The advent of covid brought a significant health challenge to the fore that may well be with us for the next decade or more. Some people who have had even mild cases of covid continue to suffer the symptoms of ‘long haul’ covid, profoundly affecting their quality of life and ability to work.

The symptoms are coming to be understood, at least in part, as being a form of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, or ‘dysautonomia.’ This problem existed before covid and is linked to a variety of health conditions not yet fully understood, such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. 

Symptoms of long haul covid that are shared with forms of dysautonomia include:

• Fatigue • Cognitive Impairment • Weakness • Headache • Dizziness • Shortness of Breath • Palpitation • Chest Discomfort • Sleep Disturbance • Difficulty Standing • Abdominal Pain • Nausea • Diarrhea • Joint and Muscle Pain • Anxiety and/or Depression • Skin Rashes • Pins & Needles Feeling • Earache or Ear Ringing

Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system has been a known problem for some time, but the medical community has not yet emphasized education about it. Because the right questions are not being asked, people suffering from such symptoms can go for as many as six years before receiving a proper diagnosis by a doctor who recognizes it.

In this presentation, we’ll explore in simple terms what this dysfunction is, its relationship to the Vagus nerve as a primary ‘player’ in the autonomic nervous system, and the tools offered by yoga in addressing it, in addition to the kinds of treatments being offered by the medical community.

This is a health problem that could possibly become quite widespread, and yoga offers effective ways to address it — but this requires that we look beyond ideas of ‘yoga’ as being a form of fitness training, ‘stretching,’ or even simply ‘stress relief.’ ‘Exercise’ in the usual sense is simply not possible for sufferers of long covid or other forms of dysautonomia — it can in fact make the symptoms worse. A different approach to recovery through movement and breathing is needed, and yoga can address that need.

Yoga holds promise for these health problems, which were actually with us even before covid. But these challenges need to be understood for yoga practices to be approached in the right way. 

This webinar will provide you with a better understanding of this condition, insight into yoga terms such as the ‘Vayus’ as ways of describing the functions of the autonomic nervous system, the role of the Vagus nerve, our ‘Yoga Nerve’ — with insights into yoga terminology of the ‘nadis’ — and the approach to yoga practices that best addresses the condition.