Yoga & Pain Relief Suzie Newcome

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1 Disclosure statement: I am the founder and co-owner of Namaspa and have no other disclosures. Yoga & Pain Relief Suzie Newcome Founder & Co-Owner of Namaspa Yoga, in Bend since hr EYT and member of the Teacher Leader Faculty with the Baptiste Yoga Institute LMT since 2007 Graduate of Harvard College ( 94) and Harvard Business School ( 99)

2 My Back Story Horse back riding injury, age 16 years. I was told I had scoliosis because my spine was so twisted, then it was discovered that I just had muscle spasms. They said I had the back of an 80 year old and prescribed muscle relaxants and prescription pain medicine and told to lie on the couch for 3 days. The cycle continued - muscle spasms took me to the ER 1-2x per year through college my 20 s and early 30 s as I was working in the corporate world ER doctors prescribed muscle relaxants (Flexeril) and pain relievers, again and again. In February of 2006 (age 36) I flew to Hawaii to train with Baron Baptiste My low back had flared up and I could barely walk. Later that week, while practicing I felt my low back muscles release like springs. Within 6 months I was entirely pain free and I have never been in the cycle or relied on muscle relaxants or prescription pain relievers for my low back since.

3 My Call to Action Meanwhile, here in Bend, my mother was crippled after three unsuccessful back surgeries (2 fusions to relieve her chronic pain, and one surgery to remove the pins from the first fusion, which caused two of her vertebrae to collapse). She died of related complications and Parkinson s (finally discovered to be her underlying condition) at the age of 65. I knew I had to share what I had learned to help empower others to break free of the pain cycle, and live lives to their fullest potential. I moved back here to Bend, continued my study in yoga, and founded Namaspa Yogain August of After 10 years we now have two locations in Bend and Redmond, with two studio spaces in each location teaching heated Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga, as well as more gentle Yin and Restorative yoga. I have witnessed the beneficial results of regular yoga practice with hundreds of clients over the years.

4 Research shows Yoga Can Relieve Pain A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June from researchers at Boston Medical Center found that yoga was as effective as physical therapy in relieving common back pain, if practiced gently over a period of time 1. A 2015 study Yoga and other Meditative Movement Therapies to Reduce Chronic Pain published by the Oklahoma State Medical Association reported, Comprising physical, breathing and relaxation techniques, yoga is seen by users as providing both musculoskeletal and psychosocial benefits. 2 A 2011 study on Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that yoga provides not just more effective low back pain than usual care, but also provides it faster. 3 The San Diego Health Services Research and Development conducted a specialized study in 2008 on the effects of yoga in veterans suffering from chronic low back pain. Significant improvements were found in levels of pain, depression, and energy and fatigue. Generally speaking, the more yoga classes the veterans attended, the greater the improvements Ward L, Stebbings S, Cherkin D, Baxter GD. Yoga for functional ability, pain and psychosocial outcomes in musculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Musculoskelet Care. 2013;11(4): [PubMed] 3

5 How Yoga Alleviates Pain Yoga empowers people to address their own pain by giving them the tools and daily practices to work with the body s own capacity to heal by removing the blocks to energy and flow of oxygen. Research shows 4 the triggers of chronic pain are addressed through: Deep breathing: Yoga practitioners learn to use the full capacity of their lungs (typical breathing uses 1/6 of lung capacity 5 ). This helps increase oxygenation and initiate the parasympathetic response of the nervous system, which improves rest and organ function Mindfulness: Yoga trains people to focus their mind in the present what is happening, what they feel in their body, so they can ( in order to heal you need to feel 6 ) Integrated movement By balancing effort and ease, practitioners to build strength in weak areas and gain flexibility in overly tight areas, increasing joint stability and decreasing wear and tear on joints and ligaments study in Annals of Internal Medicine Journey Into Power, Baron Baptiste, 2003

6 Integrated Movement of Yoga Yogic movement provides space for circulation and shifting of chronic patterns. The body needs movement to heal 7 staying static is the worst thing for healing of any disease or injuries.* Yoga is comprehensive, addressing all bones, muscles and body systems in an integrated way, rather than over strengthening common movement patterns. Movements are slow, low impact, and do not use momentum. In Baptiste yoga we train students to practice behind the pain of injuries to move in a way that is challenging but that does not cause more pain, and thus promotes healing rather than aggravation of existing issues. 7

7 Yoga addresses underlying causes of pain 1. Integrated alignment improves body posture, reducing gravitational strain on the system and allowing the body s own intrinsic energy of the spine & organs to assist with standing and walking. Ø On the contrary, disintegrated movement (commonl from doing too much too soon and the resulting impact of gravitational strain is a primary root cause of overuse injuries and joint wear and tear 8 2. Yoga also helps people release trapped emotional patterns that cause ischemia Research shows a stronger link between back pain and emotional stress than vertebral disc disease 9 10 Yoga provides a safe place to feel and release old emotions and limiting beliefs about the self and the world The body is actually always connected to the mind and responding to it with unconscious stress and tension, or after yoga practices, with relaxation and release of tightness that causes pain Chirogeek.com, , Dr. Douglas M Gillard DC 10 Sarnos, John E., MD, Healing Back Pain, 2001

8 How to Refer Clients to Yoga Who to refer: Anyone of any age (3+), men and women When to refer: Desire to prevent pain or disease Chronic, undiagnosed pain (fibromialga, arthritis, back and neck pain) When an injury is no longer acute physical activity can be resumed safely How to refer: If they are new and relatively healthy, recommend a BEGINNER/BASIC class Otherwise, suggest they call a studio to schedule a PRIVATE class. Private classes cost about the same rate as a massage or acupuncture appointment Have them tell their teacher what they are dealing with so they can receive appropriate observation and coaching Encourage them to wait to buy a yoga mat until they use a few and see what works best (level of cushioning, stickiness, length & width, etc.)

9 Dispelling Objections Common Objection I m not flexible enough to do yoga I can t even touch my toes! I cannot do yoga because of my religious beliefs. Yoga is just for women. Suggested Answer You don t have to be flexible to do yoga. The benefits are in the process, not achieving the pose. You can even bend your knees! Yoga is not a religion. You don t have to believe anything for it to to work. The spiritual aspect is that it connects you to what is most important to you. Men of all ages and professions do yoga, including celebrities like Woody Harrelson and Shaquille O'Neal. I tried yoga once and didn t like it. That is like saying I tried a restaurant once and didn t like it so I ll never eat out again. Try different yoga styles and instructors until you find one that works for you.