Positional Therapy

Are you in pain? Headaches, backaches, hip and knee pain, ankle issues, wrist and elbow problems, all can be resolved permanently with positional therapy, according to Lee Albert. Lee is a positional therapist and yoga teacher at Kripalu, the largest yoga institute in North America.

Several years ago, I took a weekend workshop with Lee. He demonstrated positional therapy techniques as well as simple yoga poses and variations which he uses in his practice to resolve chronic pain issues. The techniques are never painful, easy for anyone to accomplish, and certainly will never do any harm. The yoga poses are gentle and safe.

Lee always stresses that stretching should never hurt. Muscles should only be stretched to a maximum of 75% of their range. This allows muscles to lengthen, but never stretches tendons or ligaments which are not designed to stretch. Overstretching can cause more harm than good; once tendons and ligaments are stretched out, they do not bounce back, like muscle tissue. Overstretched tendons and ligaments destabilize joints, creating a loss of balance, poor alignment, and pain. Quite the opposite of what we want!

Positional therapy involves holding a certain position, like a yoga pose, for at least a minute and up to two minutes. The position is usually not a stretch, but the opposite of a stretch. In a stretch, we are usually trying to lengthen a muscle. In positional therapy, a muscle is put "on the slack." By holding this position, where a muscle is on the slack, this muscle is allowed to release any tension that it had been holding. When the position is released, the muscle should feel soft and relaxed, creating better blood flow to the area and allowing for healing of any damaged tissue.

Here's an example: Raise your hand above your head like you are trying to get a teacher's attention. Bend at the elbow and drape the raised arm over the top of your head. At the same time, slightly tilt your head toward the arm that is draping. Hold this position for at least a minute. This releases tension in the muscles in the side of the neck and can be useful for tight shoulders, neck pain, and even headaches. When you return the arm to your side, notice the sensation in the side of your neck. Then repeat with the opposite arm. If you chronically hold tension in your neck, you might have to repeat this exercise 2-3 times per day to see permanent results.

If you would like to read more about positional therapy, you can visit Lee's website at www.leealbert.com. He has articles, upcoming workshop schedules, books for sale, and more.