Can Carpal Tunnel Syndrome be helped by yoga?
Yoga is a form of full-body movement which also incorporates breathing. Controlling your breath helps you control your body and your mind.
Yoga is a form of full-body control that also aids you in relaxation.
* Yoga helps you get strong and get your muscles back “in balance.”
A lot of carpal tunnel symptoms are caused by muscles being “out of balance.” Some muscles become over-stretched and others become shortened and tight.
* Yoga helps you get long. You stretch and twist and reach, thoughtfully and fully. You use all of your muscles in many ways, just as you did as a small child.
So, you become strong and long, and that is ideal.
Pain happens for a reason. Usually, that reason is that we are out of muscular balance. Out of balance muscles get unhappy.
When they’re unhappy, WE are unhappy. Unhappy muscles cause symptoms. Yoga helps us get back into muscular balance.
Is yoga for everyone?
Some people have health issues (high uncontrolled blood pressure, risk of blood clots, severe osteoporosis or glaucoma) and should definitely consult with their doctor before signing up for yoga classes.
Some people have difficulty moving or a severe lack of flexibility. For them, yoga movements may be abbreviated and perhaps done while seated. Every little bit of movement does help.
If you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, you can interview your potential yoga instructor. Tell him or her about your symptoms and ask whether they think you will be able to take their class successfully. Some movements may need to be
adapted to your level of ability and comfort.
Remember: Your body is your instructor.
When you are in a class, if anything feels like it’s not the move for you, you don’t have to do it. Instead, use a different move, or take some relaxing floor time to practice your full breathing.
Oh, the breathing?
When you learn to exhale fully, you will be able to inhale fully.
When you breathe fully, you move all of the muscles around your rib cage and your shoulders. Those are the same muscles that cause compression of the nerves and blood vessels that run toward your carpal tunnel area.
How does yoga relieve carpal tunnel syndrome?
- It relaxes the muscles around your chest, ribs, shoulders and neck.
- It helps reduce your stress.
- It helps strengthen the muscles of your backside and makes you long and strong; it creates muscular balance.
- Yoga gets your circulation moving and that helps move the metabolic (body) wastes away from your wrists and out of your body. It reduces swelling.
- It helps you become more “in tune” with your body. When your muscles start to complain (or your carpal tunnel symptoms kick up) you will be able to figure out the cause and treat it.
According to the National Institutes of Health, yoga reduces the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
In fact, it’s the most recommended of the 3 alternative methods they mentioned. And, hey! If it’s good enough for the NIH to mention it, well then, it’s good enough for us. (Even if they did forget to mention therapeutic massage.)
Okay, now…everyone stretch, and breathe, and relax…ahhh. That’s better. Yoga really can relieve carpal tunnel symptoms naturally!