Article to appear in the Grenada Advocate Newspaper

There are a number of factors that contribute to back pain and many of them can be addressed by practicing yoga regularly and making simple changes in your daily routine. It is always important to consult with your doctor before starting a new physical routine but you should also know that certified yoga instructors are equipped with the tools to assist you in working safely with your bodies specific needs. Some these key factors that trigger back pain are: stress, emotional responses, posture, muscle tightness, muscle weakness and lack of body awareness which leads to poor body mechanics.

Yoga positively affects circulation and through movements, such as spinal twists, it brings vital nutrients to the intervertebral disks while allow toxins to be rung out. These disks are important because they act as shock absorbers to bones in the spine and allow us to bend in all directions. Additionally the body awareness developed through a yogic practice can help you to notice the way you sit, sleep, move etc. This ability to check in with your body allows you to make adjustments when necessary, re-aligning your joints and engaging the muscles needed to move in the safest, healthiest way. In cultivating an increased attention to breath, yoga helps calm an overactive nervous system, easing emotional and physical stress while encouraging muscles to relax and lengthen.

During your everyday routine there are simple adjustments that you can make to avoid or ease back pain and generally improve the health of your back. Avoid sleeping on your stomach because it can create pressure in the lower back. More significantly, this position places the neck at an extreme angle in order for our cheek to rest on the pillow, which can cause pain in the neck and upper back. When sitting, at a desk or car for example, place a small rolled towel or cushion at your lower back for support and improved posture. This next piece of advice may be more common, however it is still not applied by many people. When picking up an object on the floor, bend the knees instead of rounding the back. Lastly, when talking on the phone, use your hand instead of your shoulder. Tilting your neck and lifting your shoulder to support a phone creates an imbalance in the upper body and creates unnecessary tension.