| So many myths surround Yoga and back pain that | | | | muscle imbalance, the stronger muscles will pull in one |
| Hatha Yoga teachers should inform the public as to | | | | direction, while the weaker muscles on the opposite |
| what they should realistically expect from a regular | | | | side, "give way." |
| practice. Chronic back pain is a very real ailment, while | | | | This structural imbalance of the spine, as a result of |
| some health professionals hold to the belief that many | | | | uneven pressure from opposing muscle groups, |
| cases are psychosomatic. | | | | causes the bones and joints to become misaligned. To |
| There is room for debate here; as many of us know | | | | elaborate on this a little further - the spine is at the |
| the possibility of psychosomatic pain does exist. One | | | | very center of the physical stress between opposing |
| theory is that psychosomatic back pain is a result of | | | | muscle groups, which cause this structural imbalance. |
| repressed emotions. A medical professional may feel | | | | Hatha Yoga offers more to students than asana |
| the combination of a patient's personality type, and the | | | | practice. For instance, pranayama (Yogic breathing) |
| lack of physical evidence in an MRI or X-ray, makes | | | | offers a method for establishing a mind/body |
| this person prone to have psychosomatic back pain. | | | | connection. Some new practitioners do not see the |
| On the other hand, fibromyalgia was misdiagnosed in | | | | long term value of pranayama. For example: |
| the past, and many patients were sent home, after | | | | Pranayama, alone, will calm the mind and make a |
| being told their pain was "all in their heads." The wide | | | | person feel refreshed. |
| variety of potential problems with the spine, and the | | | | For those, who have difficulty in understanding this |
| fact that the spinal structure is so complex, make it | | | | concept, my suggestion would be to try a supervised |
| possible for an expert to miss a visible cause of back | | | | pranayama practice, with a competent Yoga teacher, |
| pain. | | | | guru, or swami. Within one hour, anyone who is new to |
| It has been said that four out of five Americans will | | | | the practice of pranayama should become a believer. |
| experience back pain at some point in their lives. The | | | | In addition to pranayama and asana, we also have |
| reasons are numerous. We have become a "chair | | | | meditation. Once again, my suggestion would be to |
| sitting" society. At the same time, there are | | | | seek out a competent Yoga teacher for guidance in |
| degenerative disc diseases, arthritis, muscular problems, | | | | meditation. |
| spinal nerve disorders, and herniated discs to be | | | | All of the above benefits and techniques should be |
| considered. | | | | found within a single class. It may require some |
| Hatha Yoga cannot solve every problem, but asana | | | | searching on the part of the person who is |
| practice can assure a student that muscular balance | | | | experiencing back pain. Yet, the time spent searching |
| will be restored. Some medical experts are of the | | | | for a competent source of information, is small in |
| opinion that muscle imbalances are the source of most | | | | comparison to the chronic physical back pain one is |
| forms of "real" back pain and sciatica. In the case of a | | | | experiencing. |