Based on 3150 Scientific Studies There are 75+ Health Benefits of Yoga.

We have overlooked how much movement nourishes the body

Here's an example: The breath and movement of the spine massages the intervertebral discs.

A recent study shows that yoga practitioners have a lower occurrence of degenerative disc disease. This fact might catch your eye and cause you to sit up and listen!

When you put discs through rotational stress, like in twists, or compress one side as in forward bends, or compress the other side as in any kind of back bend (think cobra, up dog), you are aerating, hydrating, bringing water in and out of those discs. This allows the body to bring in new nutrients to the discs and remove waste products.

The thoracic spine (the middle part behind the heart) doesn't really flex so breathing is the thing that really keeps the ribs and thoracic spine open and hydrated.

Chronic pain is an epidemic and affects more than 100 million adults in the U.S. alone. Back pain is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Pain issues account for 75% of the emergency department visits. People with chronic pain have approximately 3 times the rates of depression and anxiety.

At this point, the most common medical treatment options include painkillers (opioids) and, as you have heard, there are potential problems associated with that route.

As the best defense is a good offense, perhaps the best defense against back pain is to move, breathe and nourish the spine. That's where yoga comes in! This is all something to consider when your bed is beckoning you in the morning or your brain comes up with multiple reasons why you should skip that time on your mat because you have 'other things to do'. I know this because my bed has beckoned and my brain is the best sales person I know 😉

See you on the mat!

Karen