Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers Find Community of Support Through Dahn Yoga for MS no comments
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that may be as hard on the emotions as it is on the body. Not only must its victims confront the fear and depression that accompany any degenerative disease, but the emotional fluctuations caused by MS brain lesions are part of the everyday struggle for many with the disease. For that reason, finding a community of support may be as important to the management of the disease as any other form of treatment. A group of MS patients in Arizona has discovered that a this sort of community, as well as physical relief, can come through a gentle, healing practice called Dahn Yoga.
When Cathy Downie discovered Dahn Yoga at a Phoenix-area Dahn Center, she found something that finally worked for her after a long, 13-year struggle with the disease. Dahn Yoga offered exercises that were gentle enough for her current physical condition, yet at the same time provided challenges for her body and peace for her mind. She found that her condition improved dramatically after only a few months of training.
Cathy’s results were so profound that she ultimately decided she could not keep her success all to herself. After gaining training to become an instructor, she eventually began a special section of what she calls “gentle yoga” at a local community college.
The class soon attracted dozens of MS sufferers, as well as people struggling with other types of debilitating disease, including lupus, cerebral palsy, and fibromyalgia. Her students experienced amazing results, and a few went on to create their own Dahn Yoga classes.
Dahn Yoga may work especially well for MS due to its stress-relieving, energy-building workout. Part of Ilchi Lee’s Brain Education System Training (BEST), a brain-based approach to mind-body fitness, Dahn Yoga helps practitioners release stress while also improving energy flow in the body through light stretching, energy-building postures, meditation and breathing techniques.
Many of MS’s common symptoms, including muscle stiffness, emotional fluctuation, and fatigue are often relieved through its methods.
For more information, visit bestlifemedia.com