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Pain's a bitch. Yoga helps.

Hi Friend!! Welcome to Chronic Asana, a site dedicated to transforming life with chronic pain toward the positive through yoga, art & a sense of humor. I’ll be your guide, Stephanie, and I am happy you are here- cuz misery loves company!

Life with chronic pain is hard.

I hope the fact that you found your way to this site means you are ready to live better. To lighten the weight that chronic pain can load on your body & your heart.

Movement Heals

Living with chronic pain probably means you’ve been on a lifelong journey to find relief. There are many ways to treat symptoms and ease pain, but the best one I’ve found (and the whole backbone of this site) is movement.

I know how hard it is to consider moving your body when it’s in pain- but you need to keep moving!! And again, there are many ways to move, so here I’ll insert my biased oppinion of “the best way.” Yoga.

If you choose to read deeper into the site, you’ll learn more whats & whys- but since I’ve got you right now, here’s my elevator pitch as to why everyone in chronic pain needs to be doing yoga:

I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) ((modern terminology JIA)) at age 13. Its been a lifetime of finding ways to move around daily life more gracefully and keep my head above the waters of fear. I wont say I’ve tried it all, but I’ve tried a lot and the single most effective thing for not only my body- but mostly my mind- has been yoga.

If you’ve never tried it, I want to help you discover the magic. Or maybe you have tried it and it put you in more pain than relief. And on that same thought, you might have tried it but the class was too fast paced and lacked the understanding of a body in your condition.  I have been in all of these shoes the last dozen plus years – let me help you through what I’ve learned.

Painful Insights

Over the years I’ve found some nuggets of wisdom buried in the depths of pain. Occasionally I like to write them down.

Shorter than a blog, lets call it a ‘blurb’

Sandbags

Sandbags

A Literal Heavyweight Yoga sandbags are a powerful tool to deepen your practice, offering a blend of grounding, support, and relaxation. As their name suggests, they are small fabric bags filled with sand, typically weighing 10lbs each. These weighted props can be...

Foam Roller

Foam Roller

Relieve Chronic Pain with Foam Rolling Though I might not quite categorize a foam roller as a “yoga prop,” it’s definitely worth a mention as a tool for pain management & it can definitely be incorporated into your daily mindful movement practice. Foam rolling is...

Chair

Chair

Take a Load off: Use a Chair For those managing chronic pain, a chair can be a game-changer in yoga practice. It offers essential support, allowing for safe exploration of poses without overexerting sensitive areas. With the chair’s assistance, you can gently stretch...

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Testimonials

I’ve met many amazing students in my time as a Yoga instructor.

Here’s what they have to say about their experience with me and Chronic Asana.

"I have been attending Stephanie's classes for the past 10 years. She is superb in her teaching, individualizing instruction even within a large class. She imparts wisdom but always with a lighthearted touch. I always come away from her classes feeling lighter, stronger, and more centered. She is a delight!"

-Diane S.

"Yoga keeps me in the game. I'm a 70-74 age group athlete, still competing, still winning triathlons and 10Ks. Couldn't do it without yoga. Been doing pre- and post-race yoga with Stephanie for seven years now. Loosens my tight hips and quads, and even helps me sleep better. You should try it."

-Mike M.

I regularly attend Steph's Gentle Flow class on Wednesdays. It really helps my balance, strength and flexibility. I enjoy the variety the class offers. One could listen to Steph teach forever. I learn something new every class. Class is good for these old bones.

-Laura F.

"Stephanie Kinney is an excellent yoga instructor.  The two things that stand out for me regarding Stephanie are, one, she begins every class by asking if anyone has any areas of the body that need attention that day.  She then incorporates yoga poses to address those issues.

The second thing that stands out for me regarding Stephanie is that she creates a class environment that is encouraging, non-judgmental, empowering, and self-accepting, reminding us that our bodies know best what they need."

-Janet P.

"Linger in the pose and make it your own. Or follow along as Stephanie guides you through a moving meditation of Asanas. I have practiced with Stephanie for many years, each of her classes is unique but familiar. I love how she asks for our input before the class begins; tailoring to shoulders, hips, low back, balance, or any area that might need special attention. Many classes end with an extended rest & I always feel stretched and calm after class. She is one of my favorite teachers."

-Susan S.

What is special about Stephanie and her yoga classes is that she’s so perceptive and you feel instantly at ease. I feel connected to my body and soul when I’m in Stephanie’s class, because of her deep understanding of yoga and the body. Also, the way she describes everything, from how we might be feeling, to what our body might be feeling, it’s an exploratory approach and she’s always spot on. She’s quite intuitive and wise and it comes out subtly throughout each class.
Something else that strikes me is how prepared Stephanie is for each class. That you can count on her steady, upbeat, relaxed, friendly, and professional presence.

Stephanie’s yoga sequences are exquisite and well thought out. You can expect several “a hah” moments every class! She puts in that one extra pose that makes you feel fabulous, gives you a stretch where you didn’t even know you needed it, or where you were tight, but couldn’t access it. Or you’re used to getting anxious with balance poses, and Stephanie takes all the anxiety out of the classroom,  and you find you are able to grow in your balance practice.

I take two or more yoga classes with Stephanie each week, because I feel uplifted, stronger, at peace, and fulfilled after every class.

-Nancy E.