Yoga Stretching Exercises to Help with Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is a common ailment. Most often it is brought on by weak or stressed muscles in the back, as well as in the stomach and sides. The obliques (side muscles) wrap around from the spine to the pelvic girdle to provide support for the entire core of the body. All of these muscles work together to do a very difficult job. Keep you upright. The best way to keep this area of the body free from pain is to develop a good, healthy workout schedule. When it comes to strengthening and relaxing muscles nothing is better than Yoga.
Why Yoga?
Yoga is the perfect lower back exercise—in fact Yoga is the perfect exercise period. It not only builds up the muscles with slow, concentrated movements, it stretches the muscles. Muscles often spasm because they bunch up and tighten. Yoga pulls them out and loosens them up.
The Best Yoga Exercises for Lower Back Pain
The Corpse: This very simple exercise is pure relaxation for your lower back. Lay flat on the floor. Do not substitute a soft surface like a bed for this exercise. Place your hands at your sides and breathe deeply to relax the lower back muscles. If this position causes too much pain in your lower back at the beginning, bend the knees and place the bottom of your feet on the floor to ease the tension in your back further.
The Cat: This exercise stretches all of the muscles of the pelvic girdle and the lower back. Get on your hands and knees with your back straight and your head in line with your back, looking down at the floor. Inhale and slowly push your back up toward the ceiling while tucking your head and your tailbone downward until you are looking between your arms. Exhale and slowly return to the original position. Repeat this ten times.
The Fish: Lie on your back and bend your knees placing the bottom of your feet on the floor by your hips. Place your hands at your side, palms down and keep your chin up with the back of your head on the floor. Inhale and push your buttocks up slowly toward the ceiling as far as you can with your feet, hands and head remaining in the original position. Exhale and slowly lower your buttocks to the floor. Repeat 10 times.
These are just a few of the marvelous Yoga exercises you can do to improve your core condition, relax your back, and get rid of back pain. Once the pain is gone continue with your Yoga workouts to prevent future lower back problems.
Tags: yoga lower back stretch, yoga positions for back pain, yoga stretches, yoga techniques
