Yoga for Sciatica Relief

in #yoga7 years ago (edited)

Good day, Steemians!

These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them. ~ Rumi


Do you suffer from sciatica? I can help with that!

I fell in love with yoga when it cured my debilitating, chronic hip pain in less than a month. It was a legit miracle--I had no idea that was even possible!--so it's part of my mission to help others experience glorious freedom from pain too.

I share this again #1 in hopes that it brings relief to many, and #2 to remind you that healing is limitless. 



What is sciatica?

Nerve roots emerge and converge from the lower lumbar and sacral spine to form the sciatic nerve. It is the longest and largest nerve in the body. Compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve may result in sciatica.

Sciatica is a symptom of another condition. For example, it might be caused by 

  • a herniated disc that presses on the nerve
  • cartilage loss from something like osteoarthritis
  • spinal degeneration and the inflammatory proteins released in that condition
  • sitting for too long
  • poor posture
  • pregnancy
  • a tight piriformis muscle

It is marked by sharp, shooting, and/or searing pain; numbness; tingling; and/or weakness that radiates along the sciatic nerve from the lower back down to the butt, legs, and feet. It is typically felt on only one side of the body, and it often gets worse when sitting, coughing, or sneezing. 



image source


What can be done to relieve sciatica pain?

Thankfully, there are lots of things you can do to help yourself feel better!

  • Rest.
  • Get yourself a nice massage
  • Drink valerian tea.
  • Put some comfrey on it!
  • Take anti-inflammatories: ginger, turmeric, pineapple, garlic, rosemary, mint, lavender, coconut oil, and green tea, to name just a few.
  • Incorporate a few YOGA asanas = postures into your daily routine. 

YOGA!

Stretching the spine is essential not only to relieve pain but to prevent spinal degeneration. Plus it feels really swell, like extra super duper awesome yummy amazing!!! 

Here are a few poses that help relieve sciatica pain when you hold them for just a minute or two (or ten!) daily:


Marichyasana I & variations, including this pictured twist


Reclining Pigeon


Reclining Hand to Big Toe Pose


Reclining Hand to Big Toe Pose II 


And Reclining Hand to Big Toe Pose III, in which you bring the leg back to center, cross it over the body, and drop it to the floor on the other side...use your imagination to see that because I don't have a picture today, or better yet just give it a go! 


Pigeon


Bow Pose


Additionally, any lengthening stretches, whether standing or supine, feel awesome & vastly improve spinal health. Try standing or laying down and reaching the arms overhead, really extending from toes all the way to the fingertips. You can add a little lean to one side, then the other.

I mean that's really it...just move your body in a couple ways that feel really great and have proven beneficial for thousands of years. Super accessible, super sustainable, super fun! 

And of course, a deep breath can always make anything better!


Now do you want to get into something...weird? 

I believe that physical pain is caused by something unaddressed at the emotional, mental, or spiritual level. It is a manifestation of energy in the material body because the disturbance in the force went unattended in the more subtle dimensions.

There is a medical intuitive I dig named Louise Hay. In her decades of experience, she observes sciatica is often correlated with "Being hypocritical. Fear of money and of the future." She recommends the mantras/affirmations, "I move into my greater good. My good is everywhere, and I am secure and safe" for individuals who want relief from sciatica.

If that makes sense to you, then run with it, meditate on it, see what comes up. If it doesn't resonate, then forget it--you're free to take it or leave it. 

In my own experience, my hip pain was definitely screaming at me to make some changes to be happier & healthier. And as soon as I embraced yoga, this crippling pain I'd had for years disappeared to the point I actually forgot I had ever had it. May that truth and potential inspire you! 

>:<>:< Happy Healing! >:<>:<








💛 Sara! 

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Such a beautiful and helpful post @saramiller. I love it how you provide so many solutions and amp up the healing vibe! I'm sure many people will be grateful for this post today. Thanks for being such an inspiration for yogic health!

Thank you @everlove! Yoga is so valuable, and I know its powers are limitless. I hope many are benefitted from this info!

i love yoga fitness it's good for health
thanks for this helpful post

You're welcome

I did anatomy and the sciatic nerve is the biggest nerve of the sacral plexus. And the pain associated with that in cases of trauma is very painful.
The way my lecturer described that pain makes it a serious one.
And i really commend you for sharing picture and fitness tips on how to relieve such pain.
Great post!

