Has anyone tried using Yoga to counter CH's? If yes, was it helpful?

Not that I am aware of. I can't see where it would be of much benefit.

Any type of exercise is a trigger for me while in cycle.

Jeannie

General yoga practice can help improve general health and fitness which in turn may or may not influence your CH.

I dont believe it will do much though unless you get to the level of a true yogi master.

However, there has been no specific studies or trials looking at the benefit of yoga on CH itself. My belief is based solely on my knowledge of CH and of yoga.

People who are keen sport people have found that very strenous exercise can sometimes abort an impending hit and that keeping fit in between cycles help them cope better.

On the other hand, exercise can trigger a hit in some people as it causes vasodilation and heat.

Maybe after a bad hit, when one is all tense, yoga would be ok to help relax. But only mild yoga I would think.  

I don't get CH but have just started yoga in the last 2 months and I really like it to both exercise and relax.

I'd put Yoga in the same category as Chiropractic care. Very valuable for many of the secondary issues of CH. The tense shoulder and neck issues, all the damage you do to your body while fighting an attack. Never hurts to have a load of secondary tools in your arsenal.

Joe

Guiseppi wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2009 at 5:01pm:

I'd put Yoga in the same category as Chiropractic care. Very valuable for many of the secondary issues of CH. The tense shoulder and neck issues, all the damage you do to your body while fighting an attack. Never hurts to have a load of secondary tools in your arsenal. Joe

I agree.  I have a chiro I go to regularly and he doesn't see me as long as i'm in cycle, since I got triggered right in his office after an adjustment of my neck.  It wasn't pretty and I wasn't ready with trex or anything.  In cycle, I swear anything is a trigger...even eating  :-?

The hardest thing for me is getting back into my excercise routine after 3 -4 mths of no activity.  

I hope yoga does help some, though, if yoga is used to relax the body, I could see why I wouldn't help...as it's when we're relaxed that most of us get hit.  I think.

Langa

In my wife's case, I have personally observed that certain yogic breathing exercises were helpful and to an extent preventive in nature. Having said that, I would like to state that please do not try any breathing exercise without a proper guidance from a Yoga Master.

niva wrote on Mar 4^th, 2009 at 12:27am:

In my wife's case, I have personally observed that certain yogic breathing exercises were helpful and to an extent preventive in nature. Having said that, I would like to state that please do not try any breathing exercise without a proper guidance from a Yoga Master.

I can see where that might be the case.  I know from my own experience that it's possible to learn to control ones breathing and reactions during a hit to minimize the effects...to some extent.  

It isn't easy, since a CH attack seems to carry with it a sort of mounting panic reaction--but it is possible.

Could you expand on this a bit?  I'd be interested to learn something about it.  

Best wishes,

George

Yoga is part of my life, but I must admit that I haven't done it during a hit, ever.

But I do think that practicing yoga has made all the difference in my life in general, which means that I can handle also ch better.

Sanna

I enjoy a regular yoga practice.  While I experience lots of benefits both physical and psychological, it has never prevented a cycle from showing up at its appointed time.

The meditation practice have helped me deal with the pain.  I'm not saying I meditate during a hit but awareness of my own thoughts helps keep the panic at bay.

I also believe that pranayama (breath) work enhances the effectiveness of Oxygen therapy.

-Dennis-