July Yoga Classes + The Words We Use Are So Powerful
Published: Wed, 06/29/22
"I have a friend who was told his cancer was "terminal". Now, 6 years later, he is cancer free.
I think the words we use are so powerful....."
~ Marg
Truly a rock star (ya, you are!),
and a long-long-long time Satori student.
My name wouldn't be "Julia" if I didn't have studies to back that up!
Here are some key messages from a 2013 study on the "The Enduring Impact of What Clinicians Say to People with Low Back Pain" by Dr. Ben Darlow, PhD, an associate professor from university of Otago, Wellington :
Most people are very uncertain about their pain and what to do when they first consult a therapist or a doctor.
Clinicians influenced their patients' understanding of the source and the meaning of the symptoms, as well as their ability to recover fully.
Advice that was delivered within the framework that focused only on the tissues tended to make people more fearful, increased worry, and set expectation that pain would not go away or is likely to come back.
Advice from doctors and therapists about posture or about specific back exercises was often understood to mean that the back is weak, vulnerable and in need of constant protection. These messages could result in increased vigilance, worry, guilt when adherence was deemed inadequate, or frustration and fear whenever protection strategies failed or a flare up was experienced.
Positive reassurance and advice about activity and graduated movement was able to build confidence, and positively influence the patient's beliefs and outcomes.
Are you surprised that this subject has actually been studied, and studied so long ago? Or utterly frustrated that your doctor / therapist has heard nothing of it, and still uses the language that promotes fragility and fear?
Yup, me too! Drives me absolutely crazy!
That's why I love teaching Pain Care Yoga - to see the renewed spark of hope in people's eyes is absolutely incredible. Here is the new set of up-coming classes:
