Even I am amazed by yoga's healing and strengthening benefits!

photo from NY Times 8/1/11

I have proclaimed the healing and strengthening benefits of yoga for years, but even I am sometimes surprised by what I read!

Recently, a client handed me a NY Times article entitled: "Ancient Moves for Orthopedic Problems" by Jane E. Brody. This article explains how one doctor, Dr. Loren Fishman, a physiatrist (specialist in physical and rehabilitative medicine), has discovered a yoga move that has helped many people facing rotator cuff surgery.

What is it? A simple modified headstand against a wall. In 30 seconds, "this maneuver trains a muscle below the shoulder blade (the subscapularis) to take over the job of the injured muscle, the supraspinatus, that normally raises the arm from below chest height to above the shoulder."

Dr. Fishman discovered this move quite accidentally. After suffering injury himself and frustrated waiting to see a surgeon, he performed a yoga headstand (isn't that what you would do while waiting for a doctor to call?). After righting himself, he noticed that he could raise his arm over his head, despite the tear. Since he has used this technique now with more than 700 patients, he has treated 90 percent of them!

Coincidentally, I am battling with an injured shoulder/rotator cuff injury right now. Since I am in a bit of pain, I thought I would give this move a whirl. I am too much of a "fraidy cat" to try an actual headstand, so I tried the modified version in the picture from the NY Times.

After two days of trying this out a few times, my pain has lessened. I have since re-injured myself, but I keep going back to this pose and have managed to keep the pain at bay. I have also found that my shoulder is getting stronger as well.

The benefits of modified yoga are amazing to me, and I will continue to share these benefits as I read about them. For today, I hope you try out this move and see how this can help your aching shoulder area.

Eva Johnson is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer, who is trying to get back on the writing track, even through an insane summer! She lives in chaos with her husband and two boys. To see her complete blog about how to stay sane and in shape in the real world, visit www.fitnessbyeva.com.