Yoga enhanced recovery

The night before surgery 14 years ago, the doctor told me that even though he'd done over 2,000 successful laminectomies, there was a greater than 65 percent chance I'd awake from the operation paralyzed. The bulging disc had begun to sever nerves along my spine; I couldn't feel anything below the knee on one leg, and not much on the other.

I got lucky; I can walk. While it took months to recover, the permanent nerve damage feels like parts of my feet are numb or asleep all the time (you know; those little needles), but that's it. Thanks to a great surgeon.

Six months later he told me my then-condition, not as good as it is now, was the best it could get. No more improvement was possible. He was wrong; a friend's suggestion led to a habit which over the next two years brought back even more feeling and function.

Yoga is magic.

September is National Yoga Month. It also helped save a friend of mine in local law enforcement whose high blood pressure alarmed his physician a few years ago. "Take yoga with me," I said. In a few months, his BP was consistently healthier. He said he also felt less stressed and happier than he had in a long time.

The reason yoga has such a high impact on many aspects of health is blood circulation. The "poses" - body movements which gently stretch muscles you forgot you have - are designed to maximize blood flow to all parts of the body. Other exercise doesn't do that at all or as completely.

The more blood and the freer the blood flow, the healthier we are. Blood pressure lowers, more muscles and body parts get more blood. As the blood brings more nutrients to the whole body it results in better function in all systems, lower cholesterol, enhanced brain function, and even weight loss. The reason yoga is associated with the best stress reduction is this improvement is especially noticeable in the nervous system.

Do yoga; feel peaceful - not just afterward, but during. How many forms of exercise do that?

It's important to find the right style and instructor. Some classes called "yoga" really aren't. If you are hurting during or after the class, it isn't real yoga or it isn't done well. Yoga should never hurt, strain, or break a sweat. Unlike other types of exercise, in yoga pain means no gain.

For more information see Yogajournal.com or Yogamonth.org.

Sholeh Patrick, J.D. is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. E-mail sholehjo@hotmail.com