| I speak from personal experience having been a back | | | | Pilates and Yoga work on the basis of developing the |
| pain sufferer on and off for the last thirty years. So | | | | body's core postural muscles focussing on making |
| what is it about Pilates and Yoga exercises for back | | | | sure that the spine is aligned and supported properly. |
| pain that work so well? | | | | Each exercise develops a number of different |
| To understand why, you really need to look at the | | | | muscles so that in time you strengthen the whole |
| root cause of back pain. I'm talking about what is | | | | torso, giving your back the support that years of |
| referred to as non-specific back pain. That is the sort | | | | neglect have taken away. The exercises are done in |
| of back pain that comes out of nowhere, lasts for a | | | | a specific order and a great deal of attention is paid |
| few days and then goes, usually to return on an | | | | to posture, alignment control, precision and breathing. |
| ongoing haphazard basis. You can usually cope with it | | | | Each exercise is done in a slow controlled manner |
| with a few pain killers and a bit of rest but it | | | | with no sudden movements or wrenching, making |
| gradually wears you down and usually gets worse | | | | them ideal to do even if you are experiencing back |
| with time. | | | | pain. You can also start at a "starter" level, choosing |
| This sort of back pain cannot be attributed to any | | | | the level of difficulty that suits your ability. |
| specific injury or disease but is more a matter of | | | | Doing these exercises two or three times a week |
| lifestyle. We sit down too much, we sit badly, stand | | | | for 45 to 60 minutes quickly increases your core |
| badly and do not exercise enough or the exercise | | | | strength and general fitness levels. As well as doing |
| that we do just focuses on some of our muscles. | | | | away with back pain. They are the sort of exercises |
| The end result is that we end up with poor posture, | | | | that can either be done as part of an exercise class |
| our muscles are out of balance because we do not | | | | or done in the privacy of your own home. All you |
| use all of them all of the time and we end up with | | | | need is a pair of jogging bottoms and an exercise |
| back ache. | | | | mat. Don't wear the joggers outside the house |
| That was a perfect description of my situation, but it | | | | though, at least until you are back in shape! |
| was compounded by me having slipped a disc on two | | | | You will be surprised how quickly your fitness |
| separate occasions in the last twenty years and I | | | | improves and probably get the bug, wanting to move |
| also managed to break my back falling from a horse. | | | | up levels and take on the more strenuous exercises, |
| Don't worry, it was very painful and inconvenient for | | | | but if not at least you will have sorted out your |
| a few months, but I suffered no permanent damage | | | | niggling back pain. |
| apart from a weakened back. | | | | |