Restorative Yoga May Reduce Chronic Pain
Study review shows effectiveness of weekly flow and restorative yoga sessions.
Older women with chronic pain who participated in twice-weekly flow and restorative yoga classes experienced reduced pain and improvements in energy and social functioning. Texas A&M University researchers in College Station conducted the pilot study to evaluate whether yoga may be effective, since many older women suffer from chronic pain and are unable to do more strenuous forms of exercise.
Investigators enrolled 38 women to either yoga or a control group. Those in the yoga group practiced with a certified yoga instructor two times a week over 12 weeks for 1 hour. Classes consisted of 5 minutes of breathwork, 40 minutes of standing and seated flow postures, and 15 minutes of restorative yoga.
The study is open source and reported in BMC Geriatrics (2020; 20, [1], 400).
See also: Cultivating a Home Yoga Practice
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
