Can Yoga Therapy Help Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain can touch every part of life — how we move, sleep, work, our relationships and social life and even how we feel about ourselves. It can be exhausting and isolating. While there’s no quick fix, yoga therapy offers a practical, compassionate way forward. With its combination of movement, breathing, relaxation, and tailored guidance, yoga therapy provides tools to ease pain, improve mobility, and support both body and mind.

What do we mean by “chronic pain”?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months. It can show up in many forms — a constant ache, sharp flare-ups, or shifting sensations that make daily life unpredictable. There are many factors that can influence our pain and whether a person develops chronic pain or not. The nervous system, stress levels, sleep, mood, previous experiences, lifestyle, fitness and many other things play a part.

Yoga therapy recognises this complexity. Rather than a “one-size-fits-all” approach, it offers a safe and adaptable way to support you in managing your unique experience of pain.

How yoga therapy can help with chronic pain

Research shows that yoga-based approaches can reduce pain, improve movement, and support mental health across a range of chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, back and neck pain, and general musculoskeletal pain, to name a few. People often notice:

• Reduced pain and stiffness — yoga therapy can change the way we move physically but also how we meet ourselves mentally and emotionally which can have a positive effect on pain levels.

• Improved sleep and relaxation — breathing and restorative practices calm the nervous system, helping the body rest and recover.

• Better mood and resilience — yoga therapy often reduces stress and lifts mood, making it easier to cope day to day.

• Greater confidence — many people feel more in control of their health and more hopeful about the future.

  
  

Unlike a group yoga class, a yoga therapy one to one session is targeted and personalised. Each practice is chosen with your condition, limitations, and goals in mind.

Is yoga therapy safe?

Yes — when guided by a trained yoga therapist. Sessions are tailored to your needs and paced to suit you, with adaptations for any limitations. Yoga therapy is designed to be gentle, safe, and therapeutic, with the aim of helping you feel more at ease in your body.

Yoga therapy meets you where you are and helps you to adapt the practices to suit your needs. Unlike a regular class where you might feel the need to keep up with the teacher or do what others do, a yoga therapy class is adaptable and teaches you to work with your body. Our group and one to one sessions are all about helping you to rediscover a good relationship with your body and to learn how yoga and mindfulness and help you feel more comfortable in your body.

What we offer

At Health Through Yoga CIC, we specialise in yoga therapy for chronic pain. We run a free monthly group class in Gorleston designed specifically for people living with pain. These sessions are gentle, therapeutic, and supportive — you’ll be guided through practices that are adaptable and manageable.

We also have funding available to offer free one-to-one yoga therapy sessions for people with chronic pain. In these personalised sessions we will:

• listen carefully to your story and how pain affects your life

• create a tailored practice of movement, breathing, and relaxation techniques

• explore pacing, rest, and practical strategies you can use at home

• support you in building resilience and confidence in managing pain

These free sessions are available in Great Yarmouth & Gorleston due to funding restrictions. If you would like to work with us but are not in these areas do reach out and we can let you know what we have available.

Moving forward

Yoga therapy isn’t about “pushing through” or ignoring pain. It’s about meeting yourself where you are, gently expanding what feels possible, and finding new ways to live well alongside pain. Small, consistent steps can lead to meaningful improvements in comfort, confidence, and overall quality of life.

If you’d like to join our free monthly group class in Gorleston or enquire about our funded one-to-one yoga therapy sessions, please visit our Classes page or get in touch. We’d love to support you.