Yoga Improves Posture
Exercising keeps your back muscles strong while being sedentary can leave you feeling stiff and weak. Low-impact exercises such as walking swimming bicycling and yoga have been shown to be effective says the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Yoga poses like Downward-Facing Dog and Bridge Pose activate the abdominal and back muscles. This helps you maintain an erect spine when sitting or standing.
Yoga Promotes Muscle Strength
Many back problems arise from weakness in the back muscles relative to other parts of the body, which can put extra tension on the spine. Holding poses in yoga helps to strengthen your back muscles, which may reduce your back pain. When holding yoga poses, focus intently on keeping your back straight and in good alignment. This ensures that you work your back muscles optimally.
Yoga Reduces Tension and Stretches Muscles
One of the major sources of back pain is redundant tension in muscles of the back and shoulders. During a yoga session, you will hold poses for 15 to 60 seconds. This gives your muscles time to stretch, increasing flexibility. During a yoga class, one may notice that your back muscles feel more relaxed and flexible at the end of the class.
Yoga Promotes Body Awareness
Spine specialists know that one of the best ways to prevent injury to your back is to improve your body awareness. Performing yoga encourages you to think about your body and brings awareness to your movements. You learn to have a greater sense of what types of movements may cause you pain or injury versus movements that improve flexibility and strength. Increasing this body awareness can be a great way to prevent further back and spine problems.
Yoga is a healing technique that can improve posture, promote healthy spine alignment and strengthen core muscles. If you continue to experience back pain after performing yoga exercises for strength, it may be time to visit a physical therapist or an orthopedic surgeon. It's high time to get a grip on that mat!
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