082: Yoga and Fibromyalgia with Pamela Crane

082: Yoga and Fibromyalgia with Pamela Crane   We are so grateful to welcome Pamela Crane, a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapist (IAYT) who is currently working towards her Masters in Yoga Therapy at Maryland University of Integrative Health.  She is a Yoga Alliance 200 RYT, a Reiki 1 and 2 practitioner, and a member of the National Dance Education Association (NDEO).   On today's episode, Shannon asks Pamela to speak to her experience with Fibromyalgia- as a sufferer and as a yoga therapist. As a lifelong dancer, Pamela was devastated when the pain of Fibromyalgia changed her life. In addition to the condition, she dealt with chronic pain, anxiety, and depression for years and credits yoga as a major factor in her path toward healing.   Pamela wants to share the benefits of yoga with others and as a yoga therapist has worked with those suffering from Fibromyalgia, dancers, and most recently those who work in corporate environments by providing workshops on stress reduction.   Pamela and Shannon discuss Pamela's personal experience with this condition, how to balance the yin and yang of physical activity, how yoga teachers can support their students with Fibromyalgia and much more. 6:50 Pamela's first yoga class   9:10 Pamela describes how yoga "saved her life"   12:35 How Fibromyalgia wasn't understood until the later 2000s and suffers previous to this time weren't validated and made to feel it was psychological   13:05 Pamela's definition of Fibromyalgia and her experience with the condition   17:10 How Pamela has been able to manage her pain   19:20 Pamela expands on how it feels to suffer from the condition and the sufferer's relationship to pain   20:40 How practicing gratitude and forgiveness has helped Pamela   22:00 Practicing mindfulness and meditation   22:55 How to support a new student who suffers from Fibromyalgia and the importance of keeping in mind that yoga teachers can't diagnose or treat people, rather support the student to find their own healing   25:35 How meditation, restorative yoga, or yin vs. yang might not be the answer for every sufferer will work- listen to the individual   26:55 How aerobic activity can benefit those with Fibromyalgia, the importance of not pushing too hard and how yoga can facilitate those activities   29:10 Pamela's personal experience with finding balance with physical activities   33:50 As a yoga teacher when planning classes "less is more" and checking in with students after class (even a day or two later)   35:45 What Pamela likes to include in her yoga classes: constructive rest, sitali and viloma breath, loving-kindness meditation   42:15 Pamela's work as a yoga therapist for stress management workshops in corporate settings   43:55 On Pamela's love of helping those who may not believe yoga is right for them and guiding them towards a style that may work   45:30 Pamela's belief that stress, in her own case, was a major factor in developing Fibromyalgia   47:20 When Pamela will receive her Masters in Yoga Therapy from Maryland University of Integrative Health and her advice on choosing a school if you aspire to become a yoga therapist   50:40 How to reach Pamela and her work with clients online and in-person   53:00 Shannon's closing thoughts and key takeaways, including her own experience with "less is more" Links   Pamela's Website: Crane Yoga Therapy   Jump-start your 2019: 6-Week Group Program for Yoga Entrepreneurs   Metta Meditation by Shannon Crow   The Connected Teacher Facebook Group   Book a Consultation Call with Shannon   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity