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Pain is not fun especially when a pain like back pain attacks. It can ruin a person’s day and compromise one’s career, and even sex life. For most people who suffer from pain, painkillers are their means of comfort.
However, painkillers are not cure and only provide temporary relief and worse, painkillers come with side effects.
Fortunately, it’s not the end of the world for those who suffer from pains. Yoga and meditation practice have been found effective for pain relief including chronic pains.
Yoga and Meditation For Pain Relief
It is exciting to know that modern medicine starts to embrace ancient practices and incorporate them as part of a treatment process.
Yoga and meditation are both ancient practices and only recently that modern medicine and science started to explore and recognize its beneficial effects on human health.
Today, this practice of using yoga and meditation is known as MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction). One study concludes;
MBSR classes were found to benefit participants with chronic pain and depression in this setting, fostering significant improvement in participant perceptions of pain, mood, and functional capacity.
MARSKE C, SHAH S, CHAVIRA A, HEDBERG C, FULLMER R, CLARK CJ, PIPITONE O, KAISER P. MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN AND ITS COMORBID DEPRESSION. J AM OSTEOPATH ASSOC 2020;120(9):575–581. DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.7556/JAOA.2020.096.
It means, there is hope for those who suffer from pain. Besides being dependent on medications and painkillers, they have now something to look forward for relieving pain.
As a matter of fact, Cynthia Marske, author of the study says;
Many people have lost hope because, in most cases, chronic pain will never fully resolve. However, mindful yoga and meditation can help improve the structure and function of the body, which supports the process of healing.
And, she added something encouraging and promising when it comes to curing and healing pains.
Curing means eliminating disease, while healing refers to becoming more whole. With chronic pain, healing involves learning to live with a level of pain this is manageable. For this, yoga and meditation can be very beneficial.
More Health Benefits of Yoga and Meditation
It is now clear that both yoga and meditation have wholeness benefits for human. Some doctors have been including yoga as a part of treating prostate cancer. Yoga alone, with regular practice is helpful in boosting sexual health, and help men with premature ejaculation.
It is also beneficial for lowering blood pressure and lasting brain health benefits. There are many more health benefits in which yoga and meditation practice. In other words, it is beneficial for human health.
Getting Started with Meditation and Yoga
If you’re new to yoga and meditation, it would be best to consult or even enroll in a yoga or meditation class in your area where you can have personal interaction between you and your teacher.
There are also online classes but it would be more beneficial if you check in your area for yoga and meditation class. If you can’t find a yoga and meditation studio that offers classes near you, try to find online classes.
If both options are not possible, you can read helpful instructional books on yoga and meditation. Even on YouTube, you can find countless instructions for yoga and meditation. Whether you are a beginner or advanced, you can always find something that suits your needs.
Of course, you can always consult your doctor about it. If your doctor has no idea about the benefits of yoga and meditation for pain relief, discuss it with him or her that you read a study about it. Your doctor might open and interested to it and may be able to help you find a practitioner and a teacher.
Making Yoga and Meditation As Lifelong Habit
The key to enjoying the health benefits of yoga and meditation is to practice it regularly and make it a habit. In other words, make it as a part of your daily routine.
With daily practice, meditation is beneficial for heart health. Making it as part of your morning exercise routine is just as beneficial, which will not only help you ease the pain but stay healthy and even live longer.