Yoga for Chronic Pain - Importance of Breathing
“All chronic pain, suffering, and diseases are caused by a lack of oxygen at the cell level.”
Today’s post is the second +in a series of four blog posts discussing chronic pain. Below is a brief discussion on breathing exercises and how they can impact chronic pain and disease. Each of the next two posts to follow will continue to dig a little deeper into specific yoga practices to help manage pain such as meditation, and gentle movements. I hope you will join me on this important journey.
Breathing exercises for chronic pain
Anecdotally, we all know that taking deep breaths can calm us and release tension. This can also help with pain management.
Specifically, relaxing deep and slow breathing has been shown to reduce pain perception. Many of us tend to hold our breath when stressed or in pain but unfortunately this usually only serves to perpetuate the cycle. For example, it is common during pregnancy for new parents to be instructed in breathing techniques to use while laboring to ease some of the pain. But these techniques are often overlooked otherwise.
In my experience, breathing techniques will not immediately or miraculously cure your chronic pain. What it can do is build a better relationship between you and your body and the signals it is sending you.
Physiological effects of breathing exercises
Breathing exercises are an easy and portable way to manage pain and stress. They can also have significant impacts on various body systems including the heart and lungs, brain, digestions, and immune systems. All of these systems play an integral role in our overall health and wellness.
Individuals living with various chronic illness have been shown to benefit from consistent breathing exercises. For example, the Cleveland Clinic offers yoga classes to patients living with chronic diseases to help them manage their pain and disease.
Research has also shown that breathing exercises can impact the pH in your blood and help regulate your blood pressure.
The ancient breathing practices of yoga have been used for thousands of years to help students of the practice self-regulate their fight-flight-freeze response.
Living with pain
The pain you feel is real.
It is a real signal to tell you something is not right. One of the issues that then arises is when there does not seem to be a physical or tangible reason for the pain. Chronic pain can be an indication that you are perpetually stuck in a fight-flight-freeze response causing you to always been on edge and tense.
So by beginning to notice your breath and pain and what changes it, you can gain valuable information about how you react and respond to pain and other stressors.
This week I challenge you to take time to notice your breath - is it deep or shallow, fast or slow. Try to pay attention to what changes it - anxiety, exercise, pain. Do you notice anything else? Does your belly rise and fall? Does your rib cage expand? How long are your inhales and exhales? Does the breath feel restricted in any way?
Becoming more in tune with your breath and how or why it changes can empower you on your journey beyond pain.
Private yoga for chronic pain
And if you need more guidance, private yoga sessions including pranayama (breathing exercises) can be specifically curated to offer you the best path forward. We will work together to design sessions that specifically address your areas of concern and encourage a deeper understanding of how your body reacts and responds to stressors.
I would be honored to help you on your journey to living beyond pain and dysfunction. Request a Free Intro Call here.
I have also included pranayama (breathing practice) with this week’s blog to allow you to try one of the many practices available. It is posted on YouTube and available through the link below. I encourage you to try it. With consistent practice, breathing exercises can become a valuable part of your pain management routine.
More Information:
Stress Management: Breathing Exercises for Relaxation | Michigan Medicine
