Pain & Suffering Yoga Activity

Video/Info for: Pain and Suffering

Pain, especially chronic pain associated with conditions such as arthritis, migraines, spinal pain, neuropathy, etc., can sap one’s physical, mental and social health. Pain has become one of the most important conditions that reduce one’s quality of life. Part of this is because of longer lifespan and part is due to lack of physical activity. In addition to medication and other medical interventions, it has been shown that breathing techniques can provide one an important and powerful tool to deal with chronic pain. It is important to recognize that the suffering that results from a region in pain can in fact create worse negative effects than the pain itself. Mindful breathing can help minimize suffering that comes from negative feelings related to pain. Suffering creates a mind state where all attention is on the pain and inability to enjoy life. One tends to shut off activities that are doable and could be fun, even with pain. Suffering can also force one into a state where all conversations revolve around the pain, so even close friends start to avoid the person.

In this app, there are a number of features that can allow you to learn and then tailor breathing techniques especially selected for pain management. Management of pain through breath, i.e. without drugs, surgery or other medical interventions, depends on recognizing the role of the mind in controlling how we feel and the use of breath to bring us from an unwanted state of mind to one that is desirable. The benefit of mindful breathing is to bring the mind from thoughts of the pained area to areas that are not in pain or to draw the mind from focusing on pain to focusing on the breath sequence. One thinks not of what “I cannot do” to “what I can do”. This can gradually draw us from a disheartened state to an optimistic state or from an anxious state to a relaxed state.

All of the breathing sequences are presented in the Learning Studio along with detailed instructions. The user will find them easy to master.
In the customization space of the app, one can create a Video Playlist from the videos from the Learning Studio. These playlists can be used to guide yourself through a sequence at times set by you using the reminders feature in the Customization area.

In this app we also have the Breath Timing Playlist feature where the user can do the following while using a breath sequence chosen and memorized from the Learning Studio: 

1. customize breath time and breath phase (i.e. inhale time, pause after inhale, exhale time and pause after exhale); 

2. add visualization by choosing and animation while breathing and this animation expands and contracts helping the user keep pace with the chosen breath, and 

3. choose an affirmation that uplifts one’s mind state.

The user is encouraged to do research to examine the many scientific studies and recommendations on breathing and visualization for pain management. Many reliable internet sites associated with national and international health organizations or reputable hospitals have excellent descriptions on how breathing techniques can be beneficial. Many studies present several types of visualization that can be done along with mindful breathing.