May 9th 2022 is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day (wear purple for support today!). I have quite a few students who practice with me who have Fibro, through their honesty and my research and training as a Yoga Therapist, I have learned quite a lot about this condition and enjoy helping those with it on the mat to find comfort and ease.

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body. As well as widespread pain, people with fibromyalgia may also have increased sensitivity to pain, extreme tiredness (fatigue), muscle stiffness, difficulty sleeping, problems with mental processes (known as "fibro-fog"), such as problems with memory and concentration, headaches, digestive discomfort.

Although there's currently no cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with. Treatment tends to be a combination of medicine, such as antidepressants and painkillers, talking therapies, CBT or counselling, lifestyle changes, such as exercise programmes and relaxation techniques.

Exercise in particular has been found to have a number of important benefits for people with fibromyalgia, including helping to reduce pain.

Fibro effects mostly women and is difficult to diagnose as there's no specific test for the condition, and the symptoms can be similar to a number of other conditions. For the women who come to my classes with Fibromyalgia I have found that listening, understanding, hearing and seeing them has been the most important thing. I’ve been told sad stories of people not understanding them and that they didn’t feel validated; as it’s not something that can be seen or felt unless you have this condition. We all deserve to be seen, heard and supported. I have also put some students in touch with others who have this condition and have found really positive ways of managing it.

Every person with Fibro experiences it differently in my experience. Some have tender points and specific joint pain (wrists and shoulders and lower backs mostly) others have pain all over their bodies. Some sleep well, others struggle to get a night’s rest. There are good days, there are tough days.

The one consistent I see is that exercise, movement and in particular Yoga helps. Mostly what tends to suit is a relaxing, gentle form of Yoga with a Teacher who has training and understanding of this condition so they can help modify poses for you and who will understand if you just need to rest it out that day. That said I had an incredible lady who had been coming to classes for several years to a dynamic Vinyasa of the more advanced level and she found this to be a great source of relief for her. Each to their own and it’s always my pleasure to be able to support and guide where I can.

I’m here to help you.

If you would like to chat about which class at Ebb & Flow is right for you or to discuss a 1:1 Yoga therapy style class please don’t hesitate to contact me (Maeve) on 087-3679132.

In honour of today, I would like to share a recorded gentle sequence to help anyone with Fibro. I recorded it some time ago and it's still entirely relevant today. I hope you enjoy it. Access your complementary Yoga for Fibromyalgia class here on my website or on my YouTube channel here

It is important for those with Fibro to seek help and support, visit this website for more. There are also social media groups too dedicated to support like this Facebook Group

You’re Warriors, not just today, but every day. Thinking of you all today my lovely students who live and thrive with Fibromyalgia, you know who you are.

Maeve x

Other resources:

I recommend a guided relaxation or Yoga Nidra from Uma Dinsmore-Tuli you can find some on YouTube or on Uma's website

There's is also an interesting book I found online called "Yoga for Fibromyalgia : Move, Breathe, and Relax to Improve Your Quality of Life" by Shoosh Lettick Crotzer. I read some of her stuff online and I thought it was good.