After you have practised the breathing techniques you will feel more in tune with your body. Now is a good time to have a look at yoga. I found Elizabeth Rose had made some excellent videos on YouTube. Her past clients include Antonio Banderas and Dita Von Teese.

Don't let her exceptionally talented poses on her web site put you off! The videos I've chosen are for lower back pain, and they are gentle starting points. Never try to run before you can walk, or exercise will do more harm than good.

If any of these positions feel even slightly uncomfortable - stop. Breathe slowly until you can adapt them to feel comfortable for you. If you start very slowly, you will gradually be able to progress. Don't try to do them all on your first day.

I've put them in an order which flowed for me, but if you want to pick just one that suits you, then that's great.

BUT - Please watch the first three before starting any of the yoga poses. They are excellent at explaining how the muscles which support the back function. We need to understand the causes behind pain before we can fix it.

Then always end with the final pose to relax and unwind.

Elizabeth Rose Yoga - http://www.artanayoga.com/resume.html

This is her philosophy:

"My teaching is geared towards helping my students listen to their bodies and create their own personalized Yoga practice instead of following one tradition that may not serve them.

The study of Yogic philosophy and Ayurvedic nutrition along with the physical practice of Yoga is essential to creating a Whole Health System that is perfect for you.

This is not about being able to touch your toes. It is about whether or not you should, how you should, and why you want to.

It is about wellness. It is about awareness, integration, and connection--union."

 

I found this great book on Amazon, 'The New yoga For People Over 50', which should inspire everyone of all ages to give yoga a try. It has really good reviews, including: "I love this book. It is one of a kind. The other books on yoga show young people in impossible poses and don't show the gradual process of getting there or the intermediate poses that will get you there eventually. It gives me hope for the future and shows you that getting older only means getting wiser, more flexible and healthier."

 

YOUTUBE VIDEOS of YOGA POSITIONS

1)  Muscle groups in the lower back

 

 

 

 

 

2)  Underlying causes of lower back pain

 

 

 

 

 

3)  Before Starting Exercises

 

 

 

 

 

4)  Starting with Seated Lotus Pose

 

 

 

 

 

5)  Recycling Cobbler Pose

 

 

 

 

 

6)  Cat Stretch Pose

 

 

 

 

 

7)  Cat Cow Pose

 

 

 

 

 

 

8)  Forward Bend Pose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9) Thread Needle Pose for Sciatica

 

 

 

 

 

10)  Wind Releasing Pose

 

11)  Leg Lifts

 

 

 

 

 

12)  Fish Pose

 

 

 

 

 

13)  Half Dog Pose

 

 

 

 

 

14) Mountain pose

 

 

 

 

15)  Final Pose to Unwind