According to a survey by the National Health Interview Surgery (NHIS), yoga is the sixth most common complementary health practice.
Yoga is a great way to improve fitness, relieve stress, and even relieve aches and pains especially for neck and lower back pain
Six Reasons to Love Yoga
Here’s a number of reasons why yoga is so good for you:
- Increase flexibility. One study found that yoga and stretching helped patients with chronic low-back pain more than conventional back exercises and stretches.
- Strengthen bones. All weight-bearing exercises where you use your the weight of your body to work against gravity can improve your bone health.
- Help with weight loss. Staying active for at least 30 minutes a day several days a week can help with weight loss. Try adding a 1 hour yoga class to your weekly fitness routine.
- Counteract poor posture. Poor posture contributes to most instances of neck pain. Practicing yoga can help restore you body’s natural alignment, and especially restore a healthy alignment of the head and neck.
- Help avoid a sedentary lifestyle. A lack of movement and exercise can cause increased stiffness and weakened muscles. Strengthening you back and abdomen muscles with yoga can provide better support for your spine.
- Improve balance. Many poses in yoga focus on improving balance, which can lead to less falls and fewer injuries.
Yoga as a Complement to other Treatments for Back Pain
All of these factors could be contributing to your back pain and is one of the reasons many people practice yoga as a complement to other medical care. Yoga may be a good option for you if your doctor at Spine & Scoliosis Specialists suggests exercise or stretching in addition to other medical treatments.
Thinking about starting yoga?
Whether taking classes at a yoga studio or practicing on your own, be sure to listen to your body and make safe decisions. Research the types of classes offered, and try out the one that seem best suited to your needs. Be sure to select the appropriate class and level for you, and let your yoga instructor know about any concerns you have. Finally ask about poses that specifically target helping your back pain, and avoid poses that cause you pain.
Be sure to talk with Dr. Cohen, Dr. Torrealba, or Dr. Saullo about trying yoga if you do have back pain or an injury.