A person’s daily habits can have a direct impact on his or her experience with chronic pain issues. Between work, running errands, and getting through the day’s challenges, many people have had to deal with problems like lower back pain and muscle pain all over the body. Neck pain is one of the most common types of chronic pain and is suffered by countless individuals around the world. This type of chronic condition may be more common in those who work physically demanding jobs like construction workers, electricians, professional athletes, welders, and any other type of worker who engages in a lot of repetitive forward movement while performing daily tasks.
Poor posture is also linked to neck pain. A person who walks around with their head hanging for long periods of time may develop neck pain. Other instances include sleeping with the neck in the same position all night or keeping the head in the same position for a prolonged amount of time. Neck pain, if left untreated, can lead to injury and headaches. If neck pain is ignored for too long, it can spread to other areas of the body, such as the shoulders and back, causing discomfort.
Have you ever considered yoga as an alternative therapy for chronic pain disorders? Yoga has been steadily gaining steam as a common remedy suggested to patients by therapists and doctors all over the world. The foundation for this growth is not about opinion or belief. Yoga is proving to be a scientifically-backed method for some types of physical ailments. According to a 2016 peer-reviewed article about yoga for neck pain, 20% of the working population suffers from chronic neck conditions. While traditional hospital visits may be the preferred treatment for some people with neck pain, others are turning to yoga as a more natural and cost-effective alternative. Of course, you should consult with a doctor or healthcare professional about incorporating a therapeutic yoga practice into your routine, especially if you are currently being treated.
Some people avoid yoga because of the belief that it is not a form of therapy, or that it may, in fact, be damaging to their individual health conditions. Others believe that yoga is just expensive (which may be true if considering the average cost of a yoga studio membership can cost hundreds of dollars). The truth is yoga can actually benefit some individuals with neck and back issues and classes can be totally free of charge! Websites like proYoga offer a wide list of free and inexpensive yoga options, both online and in person with local yoga instructors. Whether a person is looking for yoga teacher training courses in Bali, Indonesia or yoga studios in Honolulu, Hawaii, proYoga is a great place to find the best options. For those who are less tech savvy, sifting through Google searches for the best yoga options may seem like an overwhelming task. The creators of proYoga hope to guide people who may lack resources and knowledge by providing a website that does all of the searching for them in seconds.
Yoga Poses and Meditation for Neck Pain
Yoga has been shown to be one of the most effective practices for reducing pain and enhancing mobility and function in areas where one experiences pain. When it comes to relieving pain, a variety of yoga poses have been proven effective. The Warrior II pose, Extended Triangle pose, Thread the Needle pose, and Cow Face pose, among others, are some of the best yoga poses that yogis practice for neck problems. Each of these poses strengthens the chest, back, and shoulder regions, which helps to stabilize the neck.
When it comes to easing neck pain, the meditative aspects of yoga can be just as important as the physical ones. According to a study published in The Journal of Pain (see “Effectiveness of Jyoti Meditation for Patients With Chronic Neck Pain and Psychological Distress—A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial”), patients with chronic neck pain often experience emotional distress. Researchers Michael Jeitler, Stefan Brunnhuber, et al., state that “Meditation has been increasingly used as a supportive treatment for individuals with chronic pain”. Those who practice yoga to alleviate neck pain may find that meditation, with its emphasis on deep breathing and mental relaxation, helps them feel less stressed.
Conclusion
People who are proactive about their posture throughout the day can avoid neck injuries. Even so, some pain issues may still be experienced by people whose jobs require physical stress and repetitive forward head and shoulder movements. Because of this, people are looking for a solution that does not come at a high cost and is more organic. Science has shown that a combination of yoga postures and meditation can help people with neck pain. More and more people all over the world are considering yoga for neck pain.
