Yoga Poses for Pain Management – Restorative Yoga
So, you’re suffering with some body pain and you’re wondering “does yoga help with (insert body part) pain?”.
You’ve come to the right place.
Regular yoga practice can relieve chronic pain or tension by improving your range of motion, relaxing tense muscles and increasing muscle strength.
Yoga can, if practiced with care, help with all kinds of pain.
Everyone’s body is different, so if yoga helped your friend recover from chronic pain that doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for you.
MatMat advises that should you practice yoga with care and consideration for your body – do not push through pain, and if intense pain persists, seek medical aid.
Yoga for Back Pain
Looking for help with yoga for back pain? Back and abdominal muscles are essential in the muscular network of the spine and help the body maintain proper posture and movement. When these muscles are well conditioned, back pain can be relieved and avoided altogether through exercises to strengthen the lower and central back. If you’re suffering from sciatica and looking for yoga for bad backs, you can read about in this blog post. Below MatMat has collected some exercises for lower back pain, lower back stretches and yoga poses to relieve back pain:
Easy Yoga Poses for Back Pain:
Childs Pose
Downward Facing Dog
Pigeon Pose
Triangle Pose
Cat and Cow Pose
Sphinx Pose
Locust Pose
Cobra Pose
Yoga for Headaches
Yoga for headache and migraine relief largely consists of stress relieving exercises. Deep breaths are always good for easing tension and tension can be the cause of many a headache. Some yogis use yoga for migraine prevention and report that regular practice reduces stress levels to combat even the smallest headaches. Opening and stretching the neck, shoulder and back muscles will help the blood to reach and flow to your head. Here are some yoga poses to get you started on easing that head pain:
Easy Yoga poses for headache:
Cat Pose
Seated Twists
Chest Opener
Eagle Arms
Child Pose
Bridge Pose
Extended Puppy Pose
Plow Pose
Yoga for Migraines
If you’re looking for the specific yoga poses that can target tension and stress which can be the reason for migraine, here’s the shortlist. Yoga also improves circulation throughout the body and oxygen and blood flow going to the brain which can release stress and pain.
Easy yoga poses for migraine:
Downward Dog
Head to Knee Pose
Upward Facing Dog Pose
Bridge Pose
Corpse Pose
Lotus Pose
Child Pose
Yoga for Hip Pain
Yoga for hip pain has been shown very effective if done correctly. Yoga helps with hip pain because it supports the joints and the fine movements help to strengthen the small muscles used to move your hips. Regular yoga also prevents stiffness in the joints and muscles. If you’re suffering from hip pain at night, hip arthritis or general discomfort with your hips, why not try these hip exercises and stretches for hip pain.
Easy Yoga Poses for Hip Pain:
Happy Baby Pose
Extended Triangle Pose
Eagle Pose
Cow Pose
Lizard Pose
Fire Log Pose
Reclining Pigeon Pose
Yoga for Stomach Pain and a Flat Tummy
There are two major reasons people might target their stomach with yoga practices: yoga for stomach or tummy problems; yoga for getting a flat tummy or for belly fat reduction. Yoga relaxes muscles and makes you breathe steadily, so you can deal with the discomfort you might be experiencing in your belly. In addition, the stomach exercises help tone the muscles and get rid of the little lip hanging over your jeans.
Easy yoga poses for stomach pain:
Gentle Spinal Twist
Seated Cat Cows
Embryo Pose
Wind Relieving Pose
Cat Pose
Bridge Pose
Downward Facing Dog
Yoga for Period Cramps
Yes, there is such a thing as period yoga! Many of my lady yogis have asked me, “can we do yoga in periods?”. The answer is different for every woman. Yoga during periods is disputed, but it is generally agreed that as long as you’re not upside down (and causing an unnatural flow of blood) then yoga can help relieve period cramps and even help regulate when you get your period. Any form of exercise can help ease period pain, but rigorous exercise can be difficult for women at this time. Gentle yoga practice can be an option for exercise during menstruation periods.
Yoga poses for period pain:
Knees-to-Chest Pose
Forward Fold
Childs Pose
Camel Pose
Bound Angle
Reclining Twist
Head-To-Knee Pose
Inverted Pose
Yoga for Knee Pain
Yoga for knee pain can be a fantastic way to gently strengthen joints and relieve knee pain from arthritis. Yoga is a low- impact exercise which improves overall leg strength which benefits the knees. Studies have shown that regular yoga practice can help reduce joint pain, improve joint flexibility and function. Below is a list of knee pain yoga exercises and yoga for knees.
Easy Yoga Poses for Knee Pain:
Triangle Pose
Warrior II
Chair Pose
Peaceful Warrior
High Lunge
Eagle Pose
Bridge Pose
Yoga for Chronic Pain
We know that chronic pain can be a really terrible thing to live with. Yoga for pain management and for pain relief is an ongoing journey and requires commitment. Take your time, listen to your body and see if these yoga poses for chronic pain help.
Easy Yoga Poses:
Childs Pose
Cow Pose
Angry Cat
Spinal Twist
Crescent Lunge
Pelvic Tilt
Downward Facing Dog
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