About the series

Foundational Pain Care Aware Yoga is an 8-week series designed for individuals experiencing persistent pain, such as musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, and more. Each week, the program includes a section explaining the science behind pain and how it is experienced.

In addition to the physical component of yoga practice in pain care, participants will learn about the yogic principles approach to life management, which helps alleviate pain in daily activities. This is followed by a physical practice of gentle movement, encouraging clients to monitor their own needs and capabilities from moment to moment. I am a certified Pain Care Awareⓒ Instructor. The PCA program was designed by Neil Pearson physiotherapist PT C-IAYT , and Lisa Pearson Swami C-IAYT.

What you will experience:

Pain has different expressions for everyone. We will find the correct way for each of us individually dealing with:

• Active living

• Compassion and gentle movement

• Lack of sleep

• Loss of focus

• Depression / anxiety

• Fear

• Support

• Frustration

• and whatever your experience is

Every session is divided into three components: science of pain, yoga movement and yoga principles. You will learn how to integrate all the teaching in your personal practice.

Component 1

We look into the science behind pain and all the essentials that can help us with pain recovery. We will foster curiosity about pain, pain alarms, and learn about pain as a protective mechanism. Pain care includes changing the pain itself through awareness, regulation and discernment. Science has shown that understanding pain science has shown to be an important step for pain recovery.

Awareness and Education: Understanding the mechanisms of pain can empower individuals in managing their pain effectively. This includes learning about pain triggers, pain thresholds, and strategies for coping.

Component 2

Together we will practice yoga postures to regain function and ease of movement. All classes are trauma-informed and are offered with multiple variations for adaptation to personal abilities. There will be a slow exploration of breath, gentle movement for strength, balance and stretching, and complete the session with relaxation.

Regulation and Management: Techniques such as relaxation, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral strategies can help regulate pain perception and emotional responses to pain.

Component 3

The balanced approach integrating traditional yogic principles and teachings can benefit our mental, physical and emotional well-being. The intention for this series is to be soothing for the nervous system, uplifting for our moods, and balancing for the energy. A new principle will be introduced weekly.

What is to be considered from you:

The expression: “What you put in is what you get out”. Every week you will be invited to have a personal practice, reading, contemplation and journaling your experience. The proven ways to integrate your processes. We will have group discussions and active listening on what we believe that works best for us individually, important steps to help in this integration process.