Yoga for back pain

Say bye-bye to back pain - Qatar Tribune - First with the news and whats behind it

Say bye-bye to back pain

Vishnu Prasad doha IN today's times, back pain is the second most common cause of long-term sickness after stress. The most common causes of back pain are strained muscles or ligaments, wear and tear, bad posture and stress. Sitting badly in front of a computer for hours on end is looking for trouble. The body can tolerate being in one position for only a short period of time, before it starts demanding a change of position. Sitting over a keyboard for hours can contribute to tightness in the hips and legs, in addition to the neck, shoulder, resulting in back pain and discomfort. Yoga helps increase strength in very specific muscles and muscle groups. Holding positions in yoga are not intended to be uncomfortable. However, it does require concentration and specific use of muscles throughout the body. Muscle strength improves by remaining in yogic positions and incorporating various movements. Many of the postures in yoga gently strengthen the muscles in the back, as well as the abdominal muscles. Back and abdominal muscles are complementary and essential components of the muscular network of the spine. They help the body to maintain an upright posture and movement. When these muscles are well-conditioned, back pain can be greatly reduced or avoided. Here I will show a few simple yogic postures which give strength, stretch and relax the back, which reduces tension in stress-carrying muscles. Hold those gentle poses anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds in the beginning and gradually you can increase the time. Within the pose, certain muscles relax, while others stretch, promoting relaxation and flexibility in muscles and joints. Also, these postures will help in body alignment. The yoga poses are meant to train the body to be healthy and supple. Regular practise and application will result in improved posture, and an increased sense of balance, with head, shoulders and pelvis in proper alignment. Additionally, unlike many other forms of exercise, yoga helps stretch and strengthens both sides of the body equally.