| It is a well known fact that Yoga is good for you, that | | | | method. I would strongly advise you to approach it with |
| it makes your joints more supple, increases muscle | | | | great care and stop immediately if you notice any pain |
| strength and is ideal for back pain sufferers. Or is it? | | | | or strain whilst doing the asanas. This was the method |
| Many people, myself included, have tried some of the | | | | that hurt my back the most, with pain both in the waist |
| many yoga DVDs and books, hoping for some relief | | | | and pelvic area. |
| from back pain, only to discover that far from fixing | | | | The best sort of yoga is the more traditional gentle |
| the problem, yoga exacerbates it. Why should this be? | | | | and slow yoga movements. These do not involve |
| Surely something that is purported to be so good for | | | | quick changes and you will find it easier to judge if the |
| me should not be causing pain? I started to wonder if I | | | | movements are doing you good or causing you pain |
| was doing something wrong, not following instructions | | | | before it is too late. |
| properly, and that somehow it was my fault. but have | | | | If you like the idea of yoga exercises and feel that |
| now discovered that yoga can indeed worsen certain | | | | they would suit you, then the best approach would be |
| back conditions. This was not the case, however, I | | | | to do a very limited number of the easiest positions for |
| was not doing anything wrong, the exercises were | | | | a very short space of time - 5-10 minutes is preferable |
| unsuitable and should really have come with a health | | | | - then wait 24 hours to see how you feel. It is possible |
| warning. | | | | that you may have some minor muscle stiffness if you |
| Many reputable yoga teachers and practitioners of | | | | do not usually practice yoga, but it should not be |
| course, do issue a warning that unilateral movements | | | | anything more than this. Any pain or worsening of your |
| can stress the sacroiliac joint. Poses such as the tree | | | | back pain or any new pain means you should stop |
| pose and warrior 3 where need you to balance on | | | | immediately. If yoga does not work for you then it |
| one leg are not recommended. Deep standing yoga | | | | doesn't work - it is as simple as that. Find something |
| poses also stress the sacroiliac joint. This is the joint | | | | else like Pilates or swimming. Do not feel that you are |
| that connects the spinal column with the pelvis. It is a | | | | missing out, there is the perfect exercise regime out |
| joint that has little movement but can be affected by | | | | there somewhere for you. |
| arthritis. Lower back pain is often caused by strain or | | | | Do I still practice yoga? The answer is no. I have found |
| inflammation of this joint and many yoga poses can | | | | my own methods of back health and although friends |
| either cause or exacerbate these problems. | | | | sometimes urge me to give it another go, I always |
| A very popular yoga method - Ashtanga yoga - is | | | | decline. I go caving and walking and riding too, but |
| practised by many of us who are too busy for the | | | | would not risk damaging my back again practicing |
| slower, more contemplative practises. It is vigorous and | | | | yoga. |
| athletic and has a fast pace of movements and many | | | | Yoga, in my opinion, is for people without any back |
| yoga classes and DVDs now use the Ashtanga yoga | | | | problems. It can prevent injury, but it will not cure it. |