Chronic Pain? Take a Deep Breath and Say ‘Om’
New research has uncovered yet another health benefit to practicing yoga.(Photo: Stocksy/Jovana Rikalo)
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), yoga has the ability to reduce and even prevent the effects of chronic pain on the brain. This information was announced at the annual meeting held by the American Pain Society, where an official from the NIH discussed the connection between depression, pain and gray matter in the brain.
Research indicates that those who workout to this ancient mind, body and spirit exercise have been shown to possess more gray matter, which is located in the cerebral cortex and subcortical areas. Additional imaging studies have shown that people who are depressed have gray matter loss, and that this reduction was also associated with pain when depression was present.
“Practicing yoga has the opposite effect on the brain as does chronic pain,” stated M. Catherine Bushnell, PhD, scientific director from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, NIH, in a formal statement. “The encouraging news for people with chronic pain is mind-body practices seem to exert a protective effect on brain gray matter that counteracts the neuroanatomical effects of chronic pain.”
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Over the years, science has shown numerous health benefits to this Hindu discipline. Not only may yoga decrease stress, it may also reduce anxiety levels in those who suffer from bipolar disorder, improve balance in those who’ve suffered a stroke, benefit heart health as much as aerobics and may even help women with urinary incontinence.
Ashley Turner, yoga and meditation instructor and star of the Element: 5 Day Yoga DVD, who was not involved with this latest research, recommends practicing yoga three times per week (at minimum) for 30 minutes per session in order to see results. “Though if you’re experiencing intense pain, the amount of time can be less—like 10 to 15 minutes—and then increase the minutes as pain decreases and strength and flexibility increases,” she tells Yahoo Health.
And if yoga is too difficult due to any physical ailments, just find a comfortable spot, close your eyes and reap the rewards of working your mind. “Since chronic pain is linked to anxiety and depression, meditation is absolutely the best first step and can help patients begin to process the root cause of pain,” states Turner. “Once someone begins to experience some relief of symptom and feels like moving more, asana practice (which involves finding a comfortable pose) can be added to meditation practice for full mind-body connection and pain relief.”
Namaste.
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