| Stress reduction is an important part of fibromyalgia | | | | start where they are and exercise within their own |
| syndrome (FMS) self-care. People with fibromyalgia | | | | limits, gently at first and building gradually over weeks |
| are more prone to the body's "stress response" | | | | and years. Over time, the participant's limits expand, |
| being triggered due to dysfunction in the | | | | allowing the participant to stretch her muscles more |
| hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a group of organs | | | | deeply, work all the main muscle groups, build |
| in the body that produce hormones which regulate | | | | strength through bearing the weight of her own |
| the stress-adaptation response. | | | | body in different poses, and get an aerobic workout. |
| Many people, when told by their doctors they need | | | | Not only that, but yoga most often stimulates the |
| to reduce stress, quit their jobs or shed all their | | | | parasympathetic nervous system rather than the |
| activities, even those that provide the most | | | | sympathetic nervous system, meaning that rather |
| fulfilment. This detachment from the world can | | | | than working out in the "no pain, no gain" mode of so |
| exacerbate the symptoms of depression that all too | | | | many forms of exercise, the yoga poses and |
| often accompany fibromyalgia. However, learning to | | | | breathing techniques actually trigger a "rest and |
| say no to unfulfilling commitments and stopping | | | | repose" relaxation response. This can reduce the |
| codependent behaviors such as care-taking those | | | | production of cortisol, a stress hormone that has |
| who are capable of fending for themselves can ease | | | | been found in higher levels in people with |
| a great deal of stress. This also creates space for | | | | fibromyalgia, making it quite difficult to relax. |
| the person with fibromyalgia to take care of herself | | | | It is important for the fibromyalgia patient to talk to |
| instead of constantly struggling to meet the demands | | | | her physician before starting an exercise program. |
| of others. | | | | The doctor will have recommendations for the level, |
| Once this space for self-care has started to open, | | | | frequency, and duration of exercise. Most doctors |
| exercise can play a pivotal role in managing | | | | recommend exercising at the highest capacity |
| fibromyalgia. Exercise has shown in study after study | | | | possible for short periods of time throughout the |
| to improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia, including | | | | week. Though some muscle soreness may be |
| stress response. By taking the time to exercise, a | | | | inevitable in the beginning of a fibromyalgia exercise |
| person with fibromyalgia can slowly build strength and | | | | program, all too often patients starting a new |
| flexibility, not to mention confidence and self-esteem. | | | | program do too much too quickly and trigger a full |
| Sensitivity decreases while energy increases. | | | | fibromyalgia flare-up. It is important to start slowly |
| Yoga in particular is well suited as a fibromyalgia | | | | and build over time in order to learn the body's |
| exercise, because it encourages the participant to | | | | response to different levels of exercise. |