Yoga for Back Pain

Definition of Stress as Per Yoga

Yoga gives a very plausible reason for the common back pain suffered by people nowadays. According to Yoga Sutras the life style with excesses in eating, drinking, pleasure or work which gives less rest to the body and mind system leads to back pain. The “manomaya kosa” that is excessive indulgence is the root cause behind this common ailment. According to yogis stress is an emotion which is triggered by many factors. It is no use trying to find out the cause of stress, and rather analyze the state of mind while stress happens. Hence stress may be defined as a state of mind when it speeds up the processing of thoughts.

How Stress Manifests in Physical Problems

Stress being manifested through the manomaya kosa starts off as psychological problems. Hence it will cause irritable nature, emotional instability, sleep disturbance, and the need to indulge in intoxicants like smoking and drinking alcohol. Over a period of time this starts disturbing the Pranayama kosa (second sheath) and the results are digestion problems like poor appetite, constipation, and other gastrointestinal issues. A few more years without proper treatment lead to the stress seeping to the annamaya kosa as muscular spasms, sprain, inflammations and cramps. These balances settle down and become the chronic lower back pain experienced by people nowadays. Thus back pain is not caused by a single thing but is a combination of ailments which are ignored. However yoga has a solution for this too. Ardha Shalabhasana breathing can help to get rid of all kinds of back pain problems.

For Chronic Back Pain:

• Lie down on the abdomen, the legs together and hand stretched out and the chin touching the floor. Use a mat for lying down. Always do it on the ground and not on bed.

• Make fists from your palms with thumb inside and place them under the thighs.

• Inhale air and raise both the legs in the air as far as you can. The knees should never bend.

•  Exhale and bring back the legs on the ground.

• Practice this routine ten times in one go.

• Always be aware of your breathing while practicing this asana. Synchronizing breathing is a vital part of this asana.

• Do not over exert and do only as much as you can without straining your body and slowly increase the rounds.

•  Use the fists for supporting the leg and making it easier to raise them together.

•  Keep your eyes closed for best results.

• Chanting a mantra can help in the beginning.

This routine is taught in yoga teacher training Rishikesh when you enroll for any of the courses at a Yoga school.