At Las Vegas Recovery Center (LVRC) our evidence-based inpatient Pain Recovery Treatment Program is grounded in helping clients establish four points of balance by treating them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Our treatment program consists of multiple modalities ranging from chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture, to yoga, personal training, chi kung, pilates and nutrition. This month we focus on the modality of yoga-a practice with few rivals in the breadth and depth of its health benefits. What is Yoga? Originating in India 4,000 years ago, Yoga migrated West in the late 19th century. This gentle yet powerful form of exercise involves physical movements or postures (asanas), controlled breathing, and meditation. Rather than focusing on specific body parts, as in weight training, yoga takes an integrative approach-each pose engages many if not all of the body’s muscles at the same time. The word “yoga” itself means to “join,” “unite,” or “connect”-fittingly, as this physical exercise leads to greater unity among mind, body, and soul. Yoga and Pain Recovery At LVRC we believe in treating not only the physical symptoms of pain, but to focus equally on the emotional and spiritual suffering associated with chronic pain conditions, including the mental attitudes and thought patterns that invariably amplify the hardship of living with chronic pain. Yoga is one of the key modalities we use toward this goal, because it is by nature designed to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person, with scientifically proven benefits in each area: Physical Benefits Study after study has shown that yoga is one of the most effective treatments for increasing mobility and decreasing pain intensity. It is an ideal form of movement for people with chronic pain because it is gentle, harmonious, and works with the unique challenges of each individual. Remarkably, yoga consistently leads to the sharpest drop in the use of pain medication, as compared to any control group using a different modality. It has been shown to provide more relief from chronic low back pain than any other form of exercise and significantly more than other types of self-treatments that do no involve movement. It can also bring about significant reductions in migraines. Mental Benefits A scientific measurement of the benefits of mental clarity is hard to come by, but the anecdotal evidence is overwhelming that yoga leads people to feel more calm, focused, and centered in themselves. The breathing and meditative aspects of the practice are designed to significantly reduce the negative chatter and clouded mental states that often compound the suffering associated with chronic pain. Yoga has also been shown to bring about significant improvements in such serious mental health issues as ADHD and schizophrenia. Emotional Benefits Yoga loosens up any tightness and stiffness in the body, stretching what is tense and releasing what has become “bottled up.” Through breathing into any tightness and pain, we let go and accept wherever we are with our bodies and minds. Much negative emotion results from blockages and immobility, and yoga’s release through fluid movement can bring relief from all kinds of tension, fear, anger, frustration, and anxiety. Countless studies confirm that yoga significantly decreases depression. Even after just one hour of practice, brain scans of people doing yoga revealed a significant increase in the neurotransmitters responsible for countering anxiety and irritability. Spiritual Benefits One axiom in yoga is that physical strength and flexibility mirror spiritual strength and flexibility. Acceptance, clarity of mind, and contentment are all essential aspects of spiritual health. Learning to breathe through difficult postures can help us breathe through difficult times. In yoga practice we are encouraged to find our own limits, to stretch into poses without comparing ourselves to another, and to find our own comfort zone and accepting where we’re at. Most importantly, yoga brings us into the present moment, where we can experience life more fully, more openly, and with a sense of peace and serenity. If you would like more information-for yourself or a loved one-about how yoga and the numerous other holistic modalities in our pain recovery treatment program can help in recovery from chronic pain, please give us a call today. CALL: 866-637-0359