Chronic Pain Somatic Yoga Therapy

Gentle, body-based tools for managing pain, calming the nervous system, and reclaiming ease in daily life.

Living with chronic pain — whether from conditions like fibromyalgia, hypermobility (hEDS), arthritis, injury, or central sensitization — can feel exhausting and overwhelming at times. Somatic yoga therapy offers practical tools for relief and resilience through supportive practices that can reduce pain flare intensity, balance the nervous system, and help you feel more at home in your body.

What Somatic Yoga Therapy for Pain Means

  • Gentle, adaptive movement to build stability and mobility without strain

  • Breathwork to regulate pain-related stress and calm overactive nervous system patterns

  • Sensory awareness practices (interoception & exteroception) to re-pattern how pain signals are processed

  • Restorative practices to replenish energy and reduce fatigue

Pain is not “all in your head.” But how the nervous system processes pain signals plays a huge role in the pain’s intensity. By working with both body and mind, yoga therapy can shift the way pain is experienced — making room for more comfort and ease.

The Highlights: How Yoga Therapy Helps Chronic Pain

  • Reduce flare intensity and recovery time

  • Improve mobility & stability (without overdoing it)

  • Calm nervous system reactivity & pain amplification

  • Rebuild trust in movement and body awareness

  • Increase relaxation, energy, and quality of sleep

A Deeper Dive: How Yoga Therapy Supports Chronic Pain Relief

In private sessions at Sukha Somatics Studio in Madison, WI, I use somatic, trauma-informed yoga therapy practices that meet you where you are. Every session is personalized since each person has their own unique pain journey, history, and experience.

  • Nervous system regulation
    Breath and sensory anchors help interrupt pain loops driven by stress and hypervigilance, calming overactive responses.

  • Stability and mobility
    Adaptive strengthening for joints (including hEDS and hypermobility), paired with safe, gentle range-of-motion work to rebuild confidence in movement.

  • Pain re-patterning
    Body-based awareness (interoception) helps to reduce sensitizations in the nervous system and help you sense early cues of flare-ups, while grounding practices (exteroception) can reduce overload.

  • Rest and replenishment
    Supported relaxation practices help restore energy, improve sleep quality, and reduce overall pain burden.

  • Compassionate pacing
    We use “minimum viable practices” (often 5–15 minutes) so routines are sustainable, not overwhelming.

What Sessions Look Like

Session 1 — gentle conversation & exploration
We’ll discuss what daily challenges and goals you have, without pressure to share more than feels comfortable.

Session 2 & beyond — personalized practices
Adaptive movement (chair or mat), guided breath, body awareness, and restorative meditation. We pivot as needed — practices are always optional and adjustable.

Between sessions
You’ll leave with simple, realistic micro-practices for pain relief, relaxation, or mobility.

What Clients Often Notice

  • Less intensity during pain flares

  • Faster recovery and steadier energy

  • Greater confidence in safe movement

  • Improved sleep and relaxation

  • More compassionate relationship with the body

Many clients find that chronic pain yoga therapy not only supports their physical comfort, but also their emotional well-being — reducing anxiety, isolation, and self-criticism.

Is Chronic Pain Yoga Therapy Right for You?

This work may be supportive if you live with:

  • Fibromyalgia or central sensitization syndrome

  • Hypermobility or hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome)

  • Arthritis, scoliosis, or spinal conditions

  • Neuropathy or nerve impingement

  • Chronic fatigue or post-injury pain

Session Details

  • Length: 50 minutes

  • Location: Sukha Somatics Studio (wheelchair accessible; chairs and props available)

  • Virtual: Available for established clients and those continuing care after Tellurian or 5 Door Recovery

  • Pricing: Sliding scale $50–$70 per session — accessible while sustainable

  • Booking: Email me at info@seedsofsukha.com or fill out the inquiry form. We can schedule a short Zoom to see if it’s a good fit.

Want more detail about what happens in a session? See What to Expect in Yoga Therapy.

Available Madison, WI and open to folks from nearby communities including Sun Prairie, Verona, Middleton, and Cottage Grove.

FAQ

  • No — yoga therapy isn’t a cure. But it can reduce intensity, improve resilience during flares, and improve your relationship with your body.

  • That’s okay. Sessions can be entirely chair-based, or even focus on guided breath, awareness, meditation, or pain education. It’s common for someone in pain to spend the session cozy in some blankets while resting on bolsters with aromatherapy.

  • Yes. I specialize in adapting movement for hEDS and hypermobility — building strength, stability, and ease safely.

  • No. You’re welcome to book directly. I can also collaborate with your healthcare team if helpful.

  • No. Yoga therapy complements — but does not replace — medical care.

Supporting Links

Looking for whole-person support that weaves together pain relief, stress reduction, and nervous system care? Visit the Somatic Yoga Therapy overview page ».

Chronic pain and stress recovery often overlap with addiction recovery. See how yoga therapy can support Addiction Recovery ».


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