Thanks so much for your responses to the yoga post from Friday. A text version of the post appeared on the Martha Stewart Whole Living Daily blog this morning.
While the response to the post was largely positive, there were some folks who missed the point of the post:
“I have been doing yoga for 7 years, and it has really helped me get rid of my back pain. I don’t know why physicians feel the need to bash yoga just because it doesn’t involve pills. It doesn’t cause back pain- at least for me, yoga fixes it!”
-Sherri P, London UK
Sherry, I am so glad you were able to find relief. If you read the article, you will see that I am not bashing yoga at all. I know that for many people it has increased their flexibility and decreased their pain. The post was intended to (and does) provide some useful tips, particularly for newcomers, on how to prevent becoming injured during yoga.
“My back hurts when I don’t keep up with my yoga practice, plus I feel sluggish. One or two classes gets me back in shape!”
Cynthia M, Philadelphia PA
It sounds like you have found something that really keeps you out of back trouble. Thanks for your response.
“My girlfriend suggested I try hot yoga for my low back pain, and honestly, it just made everything worse. It seems to work so well for other people. Why not me?”
Sue, New York, NY
Sue- without knowing your specific diagnosis, it is hard to say why yoga did not give you the relief others have found. It simply underscores that there is no simple fix that will work for everyone. I hope you can find something that works.
Best- and have a fantastic weekend,
Andy
Tags: Andrew Kirschner, andy kirschner, Back Pain, back together, backtogether, injury, kirschner, Low Back Pain, martha, Martha Stewart, Neck Pain, whole living, yoga
To Sue’s response, I’m not a doctor or a yoga teacher, but I am a yoga journalist and i can say that one type of yoga does not fit all….it is likely you were just doing the wrong type and possibly with the wrong teacher. Yoga is excellent for strengthening the entire core, which includes your lower back, but you probably need to start with something more gentle than “hot” yoga or even a dynamic vinyasa class, and really build your strength from the foundation up. And you should look for a teacher that is receptive to your lower back issues and is helpful in that manner…yoga teachers are like any other profession, there are some that are great and many that are not. Good luck!!
This is also in response to Sue. I agree with Beth. As a physical therapist and and a yoga practitioner, I have seen my fair share of patients come in with injuries from yoga. I find that the majority have been caused by improper form or a patient trying too much too fast during class. The best way to prevent this is to go to a reputable yoga studio and be sure to introduce yourself to the instructor and discuss any injuries you may have. A good instructor will help you during the class and give you tips on how to modify certain positions. Another suggestion is to find a physical therapist that has studied or is familiar with yoga — that way you can learn modifications that are specific to your injury and your body, and you will feel more comfortable going to class.
Thank you both for your thoughtful responses!!