Yoga for Back Pain by Yoga for Back Pain

Joy Anderson on yoga for back pain - BackCare

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Joy Anderson on yoga for back pain 2008 Author: Joy Anderson

Joy Anderson shares her experience of yoga. The government has recently begun promoting the concept of wellness and activity as a way of getting people back to work. Gordon Brown has made bold statements about government health strategies, pledging that “The NHS of the future will do more than just treat patients who are ill – it will be an NHS offering prevention as well”. Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson, in his speech to the British Heart Foundation on 20 February 2008, cited government figures showing that back pain costs employers £600m a year, with sufferers of persistent back problems on average taking 17 days sick leave per year. Return to work figures show that, of those who are signed off for up to six months, only 50% return to work. That figure decreases to 25% for those signed off between six months and one year. The Department of Health (1998) reported that:

40% of adults had suffered from back pain for more than one day in the last 12 months 15% were in pain throughout the year 13% of back pain sufferers aged 16-64 had been unemployed in the previous month due to back pain.

Chronic back pain sufferers would probably give anything to ease the pain and discomfort, and return to an active pain free life. As someone who has suffered debilitating back pain, I’ve tried a multitude of treatments and ‘gizmos.’ Mostly the impact was negligible, very short lived or expensive (my bank balance plummeted with the cost of it all!). My GP could only suggest surgery, bedrest, painkillers and resigning myself to the futility of it all. Twenty years later I’m not only fully recovered but also fitter than ever. During the same time period the medical profession has rejected prolonged bed rest. However, the treatments offered tend to be the same: antiinflammatory drugs, pain relief, surgery and limited physiotherapy. One can see why returning to work is so difficult. The constant pain, discomfort and loss of mobility can be overwhelming. Back pain sufferers often give up exercise because it is too painful, so they become overweight, which exacerbates the condition. This cyclical process of depression and loss of self-esteem can be extremely detrimental and is often compounded by long periods of unemployment. As a yoga teacher with 20 years experience, I am convinced that the best treatment for back pain is yoga, in particularly yoga that is influenced by Vanda Scaravelli, author of 'Awakening the Spine'. Although there are many wonderful schools of yoga, some approaches would be too rigorous for someone with a back injury. The late Vanda Scaravelli was a famous Italian teacher. After many years of studying with BKS Iyengar, she developed an approach to yoga that uses the breath to stretch out the body and facilitate soft, flexible but strong postures. She found a way of using the body’s weight combined with the forces of gravity to create a

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natural flow and traction, gradually lengthening the spine. This is not a ‘quick fix’ but a system of continual practice, which helps to develop deeper postural muscles, creating a healthy posture. Vanda focused on the breath and emphasised the importance of breathing into the back of the lungs. When this is practised in conjunction with different postures, it enables space to be created between the vertebrae, achieving shifts that can significantly realign the spine. Vanda talked about having three friends: gravity, the spine and the wave of the breath. She believed the secret was about learning how to ‘undo’ the body and accept our boundaries in order to facilitate change. Vanda developed this technique because she, herself, had a degenerative back problem. In fact, she didn’t start yoga until the age of 40, but went on to develop extraordinary physical abilities and was still teaching and practising advanced postures into her mid-nineties! Vanda’s technique emphasises stretching one’s limbs as a natural tool to lengthening the spine which, combined with the use of gravity, produces astonishing results. Even people who suffer with hyper-mobile joints can benefit fro

