natural cure for fibromyalgia symptom relief, along with breathing exercises and meditation to balance the overall health of an individual.

•What is Yoga?

•What are the Origins of Yoga?

•Yoga for Fibromyalgia Sufferers

What is Yoga?
Yoga is a physical and mental practice that involves the body, mind, and spirit. The practice, originating in India, is designed to enhance awareness, create a mind-body-spirit balance, and (as often practiced today in the US) to improve fitness. The most common form practiced in the United States is Hatha Yoga, which includes specific movements or postures (asanas), deep breathing (pranayama), and sometimes meditation (dhyana).

Gentle, mindful, and controlled movements can provide a non-impact or low-impact yoga exercise or fibromyalgia sufferers in almost any physical condition. Specific exercises, or asanas, ease and stretch tense muscles; improve flexibility; and enhance strength, balance, and endurance.

What are the Origins of Yoga?
There is no set date when this great ancient art-science began, but it goes back thousands of years. Stone carvings in the Indus Valley depicting yoga postures date back over 5,000 years. Traditionally, yoga was a spiritual practice, its goal being union with the Absolute or Divine. The various exercises associated with Hatha Yoga were performed to prepare the body for long periods of meditation. The word “yoga” means to join or unite together, and the practice joins together the body, mind, and spirit. The practice is often associated with Hinduism, but pre-dates the religion. As have other religions, Hinduism has incorporated elements of this art into its practices.

Yoga is now practiced around the world and is helpful as a natural cure for fibromyalgia becuase of its psychological, physical, and spiritual benefits. According to results of a study sponsored by the Yoga Journal, released in June 2003, 15 million Americans, or over seven percent of US adults, practiced some form of this exercise form.

Yoga for Fibromyalgia Sufferers
The gentle exercise form can be practiced by almost anyone. The beauty of this exercise form is that it is not necessary to be able to do all the postures; the fibromyalgia sufferer can work within their own limitations, and tailor the practice to their specific needs. It is best for the fibromyalgia patient to take private yoga of group classes. There are several books and videos on yoga, but fibromyalgia patients should supplement their practice with what is learned in a class. Yoga classes can provide a better understanding of the practice, especially the use of particular yoga postures beneficial for fibromyalgia symptoms.

Before the first yoga class, the fibromyalgia patient may want to observe a yoga session. Does the teacher and the pace of the class feel right? There are many classes and teachers from which to choose, it is important to find a teacher that feels right for you. Make sure the instructor has had experience dealing with fibromyalgia patients.

Dr Freedom and Leela can be reached at http://www.soundbodyYOGA.com They lead exclusive wellness Yoga Retreats for Back pain iat Yoga Costa Rica.
For more on Fibromyalgia and Yoga also visit http://www.back-fibromyalgia-pain.com

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I Need to Lose Weight, Can I Use Yoga?

By Foras Aje

The caption above was the question that a fellow rider on the sub-way asked me on the way home as I was looking through the recent copy of the Yoga journal.

I sort of had to pause to regain my composure as she had just suggested to me that “look , I’m overweight and I need you to tell me how to lose some pounds…and yes, I’m a female!”

Well, I promised to email her all the information I could on using yoga to lose weight –perhaps because I didn’t want to draw too much attention to myself being on in public.

Here’s what I sent her on the subject:

Now, from the first glance, it may not seem that Yoga 'burns enough calories' to lose weight, the truth is when used properly (and of course with the prescribed yoga diet) using yoga practice to lose weight can have a lot of positive effects on the body.

My personal recommendations for a yoga practice to lose weight program will be as follows

Do the Sun Salutations (24 reps or more) first.

This is the very core of yoga itself.

Since they mildly exercise the arms and legs and are often recommended for obesity, depression and fitness they form an integral part of any kind of yoga session or style.

Several Martial Artists, Indian and African Wrestlers perform tons of rounds of these exercises alone, so in learning yoga for beginners, needless to say, this will be a guaranteed must-know for any system of yoga conditioning for weight loss.

Other poses to look into for the trouble spots are

1. Arms: The Bow, Wheel and Balancing Poses

2. Abs: The Bow, Peacock and Shoulder Stand Poses.

3. Legs: The Sun Salutations, the Inversion Poses and Forward Bending Poses.

(I've ensured to make sure these are quite easy for any and every one to do.

Now, it will be like preaching to the choir to say that in executing these exercises, one will need to make improvements in their dietetic habits, that considered, making your yoga practice to lose weight regimen complete, there is such a thing as a Yoga Diet that you have to adhere to.

Comprising of fresh fruits and vegetables and excluding all junk and processed foods, this not only nourishes the body but rids it of excessive pounds and debris in an otherwise clogged up colon.

Well, at this point if you are still on the fence as to whether yoga could come in handy for weight loss…

You can bet your last dime that it can!

In Friendship,

Aje

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of BodyHealthSoul LLC. Stop by His Yoga for Beginners Blog today for more information on yoga conditioning for weight loss.

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What's the Best Program to Get Certified to Teach Yoga?

By Foras Aje

The other day, after viewing the potential for being rewarding financially, a friend of mine brought up the subject of getting a yoga teaching certification.

Like her, it is possible that many people may be considering options for the best program to get certified to teach yoga in an attempt to become certified to teach this form of exercise.

That means to get certified, one has to learn from the very best options available.

Since we were both intrigued, I decided to research online and see what I could come up with as to the choices and did come across some viable ones.

One stand out was Yogafit , and they state that they have the
ability to teach yoga in a variety of settings to a wide range of students.

Their yoga certification courses will prepare you to bring yoga into mainstream health clubs and gyms, allowing you to teach to people that might not have regular access to yoga classes.

They state that they offer yoga certification workshops for all levels of trainers, so whether you're just starting out or you've been teaching yoga for years, you can find courses and workshops that work for you.

Seems like they might be worth the investment, money and time wise and personally, maybe I could beat my friend into getting the certification and teach what I do know about yoga.

For now, I guess the articles I write on the subject will have to suffice for the people curious about learning this form of exercise eh?

All in all, here’s to better health through Yoga.

Om,

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of BodyHealthSoul LLC. Stop by His Yoga for Beginners Blog today for more information on the best yoga certification program

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