Featured Guest Article Written By Massageholic.com
For many people, back pain is just a fact of life – and so are painkillers. But what about alternative remedies? Medication has its place, but there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s just a quick fix. Popping pills won’t treat the underlying cause of your back pain. You’ll still be in agony; it’s just that your brain won’t know it!
Pills also come with the potential for some pretty nasty side-effects. For example, plenty of us feel sick after taking ibuprofen. Plus, taking over-the-counter painkillers for a long time can actually make the pain worse. So, what’s a person to do? Yoga and massage are two amazing alternatives to regular medicine that can make a serious difference. Not convinced? Read on for a few quick tips that will soon help your aching back feel better.
Why Yoga is Awesome for Back Pain
Yoga releases tension in your lower back and enhances flexibility. It gently lengthens your spine, improves your posture, and leaves you feeling more relaxed. You’ll boost your circulation and even decrease your body’s sensitivity to pain according to scientific research.
Try these three poses:
- Sphinx Pose: Lie down on your stomach, keeping your feet hip-width apart. Position your elbows under your shoulders. Gently curve your back and look straight ahead. Hold the pose for one to three minutes.
- Child’s Pose: Get on all fours. Stretch your arms out on the floor in front of you, palms on the floor. Next, sit back so that your glutes almost rest on your heels. Hold the pose for one to two minutes.
- Seated Spinal Twist: Sit on the floor with your back straight. Bend your left leg and place your foot outside your other knee. Stretch out your right arm and place your elbow on your left knee. Keep your gaze over your left shoulder. Hold the pose for thirty seconds. Repeat on the other side.
- Seated Forward Fold: Start by sitting on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Take a deep breath then exhale as you fold your body forwards from the hips. Take hold of your feet, ankles, or shins, depending on your flexibility.
To get the most from yoga, you need to practice a few times per week. Lucky for you we offer 30+ opportunities to practice yoga every week! Join us for a class any day of the week to experience the benefits that yoga has to offer you! Our Avani & Agni yoga teachers are trained to modify poses that will feel good for your individual body.
How Massage Will Make You Feel Better ASAP!
There are many types of massage, and most claim to help with back pain. But what type actually works best?
Here are a few types of massage you can test out:
- Swedish massage: This is the classic type of massage you see in health spas. It’s great for relieving muscle tension and is also really relaxing. You might even find yourself drifting off to sleep. It’s good for chronic fatigue and pain, with research showing it can help relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia.
- Craniosacral therapy: If you prefer a lighter massage, this is the therapy for you. Your masseuse will gently help the fluids in your spinal cord flow properly, healing your back pain in the process.
- Deep tissue massage: Is your back pain a chronic nuisance? Time to try deep tissue massage! It is similar to Swedish massage, but with an important difference – the therapist will go much deeper. Deep tissue massage breaks down stubborn muscle knots and scar tissue. It’s especially good for chronic back pain and stiffness. You can see deep tissue massage in action here: https://youtu.be/ioyd97MNxSc
- Thai massage: Thai massage is energetic – it involves a therapist moving your body into various poses – but it’s great for back pain. It’s sometimes called “lazy man’s yoga” because someone else moves your body into a bewildering range of positions. Thai massage reduces pain, eases tension, and gives you an instant energy boost.
- Self-massage: To massage your upper back, stand against a wall with a tennis ball between your shoulder blade and spine. Gently move in an up-and-down motion so that that ball massages your back.
Sky Fitness offers many different massage therapy services and packages to relieve your stress and aid in healing. Visit our Massage page to learn more, and call (847) 229-0292 to book your appointment with one of our amazing massage therapists!
The next time back pain strikes, pause before reaching for the painkillers. Empower yourself by learning how to treat the pain without taking a single pill! Remember, yoga and massage work best if you use them on a regular basis!
*If your pain is severe, always get it checked out by a qualified medical professional.