[Ali B]

Yoga seems to be the only thing that seems to get rid of the pressure feeling / headaches / dizziness and so on and so on symptoms I've had for 7 months with PCS. I can sometimes do other excercise but last week I had to come out of a high impact class because it was way too much for my head.

I am sometimes on the edge of my sanity trying to cope with this condition looking after my 5 and 4 year old children. My husband is often away with work and I am overstretched. Symptoms seems to flare up terribly and last for days on end after a few days of it all being much better. I feel like I have no control over my life and fear making plans in case I don't feel up to them when the day comes.

For example today I had 3 of my daughter's friends over for an easter tea party and afterwards I thought I was going to pass out, my symptoms were so bad.

I've just booked flights for a 7 day yoga holiday. I'm getting anxious about leaving my kids for that long, although their wonderful dad, my wonderful husband, will be with them. Also, is it worse to endulge in a 4 hour flight and the stress of being away? Part of me craves 2 yoga sessions a day, no child care and just going with my own flow.

And yes, getting to my post title, why does yoga help so much?

Best wishes to you all.

[wtrpk]

its relaxing...

I use the deep breathing exercise I learned from yoga...calms me sometimes.

[PCS Mikey]

Originally Posted by Ali B

And yes, getting to my post title, why does yoga help so much?

Ali,

I can understand your experience with higher intensity exercise. I too get headaches with forceful exercise. I believe yoga or any other type of easy, smooth, non-impact and low heart rate type of exercise is good for the brain and body. We love the endorphins of post workout right?

Unfortunately, some of our brains are healing the areas which regulate blood flow thru the brain. My neurologist said my headaches (after keeping a headache journal for months) are caused from sudden spikes in high intensity exercise - weight lifting, abdominal core work, golf - but I can cycle slowly and below a threshold.

My nauropathic doctor also has me meditating which also calms the mind. Anything you can do to put your state of mind at ease (ease the demand on the brains functions) is soothing and will allow you to heal.

Yoga on!

Mikey

[wtrpk]

Mikey...i've tried calming the brain...seems i'm not good at it at all as it just races all day long.

other than meditation...any other suggestions?

[Margarite]

yoga is calming and relaxing
one of the worst problems for PCSers is that we can't relax, our brains are working so hard to try to fix us and to try to understand the world around us despite this handicap that we never rest. That is one of the reasons people have so much trouble with sleeping or dreaming either too much or too little because they can't relax.
Yoga is supposed to help a person to relax and so it is a perfect remedy.

[mrsD]

I think Yoga is calming and teaches alternative breathing techniques.

Some Peripheral Neuropathy posters over the years have had good results with Yoga too.

When you breathe in an agitated way, you alter the your blood acid/base chemistry and create many disturbing sensations everywhere!