Six benefits of yoga for vestibular patients

Yoga has been a favorite form of self-care for centuries. Originating from Ancient India, Yoga is defined as a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that aim to control and still the mind using intricate poses, thoughtful movement, and breathing techniques.

The practice of yoga dates back to the 4th century BCE, and has deep roots in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. However, both traditional and modern yoga are practiced and loved worldwide. 

Whether you go to a studio class or practice some poses in your bedroom before bed, yoga has countless benefits- both physical and mental. These kinds of benefits are especially important for those with Vestibular disorders and other chronic illnesses, as yoga is truly a mind/body exercise. Just be sure to practice yoga slowly, and safely, to ensure you are truly listening to your body.

In this blog post, we are going to share a few of the many benefits that yoga has to offer in order to make you feel like your best self.

Neutralizes stress

Living with a vestibular disorder can cause a lot of additional stress in your life. The anxiety that comes with any chronic illness can weigh you down, and control the way you live your life. While yoga is not a cure-all, practicing yoga daily can help you regulate your stress.

Helps you focus on the present moment

Yoga is all about slowing down and thinking through every one of your movements. This kind of slowing down and meticulous movement can be easily translated into your everyday life with the daily practice of yoga. Vertigo and any vestibular disorder can have you feeling anxious about the future, and not knowing when a flare-up in symptoms could happen. However, through the practice of yoga, you can learn to focus on the present moment.

Improves your Quality of life

Your QOL, or quality of life, is defined by the World Health Organization as ​​“an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns”. Relationships, creativity, material comforts, and health are all factors that dictate your QOL. A 2019 study shows that yoga is extremely promising for improving the quality of life, especially in those with chronic illnesses and pain.  There are also specific poses that help reduce the symptoms of vertigo. Child’s Pose, plow pose, and supported headstands all help reduce the feeling of dizziness caused by vertigo. 

Improves balance 

Yoga does not only help with balance when you are doing your tree poses or handstands but in your day-to-day life as well. I like to think balance is both physical balance, as yoga poses to help you feel centered and focus on shifting your body weight, as well as mental balance. Yoga helps with mindfulness and stress control, as mentioned above, so it is no shock that implementing yoga in your day-to-day life can help you feel well-rounded and satisfied. 

Helps you sleep

Forget melatonin supplements, yoga is perfect for helping you get your forty winks each night. Yoga teaches the body how to calm down properly, and these techniques translate perfectly for when you are about to wind down for the night. 

Helps with your posture and body awareness

Yoga is all about being present in every movement, which includes how you sit, how you hold your hands, and how you inhale and exhale. This kind of presence is awesome for those with vestibular disorders, as feeling aware of what is going on with your body is incredibly important since invisible illnesses are hard to keep track of (unless you have Vertige ;) ). This improvement of bodily awareness can help you feel better in the long run, as you will know exactly what symptoms you are feeling day to day. 

Yoga is truly a form of medicine, as it helps your body and mind feel better. So, be sure to sign up for a local yoga class, participate in a yoga tutorial found online, or even practice breathing exercises while working.

Yoga is especially important for people with vestibular disorders- it helps reduce dizziness, restore balance, regain focus and movement, and just overall improves your quality of life.

Be sure to follow @vertige_app on Instagram for some more yoga content and tutorials, in addition to support and helpful information surrounding vertigo, and other vestibular disorders!