Yoga Therapy for Chronic Pain

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans suffer from chronic pain. Whether the root cause is injury, arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other pain conditions, living with chronic pain can have negative effects on sleep, mental health and relationships, as well as the direct impact on the physical body.

Yoga therapy’s holistic approach to healing places equal importance on the effects of the pain as on the source of the pain. By addressing the whole person, we can begin to understand, (for example) that a pain in the low back can cause feelings of low self-worth because of an inability to do a job or a task that was once easy. Both the pain and the low self- esteem cannot be alleviated by medication, surgery, or physical therapy, as may be prescribed in western medicine. But in Yoga Therapy, a specialized practice that addresses the whole person can be therapeutic for the individual who has suffered for months or years with the physical and psychosocial effects of chronic pain.

This four week series will bring attention to alleviating physical pain in the head/jaw, neck, shoulders and low back through gentle movement, focused breath-work and guided meditation. Julie Crossman brings the expertise of an IAYT-certified Yoga Therapist to this progressive, mindful practice that aims, not only help to ease physical pain, but can also help the practitioner to find better sleep, a reduced stress and an improved outlook on their condition.