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Yoga – Can Prevent Back Injuries

Yoga is gradually gaining popularity among its practitioners due to the immense health benefits offered by it. These days almost everyone is suffering from back problems due to bad posture, long working hours, etc which has affected our ability to do daily activities like lifting heavy objects, bending down, etc. Although hospital treatments, pills help in easing the tension in the muscle yet people are turning to a more natural approach to deal with back pain that is yoga.

How it works?

There are various forms of yoga, some gentle one’s that help in relaxing the mind and body and some that are physically demanding. Yoga helps in correcting the posture, alignment of the body with the help of combination of poses and breathing exercises.

Hatha yoga is recommended by yoga experts to people suffering from back pain as it is slow and involves basic exercises and stretches. It leads to greater flexibility and strengthens the back muscles. It is beneficial for people suffering from Osteoarthritis and Sciatica and also prevents them from developing altogether.

Some poses that can help in alleviating the pain and will make your muscles flexible and strong are:

1) Crescent Moon Pose:
It helps in strengthening your legs, back and shoulders, thus helping in building stamina.
First, kneel down on your knees then move your right foot forward while keeping your back straight.
Now stretch your arms beyond your head level and then hook up your thumbs. Keep your body in balance and slowly raise your knee, stretch your leg out and evenly balance your weight on the leg. Keep your chest near to the ground so as to prevent back injury.

2) Mountain Pose position:Do stretching before starting this pose. Now, stand straight with your feet together and press your arms on sides of your body .Tighten up your buttocks and stomach muscles and breathe in with your nose and out through the mouth.

3) The Child Pose:
It helps in alleviating the emotional and physical stresses in the body.
Kneel down on your knees and keep them slightly parted and sit with your feet pointing outwards. Touch your forehead with the floor and roll both your arms around the head. Keep your head on the floor and get your arms to your side.

Thus yoga can act as an alternative medicine to treat back pain. Yoga, if done with caution can ensure that your mind and body feel better and refreshed.