Yoga for Lower Back Pain

Lower back aches and pains are usually due to lifestyle changes and this can be easily solved through yoga and back massage therapy. Yoga is an ideal lifestyle adaptation that helps to bring about comfort in lower back aches and pain. There are numerous reasons attributed to lower back ache and these are usually due to lack of exercise or sedentary career, inactive entertainment, high levels of stress and pressure at work and home, poor eating habits or unhealthy foods etc. Such incidents cause the key postural muscles to contract while a lack of essential nutrients such as vitamins C, E and magnesium cause the further damage. Yoga helps to correct the postural muscles and helps the body to absorb the nutrients more effectively. Most schools of yoga are of the opinion that spinal degeneration or lower back pains are mainly due to high levels of physical as well as mental stress. According to yoga philosophy, the psoas also known as the large muscle band around the back gets constricted in response to extreme negative emotions such as anxiety or rage.

If your medical practitioner establishes no medical cause as the reason for lower back pain, it is more often than not that psychosomatic problems are the cause of chronic pain. Resorting to yoga brings about immense relief from such psychosomatic triggers. Lower back pain is known to respond very well to yoga therapy. It is possible to cut down the lower back pain through proper back exercises. There are numerous yoga positions that can relieve back pain but these must be done only under the guidance of a certified yoga instructor.

The following yoga positions or yoga asanas are recommended for treating lower back ache. These are:

• The corpse pose
• The cat stretch
• The wind releasing pose
• The sage twist
• The palm tree pose
• The fish pose
• The locust pose
• The bending forward pose

Do not attempt to carry out any of the poses if you happen to encounter pain and discomfort. A yoga instructor must always be present to help you with the form and movement of the position and to see you through the yoga session. Each of these above mentioned yoga position for lower back pain must be performed and held for five to ten seconds, dependent on your comfortability. All yoga positions must be performed on a yoga mat or on a firm yet supportive mat.