Yoga for Back Pain, Stress Relief, and More

I have a history of back pain and this summer I have been experimenting with doing yoga at least every other day, usually around five times per week. I have found that this routine has significantly reduced my back pain, and I have noticed other benefits as well. For instance, my strength and flexibility have been steadily increasing.

I also find yoga extremely relaxing. By the end of the routine my mind is clear and my body feels great.

The routine I have been using the most is a video titled The Primary Series-Express on the Yoga Today YouTube channel. I find this routine makes me feel better than any other yoga routine that I have tried. I think the reason for this is that the exercises seem to balance each other out well. For every bend or push in one direction, there is an opposite movement in another part of the routine.

I feel great and relaxed after doing this routine, and often find it energizing. I also find that by doing the same routine over a number of days, my increases in strength and flexibility are easier to notice than if I did a different routine every day. For those of you that do want to try other routines, I recommend YogaToday.com. I have really enjoyed the routines on that site and they offer one free hour long class a week as well as additional classes for a fee.

If you are new to yoga, I recommend getting a yoga mat. Having a good mat helps cushion your back and knees and also keeps you from slipping around on the floor.

As well as being a physical exercise, yoga is also a meditation for the mind. While doing yoga, you focus on your breathing, and your movements are timed with your breathing. By keeping your focus on your breath, you reduce your mental chatter, relax, and improve your ability to focus. This ability to focus and relax extends beyond the yoga mat into the rest of your life. I feel I am calmer and more collected when I am doing yoga regularly.

If you are brand new to yoga and feel it is too difficult, start slow and simple. When I was first doing yoga from online videos, much of the time I would sit and watch to learn the movements before I actually performed them myself. At other times when a pose was beyond my ability, I would approximate the pose in a way that was within my ability, knowing that with regular practice I would eventually be able to more accurately perform the pose. Yoga is a good way to practice acknowledging your current limitations while having limitless expectations for your personal growth.