Yoga for Back Pain

Many back pain sufferers find yoga to be very effective in reducing their pain. Over time, yoga can increase your strength and flexibility, effectively counteracting the tightness and weak muscles that cause many types of back pain. Each of the following sequences of yoga poses addresses particular back pain concerns:

Note: Make sure to consult your doctor to see if yoga is appropriate for you and find a qualified teacher to help you begin.

• Yoga for Back Pain Overview

  About.com Back Pain Guide Anne Asher presents a thorough overview of how back pain sufferers should approach yoga, including the benefits of yoga and what precautions to take.

• Yoga for Back Pain Series 1: Yoga for Back Health

  This series of four yoga poses for beginners is intended to support back health. These poses are very gentle and serve as an introduction to basic stretching.

• Yoga for Back Pain Series 2: Basic Flexibility for Pain Prevention
  This series of intermediate poses is designed to prevent back pain by improving basic spinal flexibility, strengthening the core and the spinal support muscles and becoming comfortable with the movements that control flexion and extension of the spine.
• Yoga for Back Pain Series 3 – Hip Work for a Balanced Back

  This series of standing yoga poses will help to create an awareness of the alignment of the hips and stretch the hamstrings, often problem areas. Standing poses are challenging for some people with back pain, but when appropriate, can improve your body alignment, which in turn improves your posture and helps alleviate back pain.