Yoga and Neuropathy: How Gentle Movement Can Support Nerve Health

Neuropathy can be one of the most challenging chronic conditions to manage—causing tingling, pain, weakness, or numbness, often in the hands and feet. Whether it arises from diabetes, chemotherapy, or other underlying causes, neuropathy profoundly affects quality of life.

As a yoga educator who integrates movement science, trauma-informed care, and holistic health into every offering, I’ve seen firsthand how yoga—done correctly—can support people navigating nerve pain. This blog post brings together current research, accessible practices, and recommendations you can use or share with your patients or clients. Nurses, bodyworkers, therapists, and educators: this one's for you.

🧠 What the Research Says: Can Yoga Help with Neuropathy?

A growing number of studies suggest that yoga may help reduce neuropathic pain and improve daily functioning:

• A 2023 meta-analysis reviewing four randomized controlled trials found a trend toward yoga improving pain intensity and quality of life for neuropathy patients—but results were not statistically significant, likely due to high variability across studies (Z = 1.10, p = 0.27; I² = 93%).
  ➤ Khatri et al., 2023 – PMC10706517

• A 2022 pilot RCT from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute focused on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Yoga participants saw a significant within-group reduction in pain scores (−1.7 points, p < 0.0001). While between-group results weren't significant for pain, there were noted improvements in fatigue and depression.
  ➤ Knoerl et al., 2022 – PubMed PMID: 34524631

So while the evidence is still emerging, yoga remains a low-risk, highly accessible complementary therapy worth exploring—especially when adapted to individual needs.

🌿 Why Yoga May Work: Mechanisms That Matter

Neuropathy is multifaceted. Yoga supports nerve health and comfort through several mechanisms:

• Improves circulation to the extremities

• Mobilizes nerve tissue through gentle gliding movements

• Builds proprioception (especially important when sensation is diminished)

• Regulates the nervous system via breath and mindfulness

• Reduces inflammation and stress responses

• Improves sleep and mood, both linked to chronic pain resilience

🧘 Yoga Practices That Support Neuropathy Recovery

Here are functional, trauma-informed, and research-aligned practices that may help those with diabetic neuropathy, CIPN, or nerve-related pain conditions. These are not cures—but they may enhance resilience and reduce symptoms when done consistently and mindfully.

✅ Gentle Movement

• Tadasana (Mountain Pose): Posture awareness and joint alignment

• Legs-Up-the-Wall (Viparita Karani): Reduces swelling, soothes the nervous system

• Cat/Cow with Neck Movement: Mobilizes the spine and related nerve roots

• Reclined Leg Stretch (Supta Padangusthasana): Gentle sciatic nerve gliding

• Warrior II with Arm/Neck Integration: Median nerve awareness + balance support

💨 Breathwork (Pranayama)

• Three-Part Breath (Dirgha Pranayama): Enhances oxygenation and awareness

• Alternate Nostril (Nadi Shodhana): Balances hemispheres and calms the system

• Bee Breath (Bhramari): Reduces tension and sensory overload

🛌 Yoga Nidra + Body Scan

• Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep): Shown to reduce pain perception in clinical studies

• Body scan meditations: Improve interoception and reconnection with numb areas

🌀 Nerve Flossing (Gliding Techniques)

• Sciatic Glide (Reclined): Flex/point foot as knee bends and straightens

• Neck + Arm Mobilization: Coordinated movements for ulnar/median nerve mobility

• Wrist Rolls, Toe Taps, Ankle Circles: Subtle gliding of nerve pathways

These should always be gentle, pain-free, and stopped immediately if they increase symptoms.

🧭 Who Teaches This Well? Educators & Resources to Explore

These leaders integrate safe, nervous-system-informed yoga for neuropathy and aging:

• Yoga Medicine (Tiffany Cruikshank)
  ➤ Nerve-gliding informed yoga sequences: yogamedicine.com

• Yoga for Healthy Aging (Baxter Bell, MD & Nina Zolotow)
  ➤ Excellent for proprioception, balance, and resilience: yogaforhealthyaging.blogspot.com

• Subtle® Yoga (Kristine Kaoverii Weber)
  ➤ Trauma-informed, interoceptive practices that improve vagal tone: subtleyoga.com
  ➤ I’ve studied with Kristine Weber virtually and deeply respect her integration of neuroscience with accessible movement.

• Yoga International
  ➤ Detailed nerve gliding visuals + practice breakdowns: yogainternational.com

• Locally in Lafayette, CO: My colleague Christina Mitchell, a Nurse Home Visitor at Boulder County Nurse Family Partnership, teaches group classes informed by Yoga for Healthy Aging and brings a medical perspective to her work, bridging the gap between physical health and mindful movement., bridging the gap between physical health and mindful movement.
  
  
  

  If you are interested in learning more about Yoga for Health Aging, Chris is offering a workshop! Learn more HERE
  
  
  

💡 Final Thoughts: Beyond Neuropathy

While I don’t currently focus exclusively on neuropathy or Yoga for Healthy Aging as a niche, these principles are deeply relevant to my work with pregnant people, postpartum mothers, and women of all ages.

Supporting balance, breath, circulation, and nervous system resilience isn’t just for aging or injury recovery—it’s vital for anyone moving through a big life transition. Whether you're recovering from birth, adjusting to parenthood, or seeking gentle ways to support your nervous system, these same tools apply.

I’ve also taught SilverSneakers Yoga in the past, and that experience deeply shaped my understanding of accessibility, respect for aging bodies, and how to offer meaningful movement for all levels.

🩺 A Note for Healthcare Providers

Not all yoga is created equal—nor are all yoga teachers. The credentials required to call oneself a "yoga teacher" or "yoga instructor" vary widely, and the quality of education, training hours, and clinical awareness can be inconsistent. Specialty-trained teachers—like those working with clients experiencing neuropathy—often pursue this path because of their own professional or lived experiences.

Download my FREE Yoga for Neuropathy Quick Reference Guide!

It's also important to remember that yoga exists beyond the image of the young woman in spandex. Just as patients are selective when choosing their doctors or physical therapists, they should be equally discerning when selecting a yoga teacher or movement educator. Never take someone's word that they "can help." Instead, patients should feel empowered to ask:

• How will this teacher help me?

• What qualifies them to work with someone with my condition?

• Do they understand the difference between general fitness and trauma-informed therapeutic care?

When referring patients to yoga, encourage them to choose instructors and classes that are not only credentialed—but truly aligned with their needs, abilities, and goals.

If you're a nurse, bodyworker, or integrative care provider:

• Consider referring patients to trauma-informed yoga professionals

• Integrate breath and movement guidance during patient education

• Know that yoga can support both physical and emotional aspects of neuropathy recovery

While yoga isn’t a fix-all, it is a powerful tool to empower people living with chronic nerve pain. When taught well, it supports strength, balance, nervous system recovery, and emotional wellbeing.