Mindful Breathing: Lower Back Strength
Pain, especially chronic back pain, can sap one’s physical, mental and social health. It is important to recognize that the suffering that results from a region in pain can, in fact, create worse negative effects than the pain itself. Suffering creates a mind state where all attention is on the pain and this results in the inability to enjoy life. So one tends to shut off activities that are doable and could be fun even in the presence of pain. In addition to medication and other medical interventions, it has been shown that breathing techniques can provide one an important and powerful tool to deal with chronic pain. In this app, we offer a user the use of four elements to provide customizable breathing sequences for pain management:
breath time and breath phase (i.e. inhale time, pause after inhale, exhale time and pause after exhale);
body movement during breath;
visualization while breathing and
affirmation that uplifts.
In this app there are a number of features that can allow you to learn and then tailor breathing techniques specially selected for back pain management. In the Learning Studio you will find breath sequences that in addition to helping breath awareness provide relief from back-related pain and also strengthen muscles and ligaments that can help avoid pain. The user will see some of these sequences work on abdominal strength, in particular and core strength, in general.
Many reliable Internet sites associated with national and international health organizations or reputable hospitals have excellent descriptions of how breathing techniques can be beneficial. A good source is:
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/chronic-pain/11-chronic-pain-control-techniques
As noted above in addition to using breath pace and visualization, one does benefit by using affirmations during breathing. Many useful affirmations are provided in the customization area of the app. You can choose any of the provided affirmations. You can also add your own affirmation, if you choose. Some useful affirmations are:
I will bring joy in to my life
I am a warrior and will overcome
I will seek new paths for joy
I will exercise regularly