NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A lot of people deal with chronic pain especially as they get older. Medication is one way to treat it, but yoga could also be the answer.
Talia Castro-Pozo turned to yoga after developing back pain.
“After my pregnancy and dancing professionally for so many years I had a lot of back pain and basically yoga really helped me, you know, feel better,” she said.
Whether it’s your hip, back, knee or shoulder, yoga may help manage chronic pain.
“It improves flexibility and helps build muscle and core strength, which can help alleviate discomfort,” said Consumer Reports reporter Catherine Roberts.
If you have chronic pain, Chaya Spencer, who is a certified yoga teacher, recommends finding the right type of yoga class for you.
“Find a class that has the words ‘beginner’ in the title, or ‘slow’ or ‘gentle restorative’ if your issue is very intense, maybe you want to find a chair class,” Spencer explained.
Chaya says the cobra pose can help relieve some stress from back pain.
“This pose is very good for creating stability in the lower back and flexibility in the lower back so it firms all the muscles in the back body,” she explained.
Busy schedule? Try yoga classes online -- just make sure you have a good yoga mat, like the IUGA Pro Non-Slip Yoga mat, that has good Consumer Reports ratings for cushioning and grip.
