Yoga Therapy For Back Pain

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According to research, back pain is only second to the common cold as a health complaint for Australians. 

http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6871-back-pain-common-complaint-for-aussies-20160630091

I can always remember dad having to regularly go to his chiropractor and physios for his back pain after years of physical hard work as a carpenter left him with zero cartilage and fused vertebra in his lower back. I remember his stories of carrying excessively heavy loads as well as jumping down from the tops of ladders because it was faster than stepping down.

sandra-lamari's-dad

During my last year of Yoga Therapy training due to not finding enough time (read: making too many excuses) to do my own yoga practice as often as I should as well as not recovering fully from a running injury and overdoing it playing hockey, led me to experience my own year-long struggle with back pain. 

For 6 weeks all I could do was lay down and cry, the pain was EXCRUCIATING. I recall when having to drive the kids somewhere, the seat warmer would be on as hot as possible to help sooth the pain in my lower back while I was crying at the wheel with pain. Fisiocrem was my best friend, and my choice of aromatherapy was Dencorub. 

I was in a mental state of despair. I couldn’t think straight, I forgot all my therapy training, I was in a fog of pain, I wanted my mum to come and make it all better! I can now have some idea of what my dad must have been going through all those years with his back pain.

Someone mentioned an osteopath and I got myself in to see one as soon as I could muster the courage to drive myself there. After my initial treatment I could have married that osteo right there I loved him so much (sorry Dave)! Such a relief to be pain-free, even though it lasted only 15 minutes initially, I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. My mental fog briefly cleared.

I did the exercises given and integrated a few Yoga Therapy moves, breathing and meditation to complement the treatment. Over the next month, I was able to walk and sit for short periods of time, I made sure to continue with my daily yoga therapy practice. At my last module of Yoga Therapy training, Dr NC gave me a practice which helped bring me back to a large range of movement with no pain. 

While it has been glorious to finally be without back pain again, I had gained 10kg and became incredibly weak being inactive and mega stressed. I have now finally returned to walking, added in weight training, taken up swimming and do an occasional run. I most certainly make sure to include a yoga practice every damn day!

What I hated about that time aside from the pain, was the total despair that I felt. 

A feeling of uselessness, I felt that no one understood what was happening to me, to my body. 

How would I ever go hiking again?  

sandra-lamari

I felt guilty for not being able to look after my children properly and I certainly didn’t want to hear anything that my husband had to say. 

Was it going to be like this forever, if so I was not going to cope!

I am proud to say after the years of Yoga Therapy training it TOTALLY WORKS! My studies have not been in vain. Don’t only take my word for it, there are plenty of studies to prove it as well.

https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.iayt.org/resource/resmgr/docs_Research_Summaries/12.Summaries_LBP.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23246998

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23387504

I can honestly say I now feel total empathy for those living with pain on a daily basis. I am making it my mission to help other people with back pain whether it be from disc issues, arthritis, scoliosis or any other undiagnosed symptoms. 

  • Could you one use some help with back pain? 
  • Does your back pain stop you doing the things you love?
  • Are you in an all consuming mental fog because of your pain? 
  • Would you like integrative practice which works alongside your physio, osteo or other health professional to keep you on track to heal?
  • Would you prefer something that is created specifically for you, that sees you rather than just your pain?

I believe I can help you with your back pain.

If you, or a loved one is ready to try Yoga Therapy please get in contact with me. I am always ready to help.

Bye for now.

Sandra