We all know that there are several health benefits to yoga, from improving flexibility, better sleep quality, relieving back pain and headaches and overall increased fitness levels.

However, what you may not know, is that yoga can be incredibly effective as a complementary treatment for chronic illnesses. People with ongoing health problems including bowel disease, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, diabetes or MS can hugely benefit from regular yoga classes.

Yoga is great for both the physical, and emotional management of chronic and long term health problems. Here are our top 4 reasons for implementing yoga into your self care plan.

1. Memory Management. Long term health issues can lead to memory loss, cognition problems, or increase fatigue and exhaustion. Regular yoga classes can help manage these symptoms and clear the fog and improve focus, memory retention and concentration.
2. Learn to cope. Anyone living with a chronic illness knows, symptoms can change from one day to the next. There are good  and bad days. Learning simple and gentle yoga techniques that can be done daily, can help manage these unpredictable fluctuations, and make things a little more consistent and easier to cope with, and can be great for daily self care.
3. Give You Space. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness can be overwhelming, and bring overnight changes to all parts of your life. Weekly yoga sessions are not just beneficial for health. But they can give you the space you need to clear your mind, have some time to yourself and give you the perspective you, and your loved ones may need. It can be difficult when everyone is trying to help, and regular yoga will allow you time, and space to help yourself.
4. Be Emotional. When going through something challenging, we automatically and naturally try to be strong. Not just for ourselves, but also for others around us. It’s okay not to feel ok, and yoga is a fantastic outlet for any emotions you may be holding back, and give you the headspace you need to recognise and express these feelings. Expressing your emotions will clear your mind and make you feel better and may even allow you to process what is going on around you. Also, having a positive outlet will give you strength to look after yourself, and those around you.

We work with expert yoga teacher Stefania Morosi. Stefania, who comes from a biomedical engineering background, brings to yoga a sense of deep scientific enquiry and will work with you and your body to identify what will help the most.

Stefania specializes  in working with those with chronic illnesses and ongoing health issues such as Cancer, Parkinson’s, MS and arthritis.  Her class runs on a Wednesday morning 11am-12.15. For bookings and info https://onroutehealth.co.uk/yoga/