{"id":5970,"date":"2015-07-29T23:06:42","date_gmt":"2015-07-30T03:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theyogimovement.com\/?p=5970"},"modified":"2016-10-20T23:31:35","modified_gmt":"2016-10-21T03:31:35","slug":"yoga-for-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theyogimovement.com\/yoga-for-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I don’t teach yoga for this pain or that pain"},"content":{"rendered":"
Everyone has an opinion, right?<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
Even if you feel super clear, and don’t ask for it, there are people that just can’t help but project their beliefs onto you. <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
I know i’ve been guilty of it too.<\/span><\/div>\n
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The problem is when the opinion is so strong that somehow you get thrown you into that place of uncertainty again.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
What happened to that awesome feeling of free and clear?<\/em><\/span><\/div>\n
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Since I began this blog back in 2013, I started getting a lot of opinions on what to post about from friends and fellow bloggers to help build traffic.<\/span><\/div>\n
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I had one friend tell me to write about controversial yoga topics because those are more likely to get shared. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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But, I don\u2019t want to do that.<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n
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I don\u2019t want to create controversy for the sake of shock value and shares.<\/strong> Plus, what would that do for my following? I\u2019d just have people who want to click on this one post to see what all the fuss is, and then never return. <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
My goal is to build a community around helping people with simple practices to find inner peace in every moment. <\/em><\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
Another thing I am always told to write about are things like, \u201cyoga for back pain,\u201d or \u201cyoga for runners.\u201d<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
Mostly, I was told to do this because it would be great for search engine optimization and shares. I appreciate that advice, but to be honest, the thought of those posts seem soooo boooooring<\/em> to me <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
If you want to learn about yoga for back pain, or runners, or tight shoulders, then Google it. <\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
There are a million posts out there on that. I’m sure you’ve seen images on Pinterest for these targeted areas as you scroll through. <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
I always considered it because I’m interested in building my following, but it wasn\u2019t until recently that I finally said an authentic NO.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n

Mainly, I don’t believe in Yoga for “fill in the blank” pain. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s why:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
Yoga is not just stretching. <\/b>I know those are popular topics, but my belief of yoga goes deeper. Yoga is not like a pill you take for awhile to cure an area, and then you\u2019re done. <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
The whole aspect of yoga heals you.<\/strong> If you do yoga day after day consistently; your back pain or sciatica (or fill in the blank pain<\/em>) will eventually heal itself. The yoga sutras say that any future known pain should be avoided, so by practicing mindfully, you can heal.<\/span><\/div>\n
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I\u2019m not saying yoga should be done in place of a doctor. Sometimes we need to see a doctor and follow a doctors advice for certain types of pain. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
In fact, I have a story about that…. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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I had a precancerous mole removed with stitches a few years ago. When I did this, I was told not do exercise or any stretching. I tried to resume my yoga practice, but I kept feeling a pull on the stitches, so I meditated for two weeks instead. You need to treat your body mindfully and find that balance. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
I’m talking about general pain you might feel in your neck from staring at your computer screen for too long, or tightness in your lower back from living a sedentary life, or stress pain.<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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I’m NOT<\/strong><\/span> talking about excruciating pain that feels like an injury, or where you can’t move. <\/span><\/div>\n
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If you’re unsure of your pain, then go see a doctor. Use yoga alongside your doctors prescription to help with healing.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
Ashtanga yoga is a set series of postures, and with daily practice, I have cured every pain that\u2019s come to me. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
If for some reason my yoga practice slacks off, then I tend to have a reoccurring neck and shoulder pain. This is because whatever stress I am feeling finds real-estate in my neck and shoulders. <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
We all know that practice mirrors our life, so if I’m not practicing, then you can imagine there’s something stressful going on that I’m not dealing with.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
When I hop on the mat and practice daily and mindfully, I instantly change my habits, and the pain goes away. This is not just because of the physical practice, but because I let go of whatever is happening to cause this pain emotionally.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
I personally don\u2019t believe in teaching yoga for a specific area<\/strong>. I believe in teaching a consistent spiritual practice to heal your mind and body. <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
Here’s what I encourage in a yoga practice to take care of pain or discomfort:<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
1. Practice daily, even if it means just a few Sun Salutations or meditation.<\/span><\/div>\n
2. Practice slowly: Take more breaths to get into the postures, and focus on what your feeling internally. <\/span><\/div>\n
3. Be mindful:<\/em> When you feel pain, or something just doesn\u2019t feel right – modify.  <\/span><\/div>\n
4. Consult a yoga teacher on how to modify postures. <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
\n
When in doubt, Practice Sun Salutations:<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
Sun Salutations start every yoga practice. They have a healing quality because they create flow and movement in the body, and steadiness of mind. You\u2019re strengthening and finding flexibility with each muscle.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
You\u2019re also warming and waking up each cell in the body that are sometimes stagnant. <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
Lastly, you’re focusing on the breath and movement together, which creates a meditation to heal the mind. <\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
This is the perfect start to create space in the body, calm the mind, and rid the body of tightness and discomfort.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

PIN IT<\/span><\/h1>\n

\"Why<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/div>\n
Namaste!<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n
To open hearts & hips,<\/span><\/div>\n
Monica<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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