m this technique, as the ‘grounding’ develops inner or core strength and enables students to gradually open and move the spine where it was previously ‘blocked’. This starts the process of transformation. It’s like peeling the layers off an onion: first one can expect an improvement in function and, as long as this keeps improving, it’s very likely the pain will also subside. How long it takes will depend on many factors but patience, humility and regular practice will help to sustain you through the healing process. Vanda’s approach also emphasises working with the feet, which is an integral part of the practice. Any distortion of the spine will be reflected in the feet, and developing this awareness is the foundation of the practice. Stretching and strengthening the feet allows a very accessible starting place for everyone, and even a complete beginner with debilitating back pain can work at this level and get results. It takes time to access the more serious blockages in the spine. However, as the feet begin to ‘wake up’, this impacts on the alignment of the spine, allowing the whole body to gradually ‘let go’ at its own pace. Nothing is forced, unlike some conventional treatments for back pain that attempt to realign the spine through manipulation or traction. When I first started learning this technique, I went to an exceptional class taught by an exceptional teacher, Mary Stewart. I witnessed first-hand a stroke victim doing headstands; a gentleman who, after taking up the Scaravelli technique, no longer needed a hip replacement; and many others forwhom practising yoga longterm had helped them to manage, improve and sometimes cure chronic health problems. It was an exciting time for me as I began to realise I was in control and could contribute to my rehabilitation. In spite of all our ailments, the classes were empowering, supportive and fun. The solidarity of the group was motivating and inspiring, and we would encourage each other through the highs and lows. Mostly the work was progressive but, like many things in life, it wasn’t without its setbacks, disappointments and challenges. Many of the people in Mary Stewart’s class went on to become iconic teachers in their own right and each brought their own passion and personality to their practise. I truly believe that one’s pupils are the best teachers, and I continue to feel privileged and inspired when I see my students transform and develop, taking the practice into their lives to heal and enrich themselves and others. Many of my students started yoga with me because they had back problems and for some it became a life-changing event. It has never ceased to be a source of inspiration to me watching pupils transform their lives and continue their love of yoga long after the pain has gone. Yoga practised regularly, in my experience, can be extremely effective in dealing with most back problems as

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well as being a great stress buster, allowing complete relaxation and detoxing the body. many long-term back pain sufferers are likely to become isolated, depressed and consequently suffer low self-esteem So how does this fit in with the government’s preventative health strategy? Perhaps such low return-to-work rates result from medical practitioners misunderstanding the rehabilitation process. They expect full physical recovery from their patients when they eventually return to work, but neglect the psychological impacts of long-term back pain. It cannot be underestimated that many long-term back pain sufferers are likely to have become isolated, depressed and consequently suffer low self-esteem. So it is likely that they will need other kinds of support to help ease them back into a working environment. Yoga can take care of all these issues, as it is not only a system of effective rehabilitation but also a preventative strategy. A yoga class offers not only tremendous benefits for the body and the mind but also an opportunity for support, social networking and confidence building, all intrinsic to successful rehabilitation and preparation for returning to work. The stark contrast between the traditional treatment environment and the calming ambience of a yoga studio instantly allows students to feel engaged, nurtured and ‘part of the process.’ I passionately believe that a yoga class can be the stepping-stone in this transition. the current approach to back pain is largely ineffective A small number of GPs do recommend yoga. However, without proactive endorsement at policy level, patients may not take that leap of confidence. If one could attend a yoga class just like one goes to physiotherapy, there could be a considerable shift! In my view, the current approach to back pain is largely ineffective, whilst the cost to the individual and the economy is huge. As a practitioner and therapist I am convinced that, for most chronic back pain sufferers, yoga would offer relief from pain as well as all the attendant psychological and emotional benefits. If this government is really concerned with ‘wellness’, they should seriously consider providing yoga as part of the NHS treatment strategy for back pain. One of the problems of offering yoga classes at a doctor’s surgery is the lack of appropriate pace and restricted consultation hours. However, with the proposed introduction of polyclinics by Lord Danzi, perhaps this would be an ideal opportunity to include a purpose-built yoga studio as part of his ‘vision of the future’. This would not only facilitate a convenient and cost effective referral point for allopathic and complimentary therapists, but also provide continuity of care, patient satisfaction and financial viability. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a GP could write out a prescription for a yoga course? If sickness from back pain costs employers £6m per year, then providing yoga at work could become extremely cost effective. Employees could use yoga not only to get well but also as an effective preventative measure.

If you want to know more about yoga for back pain, you can visit Joy’s website at www.yogaforbackpain.com where you can download a free 4-part mini course. Alternatively you can book a yoga lesson with Joy. Visit www.joyogastudio.com for details. Joy Anderson YA, AIYP, BYTA, BSY, ITEC. Photographs by Paul Ridgway www.paulridgway.co.uk

Website address: http://www.backcare.org.uk BackCare Helpline: 0845 130 2704 Office contact: 0208 977 5474

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