I received my fibromyalgia diagnosis in the early 2000s, and sadly, the advice for the condition hasn’t changed much since then. Try the “big 3 meds”, and if they don’t work, do yoga. Sure, I had one doctor tell me to “eat the rainbow” (and sadly, she wasn’t talking about Skittles or Fruit Loops), but I think that’s more general health advice rather than specific to fibromyalgia. For a while a doctor was willing to give me a low dose of muscle relaxant medication, but they don’t give those out anymore, and the party line from my rural Missouri doctor is “we don’t treat pain”.
“Do yoga” has become advice that’s so often given it’s a cliche at this point. Yoga isn’t a miracle cure for fibro, though there are some bloggers who are trying to sell you their services that will tell you that. I find it helps me feel through the muscles in my body, and I find yin yoga, which works the fascia to be especially helpful because it’s just a long, relaxing stretch. But no practice “cures” fibromyalgia, and if you’re a yoga teacher, I’m hoping you’re here to get beyond the hype and into the nuts and bolts of how you can help your students who may be suffering from fibromyalgia or other chronic pain conditions.
If, like me, you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, then what you’ll find here is pain talk about what yoga can, and cannot do, for fibromyalgia and how to engage with yoga safely.
No matter why you’re here, I’m glad you are. WELCOME!
