As you no doubt know, yoga uses physical poses and controlled breathing to calm the mind, relax the body, and to improve strength and flexibility. Studies have shown that a gentle yoga for back pain routine can be as effective as pain medication in reducing lower back pain, with benefits lasting several months. Personally, I've found this to be true.

Yoga can be learned at home, but ideally you would learn the basics from a good teacher. There are some great yoga videos, once you've learned the basics.

Although I do simple yoga regularly, I'm no yogini, so I'm just going to send you to a good website that demonstrates a yoga-for-back-pain routine, both in video and still-photo forms.

And here's a youtube video specifically for lower back pain that seems very good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06WYKCfdAn4. Also, the instructor has a really cool Dutch-Irish accent. (And Santa, could I please have her yoga room? I've been extra good this year.)

I wish you ease and comfort in your lower back--and I feel sure that you can feel better.

Return from Yoga for Back Pain to Lower Back Pain main page.

Go to Tacoma Massage Therapy Home Page.