Back
Baby Your Back: Lower Back Pain
By Nora Isaacs
Although it’s a catch-all term, lower-back pain is often the result of
instability around the sacrum, a large, triangular bone made of five
fused vertebrae in the lower back, wedged between the two pelvis bones
and held together by two joints. Problems are typically caused by
stress, too much sitting, and over-arching the lower back, says Gary
Kraftsow, founder of the American Viniyoga Insitute. The following
exercises help stabilize the sacrum. As you repeat the poses, engage
the abdomen on the exhale in order to continuously tone your abs—and
ultimately support your back.
1. Cat/Cow Variation to Child’s Pose
Begin on your hands and knees; shoulders should be directly over the
wrists and hips directly over the knees. Inhale and slowly arch your
back (Cat), lifting the chest up and away from the belly and extending
your tailbone toward the ceiling. On the exhale round the lower back
(Cow), gently contracting the belly, then bring the chest down to rest
on the thighs (Child’s).
Repeat six times, increasing your range of motion.
Comments
06 Jan 2008, 17:37
06 Aug 2008, 14:14
13 Sep 2008, 10:51
If you're in New York City, you can come to the Yoga Union Center for Backcare and Scoliosis at 32 West 28th street, 4th floor. www.yogaunionbackcare.com.
It's the only dedicated center of its kind in the world.
With warm best wishes,
Alison West