What is yoga?
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India to bring balance in body, mind, and spirit. There are many forms of yoga, like Hatha, Ashtanga, and Bikram yoga, but the core of the exercises is always the same. During a yoga session, you perform several poses that stretch and strengthens the muscles of your body. The legs and lower back muscles are among the body areas you will train the most while doing yoga. Every session is accompanied by relaxing music and a yoga teacher. It has become very popular in the last decades in many countries around the world. Yoga is an excellent method to keep a healthy body and mind.
How can yoga prevent or help you heal from an injury?
Stronger muscles
By strengthening the muscles of the lower back and legs the risk of an injury can decrease considerably. This is great news for people who had suffered from lower back injuries in the past. The lower back area is prone to injuries for many people and yoga is an excellent method to grow stronger muscles in the lower back. Subsequently, a strong spine will help prevent injuries in other body parts as well.
Stretching
Another important aspect of yoga is stretching. If you have a lower back injury a gentle stretch while holding a pose can help relieve the tension in your lower back. Please seek advice from a medical specialist first if you are allowed to practice yoga with your specific injury. More flexible muscles expand the motion of your body and can release stress in certain areas of the body, reducing the risk of injuries and promotes the healing process of existing injuries.
Breathing
Breathing is essential during yoga practice. While in a session your breathing should be deep and rhythmic even when in a challenging pose. Bringing your attention to your breathing is a proven method to relax the body and let go of any tension. A relaxed body is less prone to injuries than a stressed body further preventing the risk of injuries in the future.
Posture and balance
Yoga poses will train your body to stay in the right position. Regular practice improves the posture of the body by aligning the pelvis, shoulders, and head. In yoga practice, both sides of the body will receive exactly the same attention to improve the balance of your body. A better upright posture and balance enhance the natural curve of your spine, and in turn, reduces the chance of back problems.
To conclude
Yoga consists of many exercises to help you heal from injuries. The various aspects of yoga all promote a strong, flexible, and relaxed body to prevent injuries and enhance the healing process. Especially the lower back and muscles along the spine are important to train because so many people are prone to lower back injuries. Furthermore, the spine is a central part of the body with connections to all body parts. A strong, relaxed, and natural curvature of the spine will promote a healthy body and reduce the risk of injuries in practically any other area of the body as well.