5 guaranteed benefits of yoga practice for your body and mind
People who suffer from ongoing or recurrent bouts of back pain often have to try a number of different forms of exercise to find the most appropriate therapy to manage their pain. Dr. Hepler, a spine surgeon in Broward County says that from his experience, yoga has proven to be a safe and effective way for many to fight various forms of back or neck pain. Even if you do not want to take yoga classes, you can still practice a set of exercises at home or outdoors at your convenience.
How yoga can help if you experience back pain
Yoga can provide several healing benefits for people with various types of back pain. If you suffer from any back disorder, it is mandatory to consult your doctor before starting, but in general, yoga does not have any major limitations, says our spine surgeons in Broward County. Its benefits include:
- Healing injured back muscles
- Speeding time to recover from an injury
- Preventing re-injury
- Helping maintain a regular level of daily activity and avoid disability
Yoga’s goal is to provide you with physical and mental harmony and other benefits though a series of poses and breathing techniques. When it comes to your back, yoga can help to develop back strength, improve your posture and stretch out your muscles, which eventually will ease lower back pain.
Physical Benefits of Yoga Exercises according to Spine surgeon in Broward County
- Strengthening from holding yoga positions
Many of the poses in yoga gently strengthen the muscles in the back and in the abdomen, but do not put pressure on the joints typical of aerobics or weight lifting. The back and abdominal muscles are essential components of the muscular network of the spine, supporting the body to maintain proper upright posture and movement. When these muscles are in good shape, back pain can be greatly reduced or avoided.
- Stretching and relaxation from yoga
Yoga incorporates stretching and relaxation, which reduces tension in stress-carrying muscles. Yoga requires that the individual hold gentle poses anywhere from 10 to 60 seconds. Within the pose, certain muscles flex, while others stretch, promoting relaxation and flexibility in muscles and joints. Additionally, unlike many other forms of exercise, yoga helps stretch and strengthen both sides of the body equally.
Stretching stimulates blood flow, allowing nutrients to flow in and toxins to flow out, while nourishing the muscles and soft tissues in the lower back.
- Breathing is considered very important during your practice. While holding a position, you tend to want to hold your breath, too. However, the intention behind yoga is deep, free, and rhythmic breathing through the nose on both the inhale and the exhale. This will emphasize a relaxed body and encourage strong circulation.
- Posture, balance, and body alignment through yoga practice
Consistent practice and application will result in improved posture, and an increased sense of balance, with head, shoulders and pelvis in proper alignment. Increased mobility of the body significantly lowers the risk of injury and stronger balance decreases the possibility of falls.
Proper body alignment and good posture, which helps maintain the natural curvature of the spine, are important aspects of reducing or avoiding lower back pain affirm our spine surgeons in Broward County.
- Body awareness increases with yoga practice. Exercising trains people to understand the limitations of their body. This increased awareness acts as a preventative measure, in that the individual will know what types of motions should and should not be avoided.
Dr. Matthew Hepler – Your best choice for a spine surgeon in Broward County and Fort Lauderdale
Dr. Hepler is a leading orthopedic spine surgeon in Delray Beach and Fort Lauderdale with fellowship training in both adult and pediatric spine surgery. He has a subspecialty interest in complex spine reconstruction. That includes scoliosis, kyphosis, and spondylolisthesis, but he treats all spine conditions, including disc herniations, radiculopathy, discogenic disc disease, lumbar and cervical stenosis, and traumatic and osteoporotic fractures. He is also an expert in back surgery and spinal stenosis treatment in Palm Beach County.
If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, visit our website or simply give us a call.
