Sciatica is no joke!  If you have ever suffered from sciatica pain, you know you will try absolutely anything to help relieve it.  Did you know that yoga can help ease and soothe sciatica pain? In this post we are going to share with you the 5 yoga poses we LOVE that help with sciatica pain.

 

What Is Sciatica

Did you know?  More than 5 percent of the adult population in the United States suffers from some form of sciatica.  The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body running from the spinal cord down the length of each leg.  When people complain of sciatica tenderness, they are referring to pain experienced at any point of the lengthy nerve located on either side of the body.  Sciatica is generally caused by either a herniated disk in the lumbar spine. If a disc is herniated in the lumbar spine, it often pushes against the sciatic nerve which causes pain.  The other instance in which people can experience sciatic pain is when the piriformis muscle is tight. That muscle can exert pressure on the sciatic nerve and push the tendons beneath it.  Either way, sciatic pain is not fun, at all!

 

Yoga Can Help!

Gentle yoga poses can help to relieve the pain, reduce pressure, and soothe the tenderness sciatica sufferers experience.

 

Our favorite 5 yoga poses for relieving sciatic pain are:

  1. Simple Seated Twist
  2. Standing Twist
  3. King Pigeon Hip Stretch
  4. Cobra Pose
  5. Embryo or Child’s Pose

 

Yoga can be a great form of exercise to help protect against sciatic pain.  As a general rule, yoga can help to stretch hamstrings which plays a major part in relieving sciatica. Yoga also aligns, lengthens, and strengthens your lower back, which may help to protect you from future back injury and pain.

 

Are you interested in exploring yoga to help you maintain your flexibility, reduce injury, and to improve your energy levels?  Join us for yoga class! Explore our yoga schedule HERE and attend a class in our Wellness Studio.