• Alan has completed the new Pain Recovery Program. To read or share it, use this updated link: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/
  • Welcome to the new TMS Wiki server! Things aren't finished yet: email is not set up, so notification and password-reset emails don't go out, and new registrations are paused until email is installed. Details and updates are in this thread (click here). Locked out? Email tmswikisignups@gmail.com from the address where you receive TMS Wiki notifications.

Day 30 First yoga class back, feeling anxious

N

Needel94

Peer Supporter
Hi everyone,

I wanted to check in because I’ll be attending a yoga class tonight, my first one in maybe nine months — and my first since I started this program and much of my pain dissipated.

I’m feeling anxious because yoga had been a big trigger for me in the past. Everyone would always say “Go to yoga, it’ll be great for your neck and back.” Of course, it would always make it worse, as I would hyper focus on the physical.

One thing I’m trying to remind myself is that I also avoided running, for years, because of my pain. And now I’m back to running 25 minutes without stopping. I’ll be ready to run a 5K within a week or so. And if I can do that, I’m sure I can take a yoga class.

But the anxious mind keeps flashing back to the physical pain I’ve felt in previous yoga classes. I do wonder if any of the pain I felt back then during yoga was because of the expectation — and pressure — that it would “fix me.” Of course, I know that’s not the case anymore. But if anyone has any supportive words, would be much appreciated.
 
I hope your yoga class went well!

One thing that's helped me is outcome independence when I began to weight lift and workout again. If I get pain, or not, who cares, at least I did it! Or right before a pilates session I quite literally say to my brain "This may or may not make x hurt, I don't care either way" and it helped take a lot of pressure off!
 
Heh, we're late to the party, @Needel94, and I also hope your class went well.

Years ago I learned from some kind of bodyworker (massage? Hellerwork?)(some kind of intense treatment intended to release the fascia) how to breathe into and relax any area experiencing pain or tightness during the session.

We know from our work here that the pain is really just a manifestation of fear, right? An unnecessary danger signal created by a cluster of primitive brain cells. Literally.

So for the last thirteen years, whenever I experience pain or tightness during yoga or other exercise, I switch immediately into rational analysis, checking my position combined with the nature of the pain to assure myself it's not acute. Then I visualize the physical benefits I will gain (weight-bearing bone-strengthening and osteoporosis-fighting) by challenging myself instead of backing off in fear. At 74 I'm greedy for those benefits! I breathe into it like I learned years ago, and keep going. I've never suffered any negative consequences.
 
Needel94 said:
I wanted to check in because I’ll be attending a yoga class tonight, my first one in maybe nine months — and my first since I started this program and much of my pain dissipated.
Click to expand...

Hi there. So, how was it? Did things go well?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top