Yoga
for Fibromyalgia
Contracted
Fascia Causes Chronic Pain
As
a yoga teacher and former neuromuscular therapist, I frequently
work with people in chronic pain. A surprisingly large number
of them have fibromyalgia; a condition that’s frequently misunderstood
and even misdiagnosed. Also called myofascial pain syndrome
(MPS), fibromyalgia can present such discomfort and pain that
life’s normal activities grind to a screeching halt. What
is Fibromyalgia/MPS? Visualize preparing chicken for dinner.
As you remove the skin, notice that very thin, almost transparent
membrane surrounding the meat. That’s fascia.
You
also have fascia...and lots of it. It’s directly under your
skin surrounding you from the top of your head to the tip
of your toes. Fascia wraps each individual muscle as well
as surrounds and separates each muscle group from other muscle
groups. Fascia also encapsulates every organ and gland and
virtually all other structures in your body. It is literally
the bag that holds your body together; but when fascia goes
wrong, there’s an awful price to pay. In its natural state,
fascia’s Teflon-like slippery surface allows your muscles
to slip and slide, and your body moves with minimal effort.
That is; except when you are injured…or chronically ill…or
have been under abnormal emotional stress…or even growing
older.
Fascia
responds to any form of trauma by contracting. The good news
about fascia contraction is that it restricts movement and
protects you from exacerbating a bad condition (notwithstanding
ageing; but then, that’s a topic for another time). The bad
news is that when fascia stays contracted longer than necessary
or contracts for “no apparent reason,” you’ll feel as if you’ve
been hit by a truck. Chronically-contracted fascia causes
you to feel exhausted and irritable. You’ll hate being touched.
You’ll have difficulty concentrating, performing daily activities,
and sleeping. The nastiest aspect of fibromyalgia/MPS is that
it’s self-generating and promotes a vicious pain cycle: As
fascia tightens, you’ll feel worse and your stress increases.
As stress increases, fascia responds by becoming even tighter
which escalates your overall discomfort and stress.
Fibromyalgia/MPS
is typically treated with pain-reducing medications, and because
some physicians view MPS as a psychosomatic dysfunction, it’s
sometimes treated as a psychiatric disorder. Regardless of
its cause, psychosomatic or not, its physical manifestation
is undeniable. Chronically contracted fascia causes pain.
Just as “fibromyalgia/MPS” is a catchall for many different
dysfunctions, “yoga” is also a catchall name for many different
modalities.
The
ExTension and Recovery Yoga approach is: “As
goes the fascia, goes the body; and as goes the body, goes
the mind.” This approach is not based upon trying to stretch
muscles, but is instead designed to restore proper functioning
of fascia. Because of the interconnectedness of body and mind,
releasing contracted fascia has an amazing affect upon the
body/mind/spirit connection. As many of you know, I have direct
experience in these matters being a 56 year-old-person with
MS. As such, I know both ends of athleticism, good health,
and growing older. Add to that my background in anatomy, physiology
and kinesiology, and I know first hand how this particular
approach to yoga plays an effective role in the management
and reduction of fibromyalgia/MPS induced pain.
Article
by yoga instructor Sam Dworkis, auther of Recovery Yoga
and ExTension. Visit his web site at www.extensionyoga.com
.
The above article
is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease
or condition. A qualified health care professional should
be consulted before beginning ExTension or Recovery Yoga,
or any exercise program. Read the rest of our disclaimer
and terms of use.
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