“Yoga” is translated as the word “union”, and is used by practitioners to join the body and mind. When better awareness is brought into the body, many physical ailments can be eased or even cured. Yoga is a malleable practice that can range from soothing and relaxing to gentle stretching to powerful flows. It can easily be tailored to the needs of an individual while also being progressive over time. In this article, I want to share how I used yoga to help a client postpone a significant back surgery.
My yoga journey began as a personal practice to complement my fitness work. It soon evolved into a critical part of my business as I found it important to share with my clients. I have worked with a wide range of clients that includes senior citizens, children, fitness beginners, advanced practitioners, and professional athletes. They could all benefit from yoga differently so my job was to present it to them in an individualized way.
Some clients come to yoga to try out a class while others come with a specific goal in mind. One client in particular, Michael, came to me with a diagnosis of spinal stenosis. This is a narrowing of the spinal canal which causes a compression of the spinal nerves. It can be very painful and it is not reversible, so it generally leads to back surgery.
Michael’s spinal stenosis had progressed so he would eventually need surgery. But his goals were to postpone surgery for as long as possible. He wanted to strengthen his core so he could recover more quickly after surgery. I assured him that we would carefully work together in a way that would gently stretch and strengthen his body but not cause more pain or injury.
We began meeting for private sessions twice per week to stretch his entire body. I focused on core work and spinal lengthening/decompression. He stayed consistent with his yoga practice and was able to progress to more difficult yoga poses. His pain level decreased as his flexibility and strength increased. We were, through our yoga practice, we were able to postpone his back surgery for four years. When he finally did have his surgery, he was back up and doing yoga after just 6 weeks. The doctor and physical therapist both said his flexibility and strength helped to make this possible. He continues to do yoga to this day for the physical benefits, but also enjoys its mind clearing effects.
While yoga is not a cure-all for your ailments, it is a great addition to any fitness routine, it is a great stress reliever, and it is a great way to get in touch with your body. Identifying pain, weakness, or tension in your body is a wonderful first step in figuring out what your body needs to be at peak performance. I have seen many other successful cases over the years, even if they were less specific than Michael’s. Loosening tight muscles, improving joint range of motion, decreasing stress, and lowering blood pressure are all other benefits that can come from a yoga practice.
My advice is to join a beginner class, find a YouTube video, or sign up for private sessions at your local studio to begin to join your body and mind. Whether you already have a specific goal in mind or just try out class for the experience, I know you will find benefit in the practice. Be open to how it progresses as your body becomes stronger and more balanced, and your mind becomes more clear.
Kim Vareika
Vareikayoga.com
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