When people are in pain, the last thing they may think to do is exercise; however, health and lasting relief come from fixing or maintaining the root cause of pain. Building strength and maintaining flexibility will help keep even progressive conditions manageable.

Still, no one wants to make pain worse, so a gentle approach is the most logical. Yoga is type of low-intensity exercise that uses stretching poses and focused breathing and can be done almost anywhere.

Yoga may have gotten a new-agey sort of rap, but it's no passing trend. Nearly 11 million Americans practice yoga, and the effects it has on the mind and body have been documented.

Yoga doesn't just stretch muscles. It also stretches all the soft tissues in the body, including ligaments and tendons, increasing range of motion and improving posture. Yoga can also provide benefits for those suffering from chronic medical conditions, from asthma to arthritis.

The meditative aspect of practice helps train the mind to focus on the body and be more aware, while the physical poses help to build strength, flexibility and balance.

Breath To Relax, Refocus

The human body has what's called a sympathetic nervous system, which fires up in response to stress and can create tension and intensify pain. Natural instincts stimulate fight-or-flight survival modes, which respond to pain by taking short, rapid breaths that create more stress for the body and can actually irritate inflammatory conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia.

"The best way to unlearn chronic stress and pain responses is to give the mind and body new, healthier responses to practice," wrote Dr. Kelly McGonigal, in her book "Yoga For Pain Relief."

The cornerstone of yoga is slow, focused breathing. Mastering controlled breathing can calm the natural nervous response, breaking the destructive pattern and relaxing the mind and body while inputting fresh oxygen into the blood.

Boost Body Awareness, Focus

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Yoga strengthens mind, body; ousts pain