Basics for yoga

[SovietSecrets]

Backstory: I have been having chronic lower back pain for many years now and was able to put up with it because of a combo of painkillers and relaxants up until tonight. I am pretty tired of feeling drowsy all the time and falling into long periods of drugged sleep and then still waking up with pain again and repeating this process over and over.

I heard that yoga is somewhat helpful for the back and might be able to help lessen the pain a bit to a more bearable point. I know nothing whatsoever about yoga or where to even begin so I was hoping someone on here has some sort of experience or can at least point me in the right direction so I don't screw up my back even more. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[sms_117b]

Yoga is really good for all sorts of problems, back pain is included, pop to a local community or leisure center to find out about classes, talk to the instructor before the class if you have any worries.

Chances are they will say "If something is too uncomfortable, stop", go with that, the more you go, then less and less will become uncomfortable.

Have you looked into other physio-therapies for your back?

 

[SovietSecrets]

Yoga is really good for all sorts of problems, back pain is included, pop to a local community or leisure center to find out about classes, talk to the instructor before the class if you have any worries.

Chances are they will say "If something is too uncomfortable, stop", go with that, the more you go, then less and less will become uncomfortable.

Have you looked into other physio-therapies for your back?

Haven't looked into anything other for my back. I have only been on pills for the past 2-3 years and its worked to some extent.

 

[sms_117b]

Where are you UK, US? Physio is a really wonderful thing, although it's taken a few years my shoulder and knees have improved so much, with yoga and stretching added to the mix I've seen even more imporovement, not just in my shoulder and knees but my whole body.

 

[SovietSecrets]

Where are you UK, US? Physio is a really wonderful thing, although it's taken a few years my shoulder and knees have improved so much, with yoga and stretching added to the mix I've seen even more imporovement, not just in my shoulder and knees but my whole body.

I live in the US. Also looking for more stuff that I can do at home rather than going to a class. Just some really basic stuff to start out with.

 

[sms_117b]

In that case, pick up a DVD and mat for home use, if it starts to get uncomfortable stop and try again an exercise or two down the line.

 

[Frostwhisper21]

Late to the party, but yes, it can help with many aches and pains through a combination of stretching, strengthening, and for lack of a better word, fixing posture.

However, it's not necessarily an end-all thing, and in fact you may only see benefits due to what i assume is a lack of exercise. I know all pain is different, but my back problems ceased only when i started powerlifting training...it simply was due to weak back muscles.

But yoga is still fantastic, especailly to start(it got me to start exercising for the first time in my life), but I suggest you simply try weightlifting (lightly) and seeing if it's a strength problem, and then moving into more specific remedies.

And the painkillers and relaxants probably helped to make it worse, simply due to the fact that pain tends to exist for a reason, and being able to suppress it means you might have been doing things to harm your back without knowing it.