Quotes (1) from "Yoga for Pain Relief", by Kelly McGonigal

I'm enjoying reading the book "Yoga for Pain Relief". Here are a few quotes that I love:

..."Finally, rest your hands anywhere that is comfortable. Notice the full movement of the breath in and out of the body and the full movement of the body as you breathe. Notice the sensations of each breath in and each breath out. This is your connection to life sustaining energy. All you need to do is welcome it. By devoting your attention to the breath, you give your body permission to breathe in a way that supports healing and relaxation."

Excerpt from "Notice How the Body Moves with the Breath", p.28

"The next time you find yourself low in energy, try reconnecting with the practice of breath awareness. Remember that prana already flows through you. You don't need to breath better or deeper to feel this - just pause for a minute and pay attention." p.29

"One of the best things you can do for your everyday well-being is to learn to breathe with less effort and tension. Tension in the breath can reinforce pain and stress, but a relaxed breath sends a continuous message to your mind and body that you are safe and well. Releasing tension from your breath will let you breathe deeply and smoothly with no extra effort." p.30

"Why Anger Hurts?

Anger, sadness, disappointment and frustration are natural responses to chronic pain - but natural does not always mean helpful. Negative emotions - including anger- are hooked into the pain system and for many people, will trigger a pain episode or make existing pain worse. Treating your body like an enemy will deepen any pain-related samskara that you have: the stress, the fear, the need to be vigilant to any sign of pain, and the catastrophizing of every new pain episode. Anger gets in the way to your ability to take care of your body and quickly takes over your capacity for joy.

Accepting your body exactly as it is will make every step toward healing easier, it will also go a long way into making the present moment, even with pain, more comfortable. The desire to be free of pain and suffering doesn't require rejecting your body. You cannot walk away from your relationship with your body, no matter how much you feel betrayed by it or want to reject it. As advanced as modern medicine is, it hasn't yet figured out how to trade a body you don't want for a new one. to your life

There is a good chance that you will, at some point in the future, be in less pain. But there is no alternative to this life in your body at this moment. If you want to reduce your suffering, you cannot wait until your pain is gone to befriend your body."p.51

Check this book out: Yoga for Pain Relief

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