Yes the sciatic nerve is the biggest in the entire body!
I practice yoga because it healed by debilitating, chronic hip pain and I know that its powers are infinite.
I hope this helps a lot of people. Everything is better when you feel good!
Thanks @samson12~

That's awesome, I've been wanting to learn more about yoga and try some of the easier ones. I deal with a lot of pain and wonder if some of the stretches could help with my back, arms, and legs. It's just hard to move around a lot. I'm trying meditation though so far and it helps with the anxiety and depression.

YES yoga can relieve your pain! I speak from my own experience and witnessing hundreds of people get better with regular yoga practice. I have much more to share towards helping people feel the best they can - I hope you will consider following for some accessible advice.

Meditation is also amazing for mental, emotional, and spiritual imbalances, but I have also found that it can do wonderful things for the physical body too. I believe everything in life is energy, so physical pain is a manifestation of something "off" on a deeper energetic level. Meditation helps address this. For example, I did a 10 day meditation retreat, and even though I was just sitting in silence for 16+ hours a day, it was one of the most physically painful things I have ever done - but at the end of it, I had so much "gunk" come off my hips that I could do the splits for the first time in my entire life.

If you have any specific questions about getting started, feel free to ask! I'm happy to share my wisdom.

YES!! Increasing health and wellness through easy, natural, sustainable methods! Good post!

This grabbed my attention straight away! I got Sciatica real bad when pregnant & still get attacks now & then. These asanas look so relieving! & i love that mantra!! <3 <3 <3

Oooooh yeah, pregnancy is a big cause of sciatica too! In fact, I'll edit this to include that.
These asanas are GREAT not only when you feel yourself tightening up, but also performed preemptively and regularly to keep yourself nice and fluid. Hope you feel better than ever, Miss Kay! 💛

Certainly yoga has done quite well in helping a lot of people, I've heard the testimonies well these scatia stands no chances with the treatments you've stated

Yoga is amazing! It can eradicate sciatica and so much more.

Everything we do, we do for our health.
Pleased to yoga, a way of revealing the individ inside us.

Hi @saramiller, thank you for this, I stumbled across your article because of my love for yoga. I wasn't sure what sciatica is, so i'm glad you clarified it because I think it is something my partner suffers with, i'm going to look into it more.
I'm vegan which came about from practicing kundalini yoga. My teacher informed me the benefits of a plant based diet. If anyone here is interested more in why a plant based diet is healthier and protecting planet earth 🌱please join the ✌️FOOD REVOLUTION!
i’m new, here too, please check my intro
and my latest post how to kick start your day
Nice to meet you, hope we can support each other on this platform.
celestialcowlong.jpg

Cool, I hope it brings your partner great relief! Thanks for checking it out :)

Yes whether conscious or unconscious, everything we do affects our health. Yoga is a great tool for leading us back to our true nature!

We are getting the idea.

Back related discomfort is one gift from my profession, Dentistry.
Long hours of sitting , improper posture leads to regular back ache and spasm.
This post encourages me , as usual @sara, to take care of it before I suffer some permanent damage.

Also, I have started yogasan after reading your last post.
Thanks

I'm so glad to hear that @saylalijain! I hope you are feeling better every day by incorporating some yoga into your life. I was going to be a dentist - I know it can be challenging on the body.

Good to hear that you were thinking to opt to be a dentist. But we still have something in common, we both put smiles on faces, relieve pain.

Initially felt some discomfort, as my loose and lazy muscles were whacked for strengthening.
But I feel active now. Fresh and enthusiastic to work on patients.

Great! Yoga helps to lift the spirits and keep the mind sharp in addition to keeping the body healthy. Mental clarity and a positive attitude are especially important for a challenging field like dentistry.

Great post! I am missing alot from yoga, yoga is real cool and vital to our body health! But here I am staying now , no trainer and nobody does yoga. I Wish could stay nearby @saramiller

Well that's why I share this post - so you can try some of these moves yourself without depending on anyone else! I have linked to more info on each pose if you need a bit more guidance.

Thank you , I will be following.