Back Problems
by kam

Having a back problem was the major reason I started yoga in1989. It had hurt on and off for many years for many now obvious reasons. As I practiced yoga my back would loosened during the yoga class but became even more sore the next day or so, despite this, I had an intuition to continue. As the months went by, I began to understand why my back became sore in the first place and how to take the imbalance & soreness away. This was very empowering and convinced me of the effectiveness of yoga as a corrective physical therapy for back conditions.

Years went by. In 1991 while working as a teacher at the Hatha Yoga Shala students would come in with back problems, and together we would work out the problem and work through their back problems. Although the problems varied across the board, there were some similar patterns that could be observed.

This passage refers to BPP (back problem people). Most BPP have stiffness down through the sides of their waists, through their lats, around kidneys, hamstrings, hip flexors and upper-backs. All have shallow breathing, which aggravated their back condition.

There were 4 types of back problems that are very common:

1) where the hip flexors are very stiff and the person has a hyper-extended lumbar curve-lordosis.
2) where the person has unevenness in the muscle build-up on the left and right sides, scoliosis.
3) where the person has stiffness in the upper back (kyphosis) and spinal muscles (spinalis and longissimus) and compression in the lumbar spine (maybe around L4 and L5).
4) An imbalance between the left and right sides, in strength and tightness, of the gluteus maximus muscles (buttock muscles) and other associated underlying muscles, which gives sacrum pain.

There are some back problems that do not fit these models, and respond to completely different yoga poses from the usual therapy poses given. I am not convinced on the effectiveness of spinal fusions, disc removals or other radical surgery, where there is a chance that regular corrective exercises would be more effective long term and cost effective, with the obvious exceptions being impact injuries or severe spinal degeneration.

There are many psychosomatic issues that seem to be associated with the back: eg. feeling a lack of support-financial or emotional, changing career, moving house, stubbornness, anger and numerous unconscious patterns.

Back pain is usually not consistent, so look into the nature of the issues you are facing when it occurs. Finally, find a good yoga-teacher trained in yoga-therapy (minimum 3yrs yoga training plus biomedical knowledge). They usually understand backs from a theoretical stand and more importantly from practical experience as their daily practice takes their own back to a full ROM (range of movement) during their yoga practice.

They probably, like myself, have to deal with thousands of students each year, many of whom have back problems. If you fully understand your own back: bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, energy flows and psychosomatic issues, then you are in a good position to help others. You will need to consistently practice with awareness and patience.

All obstacles can be overcome. Good luck.