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Yoga Exercises For Back Pain And Breathing Difficulties


How to cure my breathing problem and back pain ?
(February 23, 2009)

It’s not clear what your breathing problem is, but the practice of Pranayama (breathing exercises), coupled with asanas (physical postures) kriyas (cleansing techniques) and Yogic diet will most certainly help.

Besides, you also have a back problem, so we will have to come up with a package that takes care of both your problems; which isn’t difficult. All you have to do is follow the instructions, carefully, and practice. Most victims of breathing problems and back pains have found Yoga to highly effective in reducing their problems. Over a period of time, these Yoga practices will help increase your strength, stamina and flexibility, thus satisfactorily counteracting the tightness and weak muscles that cause most of the breathing problems and back pains. Then again, see that you consult your doctor and find a qualified and experienced yoga to help you start the practices.

Yoga therapy for back pain and breathing difficulties
There are several types of back pain, so we must tread carefully.  Some instances of backaches include mild to severe pain in the upper back (the thoracic spine) or in the lower back (the region of the lumbar spine). These are variable conditions that relate, largely, to the condition of the spinal curves as well as the muscles supporting your spine.

While yoga therapy definitely assists the healing process for damaged discs, please do not ignore right rest and medication. And remember that wrong practices might worsen your condition. The 3 main factors to consider in yoga therapy are restricted movement, working with tension and chronic pain.

Some classical Yogasanas (poses) that will help you overcome your breathing troubles and back pains are as follows (to be done, necessarily, in this order and sequence).

  1. Tadasana (Palm Tree pose)
  2. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
  3. Ardha Chakrasana (Half Moon pose)
  4. Padahastasana (Forehead to knee pose)
  5. Parvatasana (Mountain pose)

Rest in Shavasana (Corpse Pose) for 3 – 4 minutes.

  1. Gomukhasana (Cow face pose)
  2. Simhasana (Lion pose)
  3. Ushtrasana (Camel pose)

Rest in Shavasana (Corpse Pose) for 3 – 4 minutes.

  1. Viparita Karani (Legs against the wall pose)
  2. Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)

Rest in Shavasana (Corpse Pose) for 3 – 4 minutes.

  1. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
  2. Dhanurasana (Bow pose)
  3. Shalabhasana (Locust pose)

Rest in Shavasana (Corpse Pose) for 15 – 20 minutes.

Pranayamas (breathing exercises)

  1. Kapalabhatti (Skull Cleansing)
  2. Anuloma-Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
  3. Ujjayi (Ocean Breath)

Kriyas (Cleansing techniques)

  1. Jala Neti (Cleansing the nasal passages with water)
  2. Sutra Neti (Cleansing the nasal passages with rubber catheter)
  3. Vaman Dhauti (Cleansing the stomach by vomiting water on an empty stomach)

Cat Stretch

  1. This is an excellent Yoga exercise for dealing with back pain. It helps soothe even while you do it.
  2. To start, go down on your palms and knees just below your shoulders.
  3. Breathe normally, keeping your spine as erect as possible and look straight ahead.
  4. Crouching inwards arch your spine upwards and try to gaze at your navel.
  5. Exhale as you do this, then stop, hold the pose take a couple deep breaths here.
  6. Return to the original position with an exhalation.
  7. Next, stretch forward into the cow stretch. To do this, drop your back and raise your head as much as you can.
  8. Return to your original position and relax for a couple breaths, then rest and relax in Shavasana (corpse pose).

Submitted by A on February 23, 2009 at 04:32

 

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