Yoga Reduces Pain In Fibromyalgia Patients

The Yoga of Awareness Program conducted a study with women who suffer with Fibromyalgia. 53 women participated in the study, half were enrolled in a yoga workshop while the other half had traditional treatment. The study's results showed that yoga has a pronounced effect on the pain level, attitude, sleeping habits and energy level on the Fibromyalgia patient.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects the soft tissue that surrounds muscle. This is a common condition which tends to affect more women than men. Symptoms of Fibromyalgia include muscle weakness, fatigue and sleep deprivation.

The study conducted by the Yoga of Awareness Program provided yoga services to half of the patients. The services were: gentle stretches and poses (40 minutes), breathing (10 minutes), presentations explaining the yoga theology (20 minutes) and group discussions (20 minutes). The entire yoga program was tailored to improve sleep, fatigue and decrease pain.

The women chosen for this study had to fit a category to prevent any subjective data. The woman had to have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), they had to have had it for over one year and have been taking pharmacologic and/or non-pharmacologic treatment for three months.

After the Yoga program had finished, the researchers compared the two types of patients and their health status. Those who had been engaged in the Yoga of Awareness Program had a significant improvement in their health. Not only was their physical pain reduced by the affects of yoga but their mental capabilities of dealing with yoga had altered in a manner that improved their overall health and acceptance of Fibromyalgia.

Yoga as a therapy can help people with many conditions that cause lack of energy, muscle weakness, sleep depredation, stiffness and increased anxiety. There are multiple places that offer yoga services from your local gym, to your hospital, to the community college, a DVD from the library, the list is endless. If you think yoga could help improve your health check with your health care provider before beginning any program.