What heigh Ho! Heigh Ho! It’s off to Yoga I go!

Can we agree as those seven mythological characters are on their way to the pits of their day when we have a sore back? Can we find relief, or do we have to endure a day of pain and anguish while we wait? An article I recently viewed on the ArgusLeader.com website, shows that back pain is the second leading cause of job loss. Truck drivers have to deal with repeated back pain that results from continuous spinal manipulation while they are behind the wheel. The heavy lifting of patients and children puts nurses and parents at great risk. Figures obtained from OccupationalHazards.com reveal that in the U.S., positions of nurses as one of the top 10 occupational muscle-related disorders. Also, it is estimated that 12 to 18 percent of nurses drop out of work because of chronic back pain. It is now understood that the work we choose can have a detrimental effect on our physical health. You can sit behind a desk all day in a cool place, you can drive a tractor down Route 66 daily, or work in an emergency room at the hospital. At the same time, you put pressure on your neck and back. Can we take the time to correct matters before our problems get worse? Is there anything we can do to reduce the pain if it already exists? Is there anything we can do? What is Yoga? It is an exercise program that lasts for thousands of years as it is used to promote physical and mental control. Why Yoga? Because it can help. It has been used to treat and prevent back pain by improving strength and flexibility. As many doctors can attest, Yoga can provide effective healing without side effects. Slow movement and soft pressures reach the depths of the problem joints. In addition, light stretching combined with deep breathing exercises relieves tension that binds muscles and strengthens joints. Yoga is an exercise and relaxation wrapped up into one. Who is the candidate? Each year, millions of Americans suffer from debilitating back pain. Both severe and prolonged stress can lead to muscle tension and exacerbate back problems. Despite the remarkable advances in Western medicine and powerful technology, two commonly prescribed solutions — painkillers and surgery — do little to address the root causes of pain and can even cause side effects. In fact, a balanced solution is not possible because the causes and manifestations of pain — arthritis, arteries, scoliosis, and herniated disks, to name a few — vary greatly. How does Yoga help you control pain? Yoga helps reduce pain by helping the brain control the release of natural pain pills from the body. Respiratory exercises commonly used in Yoga can also help reduce pain. Muscles tend to relax when you exhale, as a result of which you increase your respiratory time can help produce relaxation and reduce tension. Maintaining a certain awareness of your breathing helps to achieve calm, slow breathing and helps to relax and control pain. What do I do to get started? First, identify the underlying causes of the back pain. See your primary care physician and talk to him about your concerns. You will know how to proceed from there to investigate the cause of your back pain. Then, and ask if it is safe or not for you to do Yoga as part of your recovery plan. Treat the injury carefully. When you are in a lot of pain, the muscles often swell, it is important to keep moving slowly. If you work aggressively to improve your strength or flexibility very quickly, it can cause you even more pain. Finding an experienced teacher with great training and knowledge should be your next course of action. A Yoga therapist will help you create a plan that is tailored to your needs and limitations, especially those related to your injuries and your health condition. They will monitor your condition and exercise, and monitor your reaction to exercises. He or she will evaluate the factors that may be helpful and determine if adjustments are needed. Studies have shown that strong bed rest can do more harm than good. Keep trying breathing exercises and exercise a gentle asana as soon as you feel pain. Abdominal crunches are often prescribed by doctors to prevent recurrent episodes of back pain. Looking at this from a yogic point of view this is wrong. By doing more crunches or ab exercises you can increase the pressure on the hip flexors, and possibly make your back problems worse. With Yoga, the way to deal with it is to assess which muscles need to be strengthened and which ones need to be stretched, and finally design a plan that will work for those specific needs. Avoid situations that make it worse or worse. If you have a lumbar disc problem, beware of forward bends, especially those that involve some sort of twist. Also, during transition and care, attention often wanders. Sudden change of mood should be avoided and treading rather than jumping should be the norm. Lastly, be sure to consult your doctor before proceeding with any exercise program, including Yoga. Also, if Yoga is approved for you make sure you get proper training from a trained Yoga practitioner.