NOTE: According to the FTC, beginning December 1, 2009, bloggers must disclose all monies, benefits, etc. received in exchange for posting a book review. I received the book Yoga for Fibromyalgia in exchange for posting this review, (though the review was not a requirement, just an option). I have benefited greatly from the book itself, but have obtained no other form of payment for writing this review.

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When most people hear the word “yoga” they imagine an acrobat in an impossibly painful-looking pose: chest on floor, toes pointed to Heaven, back of head touching back of knees, and somehow arms twisted around legs three times. Ouch. Yoga for Fibromyalgia, by Shoosh Lettick Crotzer, published by Rodmell Press, teaches us it doesn’t have to be like that. Indeed, if you have fibromyalgia, it shouldn’t be like that.

One of the easiest guides I’ve ever used, Yoga for Fibromyalgia is straightforward and intelligent. I was surprised to learn so much I didn’t even realize I had no knowledge of. There’s a difference between a tight and a tense muscle? Who knew? I feel like I should have, having had fibromyalgia for so many years, but no, I had never heard this before. Had someone taken the time to explain it to me long ago, I may not have had to suffer through nearly as much pain as I have. Ms. Lettick Crotzer teaches us not only what the difference between a tight and a tense muscle is, but specifically how to treat both, among other things.

I received this book several weeks ago, and while I could’ve written a review within a week, I wanted to take the time to test the practices outlined, not just comment on the writing itself. I wanted to find out for myself if yoga truly is a good idea for fibromyalgia patients. After all, I’d heard massage was good for fibromyalgia, but then received a massage from a student, (who knew little about fibromyalgia), that threw me into a two week flare.

Fortunately the experience of practicing yoga has been a positive one for me. Of course you must possess a great deal of self-discipline in order to benefit from yoga, but I’ve heard it takes only 21 days to make or break a habit. And if all you have to do is breathe properly and move properly, how hard could it be?

If you have fibromyalgia, or any chronic pain syndrome for that matter, I suggest you purchase Yoga for Fibromyalgia as soon as you can. It’s a quick and simple read, (and it should be read straight through before beginning the exercises), and is inexpensive to boot. I only wish I’d found it sooner so I could have avoided a lot of the pain I’ve gone through over the years. Thank you so much, Ms. Lettick Crotzer for writing and publishing Yoga for Fibromyalgia.   

Here’s hoping that Yoga for Fibromyalgia does for you what it’s done for me – relive the pain.

*Click on the link Yoga for Fibromyalgia to view details.