Think about it, how many various remedies have you tried when it comes to exercise programs and medications to relieve back pain. Citizens within the western world, tend to put too much reliance upon anti-inflammatory types of medication, which may or may not help in relieving back pain. The same people might also take various painkillers to hide the discomfort they are feeling. However, there are some alternatives and that is exercise.
In the beginning, yoga was a Hindu spiritual practice. It is designed as a series of healing exercises that work to promote the health of both the mind and the body. Hindus often used a beginner form of yoga known as viniyoga. This form of yoga is extremely easy to learn and use, and helps heal in a therapeutic method.
The combination of breathing and movement techniques make viniyoga the perfect exercise for those looking to treat pain within the back and neck. This form of exercise also works to improve muscle strength and posture, as well as promoting overall alignment.
If you are a beginner in the world of yoga, you should first speak with an instructor that is certified in the areas of yoga, to help you implement a program that will work specifically for you. Reducing the amount of tension, thus helping manage pain within the back, is the belief that yoga is based upon.
Not every instance of back pain is related to stress, in fact, many spasms within the muscles and injuries cause back pain as well. However, those practicing yoga, hold the belief that by using these techniques and dealing with the back pain through exercises, you can help decrease the amount of time needed for recovery.
Many people suffer from intense pain caused by some sort of injury. This is particularly true if the injury is related to the discs. Treatment and movement both become difficult with this type of back pain; therefore, doctors generally recommend bed rest and medicines to deal with the problem. However, through various research it has been proven that putting a patient on bed rest, may aggravate back issues instead of helping it, due to the inability to stretch as needed.
Essentially, when you stretch the spine, as in with yoga, you are creating additional space, releasing pressure caused by an injury. By combining exercising with breathing techniques, such as with viniyoga, you are improving your back, without placing any further strength on it.
Yoga also focuses on the mind, allowing the pain sufferer to benefit from awareness, further giving them control over the pain. Yoga also works to improve posture and create a comfort zone while in the proper posture, eliminating and lessening pain within the back.
When practicing yoga, each pose is experienced between 5 to 60 seconds. There are various levels of difficulty, but the student should always be physically comfortable, while performing the exercise. This comfort level, will determine how long you should be holding the yoga poses.
Furthermore, you should find a soft spot, to practice yoga. A mat that is supportive and soft should be used. As you exercise, you are stretching some muscles and loosening others. The yoga experienced is completely involved in the stretching aspect. Tension is often release and blood flow is increased, which means your muscles are getting added nourishment, ultimately creating and training a healthy body.
If you are a beginner, you should be performing only beginner's exercises. Several great exercises are perfect for those suffering from lower back pain. With one exercise, you lay on the floor, face down. Then, with palms down, stretch the arms straight up. Moving something like a snake and starting with the nose, breathe in and begin to arch the back. Keep arching as far as you can. At your stopping point, take a breath deeply, then hold that position for at least 60 seconds, longer if possible. Do not hold your breath; it is important to remember this.
At some point in their lifetime, almost 80% of American citizens will experience some form of back pain. You should open your mind and consider a gentle exercise, such as yoga, which is non-evasive, as a method to relieve pain; it is certainly worth a shot.
By Pete Wyatt
Pete Wyatt is a chronic pain sufferer. His wife has a neuro-stimulator implanted in her back and does not have any painfree moments. Their quest for information to deal with their pain resulted in the creation of their site at http://allpain.wordpress.com/
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