Yoga for a Healthy Back and Neck Back problems are very common
among adults: some estimates say that over 20% of adults have
some chronic back pain. Among the many causes of back pain are
poor posture, back strain from poorly designed furniture, weak
back and stomach muscles from lack of exercise, and injuries.
Many physicians recommend Yoga exercise as a way to gently
stretch and strengthen back muscles. In fact, if you’ve had
physical therapy, you’ll probably recognize several Yoga
movements. In Yoga, a strong, flexible back is very important
for maintaining posture, for insuring that the nervous system
pathways are strong and clear, for improving circulation to the
brain, and for maintaining the erect posture necessary for
seated meditation in intermediate practice. Yoga exercises can
be helpful both in preventing and in healing from an injury.
Many Yoga exercises gently stretch and strengthen the muscles in
the hips, back, and legs; others improve muscle strength in the
abdomen, which supports the lower b