» Heal Your Back Naturally with Yoga, Massage and Chiropractic

Simply Serenity

Inspiration for inner peace and love by Lauralyn, a yoga and angel therapist.

Heal Your Back Naturally with Yoga, Massage and Chiropractic

December 15th, 2011

Have you ever had your back muscles spasm out on you and then lock, leaving you crunched over like the Hunchback of Notre-Dame? The old seize and freeze? If so, this is the blog for you.

I’ve had this uncomfortable experience three times in my life, and it’s not fun. Especially for a yoga teacher like me. If my back isn’t working, neither am I. Here are some tips that have worked for me. Keep in mind, every body is different, so you may have to experiment with what works best for you.

Steps To Preventing and Healing Muscle Spasms

1. As soon as you feel any slight ache in your back, schedule a massage appointment pronto. Massage can greatly reduce muscle spasms, especially if they add a hot compress before they begin the massage. You also may want to try hot Epsom salt baths with cooling essential oils like eucalyptus. And taking a magnesium supplement and Formula 303, a natural muscle relaxant recommended by chiropractors.

2. If your muscles have already gone into spasm, it’s time to see a chiropractor. It’s important to find a chiropractor you feel comfortable with and trust. Ask for electro-stimulation before your adjustment. Electrodes are placed on the stressed back muscles, sending heat and electrical stimulation which gently begin to relax your back, preparing it for an adjustment.

3. Following your chiropractic adjustment, try using a Shiatsu massaging pillow with heat. You can find one at Bed, Bath and Beyond for under $40. After applying a gentle massage to the muscles, add a hot compress. The heat helps to relax the muscles and soothes pain. If there is a lot of inflammation, you can also try applying ice, though I found heat to be more effective.

4. Keep taking Formula 303 along with plenty of fluids. Drinking lots of water will prevent dehydration, which could make tight muscles seize up even more. Muscle tissue is about 75% water. Keeping your muscles hydrated with plenty of water helps them move easier.

How To Use Yoga Therapy

Avoid using yoga therapy in stage one, when you think it may be a good idea. If muscles are tight, inflamed and in a spasm, stretching may only aggravate them even more, leading to more pain and inflammation. The best thing to do when the muscles first start twitching is to visit a massage therapist and focus on relaxing the muscles without strain or force.

After the chiropractic adjustment, and once the muscles feel less tender and your mobility has improved so you’re not walking like a prehistoric man-ape, you can slowly begin to try simple and gentle yoga poses to stretch and relax the muscles. I recommend child’s pose, cat/cow, knees-to-chest, happy baby pose and easy spinal twists. You may want to use props such as pillows, bricks and blankets, so you can stretch to the point where you’re comfortable without putting extra strain on sore muscles.

Once your back muscles are healed and your mobility is restored, yoga can be a wonderful practice to regain confidence in your body again and enjoy the fluid mind/body movements that bring peaceful feelings to your being. Just try not to rush the healing process. Patience is key here so you don’t end up passing up peace for another painful visit to the chiropractor.

Yoga Therapist, Reiki Master, Angel Therapist® and Intuitive Medium

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