The reasons for feeling discomfort along your back are pretty complex, but too much sitting or staying in one position for too long can be among the modern-day culprits. If your back feels stiff and lacks flexibility (especially in your upper back), try out these stretches from the bendy folks at GMB Fitness. Do you sit in an office chair or on your couch for…
If you’ve got back pain, yoga may be the last thing you feel like doing. But after 12 weeks of a gentle, beginner-level yoga program, people in a recent study had as much pain relief as those who did physical therapy sessions. And either type of exercise worked better than doing nothing at all. They went to an hour-long yoga class every week, and were assigned…
The most common cause of pain in between the shoulder blades is the poor posture that most of us slip into at work, when we re driving, eating or tapping away on our phones—rounded shoulders, head forward and chest collapsed. Combine this with a sport like cycling, in which you spend long periods of time rounded over the handlebars, or swimming, which puts considerable…
The condition is much more common in women than men. It is usually caused by trauma to the tailbone or surrounding area, such as a backward fall or childbirth. On rare occasions, an infection or tumor can also cause pain in the coccyx. See Osteomyelitis, a Spinal Infection and Spinal Tumors and Back Pain This article provides an in-depth review of the causes…
Whether your training goal is performance enhancement, fat loss, or simply feeling good while maintaining an injury-free lifestyle, there is one concept that is almost universally agreed upon amongst the experts. In order to achieve the best possible outcome, you will need to address your glutes in an intelligently programmed and strategically executed manner…
Weekly yoga classes relieve symptoms of low back pain about as well as intense, regular stretching sessions, a new study shows. The research found that yoga and stretching were equally effective in easing chronic back pain and improving function, but participants had to practice each regularly to see benefits. The subjects in both groups took weekly 75-minute…
Namaste right here and read some more. Did you know? The yoga pants you wear to read are also good for actual yoga. It’s true! A friend told me! If this book nerd workout is a little too strenuous for you, maybe you should try some yoga. We have modified some poses for you, so your workout won’t interfere with your reading. Give these a try! The Spine Bender…
Correcting Kyphosis Have you ever been mistaken for a malformed Parisian who lives in a Cathedral and rings bells? If so, you could suffer from kyphosis. Kyphosis is defined as an exaggerated forward curving of the thoracic portion of the vertebral column. In lay terms it s been called hunchback or slumped shoulders. Look around your gym (and perhaps in the…
GETTY People with bad backs should forget taking painkillers and start stretching instead Over-the-counter pills such as ibuprofen are rarely effective when it comes to relieving chronic back pain, scientists have discovered. In a ground breaking new study, just one patient in six achieved any significant pain relief. Doctors say concentrating on exercise programmes…
Mattress shopping is more of an art than a science, but here are some hints on how to find the best mattress for your lower back pain: Article continues below A Medium-Firm Mattress May Be Best Sleeping on the wrong mattress can not only worsen your lower back pain—it may be the cause of it. A lack of mattress support can strain your muscles and lead to the misalignment…
The shoulder girdle is a complex area involving the humerus, scapula, and clavicle as well as many ligaments, tendons, and bursa. Its inherent mobility compromises stability and can result in injuries. We would probably see many more injuries if this were a weight bearing joint. When the shoulder is injured it can be debilitating and cause a disruption in day…
Namaste is an Indian greeting. It means the higher consciousness in me greets the higher consciousness in you. “Nama” in Sanskrit means “bow” in English, “as” means “I” and “te” means “you.” The greeting is performed by bringing your palms together in front of your heart, bowing your head a little and closing your eyes if you like. It is also performed by bringing…
Mild back pain can be a nuisance. It turns everyday tasks into painful chores. Walking, exercising, working and even sitting in a chair can cause you discomfort. If you’re experiencing back pain, back stretches may be the answer. Stretching helps improve flexibility of your joints. You may think of it as something to do when you work out, but stretching by itself…
It may seem counterintuitive, but weight lifting and strengthening exercises can actually help reduce back pain. However, the point isn t to bulk up your muscles like a body builder—it s to develop strength, especially back strength. The muscles in your back help keep your spine moving as it should. If you have a weak back or weak abdominal muscles, you could…
Lower back pain is very common among adults. It can affect all kinds of people—those who need to lift heavy objects at work, those who live a sedentary lifestyle or work in a sedentary environment, and even those who are physically active in sports. There are numerous activities both physical and non-physical that may be causes. In this article we will cover…
We believe in the transformative power of yoga for a more socially just world, both individually and collectively. We believe that yoga should be accessible to all cultures, sizes, ages, genders and abilities. Every body is worthy of love. We believe in eradicating negative self-talk and body shaming. We believe that people can and should be empowered within…
As a writer, I spend long hours sitting in front of my computer, and I end up with severe back pain every day. In fact, I have had back pain for almost 15 years, and I looked for many solutions for back pain. At one stage, I could not even sit for five minutes. I went to my physician who sent me to a chiropractor. That didn t work. Then I went and saw a physiotherapist…
Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME Start poking around for hard science on Bikram or “hot” yoga, and you’ll find something curious: There’s not much of it. “Considering how popular this is, it’s pretty shocking that our study is one of the very first published research efforts on the subject, ” says Dr. Brian L. Tracy, an exercise scientist at Colorado State…
Bikram Yoga: Good for mind, body, & baby! Borrowing from Jack Johnson, “Three, it’s a magic number. Yes it is!” It certainly is if you ask Alicia, Bethany, and Maria. These three have been the best of friends since their 20s and continue to do nearly everything together. Oh, sure, that’s easy to say, but it’s remarkable how true it actually is with these…
