Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder that affects as many as 2.5 million people worldwide. It is very difficult to diagnose, and its symptoms can range from mild to severe. Some people suffer only a few incidents of symptoms in their lifetimes, while others become completely debilitated by the illness. Currently, the disease is incompletely understood, and there is no known cure. Treatments include medicines and complementary therapies.
Yoga is one of the CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) treatment modalities most preferred by those who suffer from MS. According to Indiana yoga therapist Nathalie de Meyenburg, "Medicines [for MS] are aggressive, expensive and can be detrimental to the body. Yoga helps with the depression, anxiety and stress [of having MS]."
Long touted for its success in combating fatigue and strengthening the mind and body, yoga is extremely helpful for those dealing with MS because the practice builds self-confidence and body awareness. Some of the most troubling symptoms of MS include proprioception disturbances (spatial disorientation of one's limbs) paresthesias (tingling, numbness or burning sensations),and spasticity (incoordination of muscle groups). Yoga can help to mitigate these symptoms by developing an internal, deliberate sense of what one's body is doing at any given time. With MS, "the nervous system is under attack," de Meyenburg says, "but yoga allows the brain to start reconnecting a bit in terms of body awareness."
For example, muscle weakness and spasticity can manifest as "foot drop," which de Meyenburg says can lead to a constant danger and fear of falling. Through yoga therapy, she teaches modified balancing poses such as "mini- Warrior" to foster a sense of groundedness through the legs and feet. The key to using yoga as a complementary therapy for MS is to build and maintain awareness of the body at all times.
Another yogic tool in de Meyenburg's therapeutic arsenal is pranayama, or breathwork. Mild and gentle forms of pranayama help to alleviate the stress of MS. Active Savasana (Corpse pose, usually done at the end of a yoga class lying down on the mat) also helps develop awareness, as the student begins to notice his or her breathing patterns and subtleties such as the expansion of the ribcage into the ground. Whereas common execution of Savasana asks the yogi to lie still on her mat, de Meyenburg asks students to make "snow angels," or point and flex their toes while in the posture to further build the skill of bodily awareness that is so therapeutic for those suffering from MS.
Mainstream American yoga is rife with buzzwords like "Hot Yoga," or Vinyasa, but de Meyenburg believes "the original yoga is still the best [yoga therapy for those who suffer from MS]." Static Hatha postures which are not sequenced are more appropriate for students with MS because overheating is a problem. "You can't overdo," she emphasizes. "Fatigue from the burnout of the nervous system is already there, so those who seek yoga as a therapy for MS can appreciate yoga in the classic Hatha style with adaptations and modifications: perform a pose, build awareness and correctness in the pose, and move on to another posture," de Meyenburg says.
To contact Nathalie de Meyenburg or for more information about her yoga therapy for MS (Yoga for MySelf) visit EquiLibrium~ Thai Massage & Yoga Therapy .
For more coverage of MS, read Lima Multiple Sclerosis Examiner Lori Friend's articles here.
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