Psychological Stress and Physical Pain How can Yoga Help!

Stress and Physical Pain

       I recently read in the September/October Arthritis Today magazine “Many studies have found a strong correlation between psychological stress and physical pain. Stress increases pain sensitivity.” As a Svaroopa ® Yoga teacher I know how much yoga decreases my physical pain and my stress levels. Many yogic tools and practices are designed to give you ways to cope or handle your stress. It is not that yogis have no stress in their lives they just react differently to it.

       This article really made me think about the increase in your sensitivity to pain. It isn't that stress physically hurts but it increases your awareness to the pain you may already have. Yoga's physical practices can help you to handle and reduce your stress thus reducing your sensitivity to pain. A simple daily practice which can take as little as 20 minutes will begin to ease your achy joints and muscles. It will also help to quiet your mind, this is why yogis can react differently under stressful situations.

        One of the easiest practices I teach in every Svaroopa ® yoga class is a simple breathing practice called Ujjayi Pranayama. It is also one of the easiest ways to calm your mind and reduce stress and anxiety. You can take a few quiet Ujjayi breaths anywhere, even in a traffic jam. This will ease your stress level and may ease your back ache at the same time!

        During the month of September I am teaching a theme called Daily Practice, you will learn Ujjayi Pranayama breathing and a sequence of poses that are easy to follow and to do at home. Come try a class and begin to quiet your mind, ease your aching back, improve your flexibility and overall health. Start reducing your stress and pain now, you don't have to wait!