Wellbeing Consultant and Dru Yoga Teacher Trainer

Yoga for Back Pain

Approximately 80% of us suffer from back pain at one point in our lives or another. Did you know that yoga is mentioned on the NHS backcare guidelines as the Number Two recommendation for people with back difficulties, second only to walking?

Dru Yoga is an effective tool for overcoming back problems as it restores flexibility, strength and postural awareness.

In their Dru CD, Easing Back Pain, Coby Langford and Mansukh Patel describe in detail how yoga movements help balance back muscles

A recent survey showed that over 84% of practitioners of Dru Yoga had experienced a decrease in back pain, with 44% experiencing strong improvement.   

Some of these unique yoga movements were even shown on UK TV during National Back Week last year.

According to Coby Langford and Mansukh Patel, various Dru yoga stretches can stretch and then strengthen the core stability muscles, the deep muscles surrounding the inner pelvis.

Strengthening these muscles with Dru Yoga can ease back pain, help prevent injury and quicken the healing process.

Mansukh and Coby describe how many yoga practitioners will be familiar with how good the cat posture is for the back and in Dru we develop this with a further twisting motion.

This  movement stretches out those muscles that are locked in contraction and spasm.

Then strengthening postures, like the cobra, tones the appropriate deep postural muscles in the back and  pelvis.

Nurse Di Fisher had chronic back pain for many years until she started using specific Dru Yoga exercises for back pain. 

“They were totally different from anything I’ve ever had before and it wasn’t too hard for me even when I was in chronic pain.  I just built up my strength gradually and now I am great.”

With their wide therapeutic experience, Coby and Mansukh are quick to remind us that you should always check with your doctor to see what types of yoga exercises you should do if you have back injuries, and never do movements that are painful without medical supervision.

You'll also find that breath work, relaxation and meditation can also help to release stress and tension in your back.

Cultivating a sense of relaxation and wellbeing improves your ability to deal with both the symptoms and causes of back pain.

Mansukh Patel and Coby Langford's Easing Back Pain CD is part of Dru Yoga's well-established easing back pain programme, which is in use by osteopaths and physiotherapists.  

If you would like any more information here are several options:

Easing Back Pain CD, with Coby Langford and Mansukh Patel 

Dru Yoga Teacher Training and Personal Development courses 

Check out our healthy back retreats at www.druworldwide.com or phone us on 01324 820 392.