Living with sciatica is excruciating. I’ve been suffering with on and off symptoms of it for years with no end in sight. At times, I was left stuck in bed, thinking that there was nothing that I could do to ease my pain and have me back on my feet again. Recently though, I’ve found a solution.
I and many other people around the world have been using yoga as a way to treat the pain and discomfort related to sciatica. For anyone else who’s suffering, I would urge you to try it too and see how well it really works. To help you get started, try these 7 simple yoga poses that relieve sciatica pain instantly.
1. Standing Back Twist
- Stand with your back straight, feet shoulder-width apart, and arms by your side.
- Place your right foot on a chair or something of equal height. Then put your right hand on your hip and place the back of your left hand on the outside of your right knee.
- Keeping your hips straight, turn your upper body to the right as far as it can comfortably go.
- Take several deep breaths, then return to your original position and repeat for the left leg.
2. Lying Lower Back Stretch
- Lie flat on your stomach with your toes pointed outward. Place your palms on the floor with your elbows directly below your shoulders.
- Lift your chest up from the floor, pulling your elbows to your sides and keeping the rest of your body on the floor.
- Hold take a few deep breaths, then exhale and drop your chest slowly back to the floor.
3. Staff Pose
- Sit on the floor with your back and legs both straight.
- Keep your arms by your sides and place your palms on the floor behind you.
- Keep your back and knees straight, stay in this pose, and breathe deeply.
4. Knee Raise
- Lie on your back with your legs straight out.
- With your hands together, pull your right knee to your chest, while keeping your left leg straight on the floor.
- Stay in this pose for a moment, then release and repeat for the other leg.
5. Seated Forward Bend
- Sit with your back straight and legs straight in front of you. Then open your legs as far as they can go while keeping them straight on the floor.
- While keeping your back straight, bend from the hips and slowly walk your hands forward on the floor between your legs as far as you can.
- Hold this pose for several deep breaths, then inhale and lift yourself up.
6. Single Leg Twist
- Lie flat on your back with your legs straight and your arms outstretched in a T-shape on the floor.
- Bend your right knee and place it on the floor on the left side of your body, resting the sole of your right foot on your left leg.
- Keep both your right knee and right shoulder as close to the floor as you can
- Stay in this pose for a few deep breaths and then repeat on the other side.
7. Child’s Pose
- Rest on your knees with your toes pointed outward and place your palms on the floor in front of you.
- Reach your arms out as far as they can go, bending at the hips and keeping your back straight. Let your forehead to reach the floor.
- Hold this pose for as long as you want to and breathe deeply.
The first, and toughest, barrier than you need to break in order to relieve your pain is to get started. When you’re in pain, you’ll want to do anything but move, especially with something as daunting as yoga. As soon as you try it, you’ll get to experience just how effective it is.
If you know someone who’s suffering from sciatica, share this article with them. Yoga could be the answer that they’ve been looking for.
