Pain During Yoga?… Acupuncture Can Help!
Pain During Yoga?… Acupuncture Can Help!
By: Nena Watkins, Lac, Licensed Acupuncturist
Yoga is a funny thing! Sometimes people injure themselves doing too much in class, sometimes things hurt because they didn’t do enough. There are numerous types of yoga and they all have their pros and cons. However, pain is not usually expected. People become discouraged when their physical discomfort keeps them from enjoying the breath and mindfulness of their yoga routine. However, there is help!
Some poses may be great for your legs but too much for your shoulders, like downward dog. Everyone is different, and with an injury, every pose can feel different. Even after poses seem easy and wonderful, a new pose can use new muscles and you can feel like a beginner all over again. Yoga is about listening to your body. When it hurts, we need to listen.
Often people injure themselves doing something else, like moving, then find yoga painful. It’s hard to know which poses will help your knee pain, or hip pain, or ankle pain. And if a pose hurts, people can feel awkward not doing it in class, so they stop going for a little while, which turns into a long time. What we think is a short-term injury can last so long it becomes long-term, and yoga becomes a thing of our pasts.
Whether you have stopped the yoga you loved because of discomfort, or you are thinking about it, Acupuncture can help! Like yoga, it is energy work. Acupuncture increases the healing process. Most people find it very relaxing, and say they feel better by the end of the session. People are surprised that the pain they came in with is so much better when they leave.
A long-time yoga enthusiast, came for acupuncture after years of hip pain during and after long sitting meditation. This patient is a healthy woman in fantastic shape. She not only does sitting meditation, but she does every yoga she can find. Yet, the simple act of sitting caused her body discomfort and pain. She was excited to try acupuncture, and she expected some relief. After her treatment, she was surprised that her pain was gone. For months after, she reported that her pain had not come back.
Acupuncture helps an injury by relaxing muscles and bringing blood circulation to the area. The body heals itself. Treatments help quicken the healing time. In my clinic, we offer herbs and massage in addition to acupuncture. When helpful, I offer advice on stretches, often familiar yoga poses, to help identify and release the specific muscle group involved.
Acupuncture is a wonderful compliment to your yoga routine! In addition to pain, acupuncture can also reduce anxiety, allergies, and hot flashes. As well as improve digestion, energy, and libido. Of course, these are just a few symptoms helped with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. It turns out that Chinese Medicine is helpful for most issues. So, when you come in for that joint pain that flares up during yoga, we can also help your sleep, digestion, stress, and more.
Contact Nena Watkins for questions and appointments:
Oak Cliff Acupuncture (Bishop Arts Area)
214-840-3445
