Yoga for Pain Relief
It's no secret that yoga increases muscular flexibility and strength, but you may not know that yoga is a proven treatment for back pain, knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other chronic pain conditions. Yoga also helps to ease the stress, anxiety, and depression that can create and reinforce pain, making you feel more comfortable in both your mind and your body.\ Written by a yoga instructor and former chronic pain sufferer, Yoga for Pain Relief is packed with gentle postures and...
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In Yoga for Pain Relief, Stanford psychology instructor and prominent yoga teacher Kelly McGonigal shows readers how the wisdom of yoga and the latest skills drawn from mind-body research can end the physical and emotional suffering of chronic pain. Library Journal McGonigal (yoga & psychology, Stanford Univ.; editor in chief, International Journal of Yoga Therapy) presents a mixture of theory (at times quite heady) and practice. Within the textual pieces, she explores and explains topics such as the differences among chronic, acute physical, and emotional pain (depression). Wherever possible, she cites written research, although she occasionally talks of wisdom and the practice of mindfulness, which may seem obscure to some readers. With approachable step-by-step instructions and photos—one person standing, the other sitting or doing an alternate pose appropriately if one has pain or physical restrictions—the book also includes individuals' stories to illustrate practical application and success. The overall tone is gentle and informative. VERDICT This thorough explanation of specific yoga practices and poses designed for pain relief will best suit those already familiar and comfortable with the purpose and meaning of yoga.—Elizabeth J. Eastwood, Los Alamos Cty. Lib. Syst., NM
Foreword ixAcknowledgments xiIntroduction 1chapter 1 Understanding Your Pain 9chapter 2 Yoga: Reuniting Body, Mind, and Spirit 17chapter 3 Breath 23chapter 4 Befriending the Body 49chapter 5 Moving the Body 71chapter 6 Relaxation 97chapter 7 Meditation 119chapter 8 Your Personal Yoga Program 139Resources 169References 173Index 177
\ From the Publisher“McGonigal explores the complex picture of chronic pain, recognizing the many dimensions that contribute to one’s suffering. In simple, easy-to-follow steps, she takes you on a journey, connecting your mind and body through the yoga experience. This book is very much in line with all that the American Chronic Pain Association teaches. I recommend that you relax, renew yourself, and enjoy your adventure through Yoga for Pain Relief.”\ -Penney Cowan, executive director of the American Chronic Pain Association \ “Yoga for Pain Relief provides accurate, easily understood principles of self-care in a user-friendly format. The book offers professionals immediate activities for clinical adaptation with the best, most up-to-date evidence. The person in pain can celebrate the artful bridging of ancient wisdom with the genius of the author in creating an easy-to-follow, personalized road map that is sure to sustain hope and allow him or her to remember joy!”\ —Matthew J. Taylor, PT, Ph.D., RYT, president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and founder and owner of the Dynamic Systems Rehabilitation Clinic\ “Kelly McGonigal’s Yoga for Pain Relief is easily one of the best books I have ever read on yoga therapy, and includes plenty of research and practical tips for dealing with pain. This book is perfect for anyone who lives with any kind of physical or emotional pain, as well as for those working with these conditions professionally, including both conventional and alternative health care providers and yoga teachers. The book has heart and soul, is both kind and informative, and recognizes the individual experience without being reductionist or prescriptive. This book will be required reading for all of the students in my yoga therapy training program.”\ —Molly Lannon Kenny, MS-CCC, founder and director of The Samarya Center, an internationally recognized training institute for yoga and yoga therapy\ “Yoga for Pain Relief will help you to find your ease, courage, and ability to transform your chronic pain. Unlike many other pain treatments, McGonigal’s book illuminates a path free of adverse side effects that is synergistic with your present pain therapy. Yoga for Pain Relief is a jewel, and its brilliance and clarity will touch the heart of healing within.”\ —Julie Good, MD, DABMA, clinical assistant professor of pediatric pain and symptom management at Stanford University\ “Yoga for Pain Relief is an empowering toolkit for people living with pain or illness.”\ —Halle Tecco, founder and executive director of Yoga Bear, a nonprofit organization that teaches yoga to cancer patients and survivors\ “In this important book, McGonigal elegantly and simply empowers us, through science and ancient practices, to compassionately transform pain and suffering into ever-present joy blossoming in our hearts. A gift for us all!”\ —Nischala Joy Devi, international yoga teacher and author of The Healing Path of Yoga and The Secret Power of Yoga\ “Yoga for Pain Relief is an epic book for an epic condition. McGonigal is a quintessential teacher and a brilliant author. Highly recommended for healthcare providers, yoga teachers, or anyone in pain.” —Larry Payne, Ph.D., director of the Yoga Therapy Rx Program at Loyola Marymount University and coauthor of Yoga for Dummies, Yoga Rx, and The Business of Teaching Yoga\ “Whether you are in pain now or you treat those who are, Yoga for Pain Relief will broaden your view of suffering and change your life. McGonigal outlines a clear, step-by-step method, evidence-based yet ancient, to reconnect with the wisdom and joy that is your birthright—the source of wellness that is so much bigger than your pain.”\ —Amy Weintraub, MFA, E-RYT 500, is founder of LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute and author of Yoga for Depression\ “In this book, McGonigal provides insightful pathways that can lead those with chronic pain toward a healthier life. Highly recommended for those suffering with chronic pain as well as healthcare practitioners and yoga teachers who work with people in pain.”\ —Shoosh Lettick Crotzer, director of Mobility Limited and Enhancement, Inc., and author of Yoga for Fibromyalgia\ \ \ \ \ \ Library JournalMcGonigal (yoga & psychology, Stanford Univ.; editor in chief, International Journal of Yoga Therapy) presents a mixture of theory (at times quite heady) and practice. Within the textual pieces, she explores and explains topics such as the differences among chronic, acute physical, and emotional pain (depression). Wherever possible, she cites written research, although she occasionally talks of wisdom and the practice of mindfulness, which may seem obscure to some readers. With approachable step-by-step instructions and photos—one person standing, the other sitting or doing an alternate pose appropriately if one has pain or physical restrictions—the book also includes individuals' stories to illustrate practical application and success. The overall tone is gentle and informative. VERDICT This thorough explanation of specific yoga practices and poses designed for pain relief will best suit those already familiar and comfortable with the purpose and meaning of yoga.—Elizabeth J. Eastwood, Los Alamos Cty. Lib. Syst., NM\ \
