Yoga: A Form of Meditation

In my post about Mindfulness Meditation, I mention the many avenues that can be taken to achieve a meditative state. These avenues include: mindfulness meditation, transcendental meditation, yoga, mantra, tai chi and chi gong. All of which focus on the same principle; that mental training can be used to improve a person’s mind, body, and soul.

Yoga, specifically, “is an ancient system of physical and psychic practice” that leads to harmony between mind and body (1). Because it is an active state of meditation, it has the added benefit of providing your cardiovascular system with the exercise it needs to maintain optimal function.

Why Yoga?

Yoga and Stress

We all know that stress can affect our overall health. In all chronic conditions, stress is a know factor that exacerbates symptoms such as pain and blood pressure. These two ailments provide pathways to heart disease, low quality of life, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts; among many others things (2).

It’s imperative that we do whatever we can to prevent the secondary conditions that can come from chronic stress. Unfortunately, for the endometriosis warrior, there is always a constant source of stress: pain.

As an Endo Warrior, you are constantly battling disabling pain and fatigue. This may be affecting your ability to work and provide a source of income for yourself. Financial stress is very real, and I get it. Additionally, so many endo warriors battle physicians for a proper diagnosis; leaving them with countless medical bills and still no answers.

This is why trying Yoga can be so valuable to you!

Yoga for the Endometriosis Warrior

Endometriosis is mostly an estrogen dependent disease. Likewise, it is further burdened by inflammatory processes within the body; which can be triggered by stress and pain.

In a research article, its noted that “regular physical exercise seems to have protective effects against diseases that involve inflammatory processes . . . and also acts by reducing estrogen levels” (3). So why are we doing nothing?!

I am no stranger to the debilitating and excruciating pain/fatigue that endometriosis causes. In those moments, any form of physical exercise is understandably the last thing on your mind. However, the days when you have minimal to no pain, take advantage and move!

By taking the time to move your body, you will actively be working to fight the endo disease process. Additionally, yoga has the ability to aid in pain relief. So implementing it into daily practice may provide you with long term decreases in pain.

My Battle with Stress and Pain

Stress relief is something I highly value, especially since I spend my work days in a stressful environment that is emotionally, mentally, and physically draining.

Exercise has always been my go-to activity for stress relief. However, the pain and fatigue associated with my Endometriosis increased significantly in a matter of one year. Ultimately, it has made it very difficult to complete the work outs I grew up loving (i.e. running, HIIT, weight training).

Additionally, my diagnosis with Infertility sent me into a slight depression that no one really saw, except for my husband. In May of this year (2018), I realized how much of a hole I let myself fall into. I knew I needed to start doing regular physical activity again. Not only because I had gained 25 pounds, but because I found myself more stressed than usual.