Thanks for your question. I love yoga, too! Yoga is a great way to start to learn about what your body needs to be comfortable, energized, strong, flexible and happy. Your routine has shown you that your back and hips need more attention to readily do your poses. This realization is a product of your yoga practice! Bravo!
Onward! You will need to learn to sense further the alignment of bones and muscles as you hold a pose and flow from one shape to another. Sense what lives inside your skin. In other words, develop your inner pose as well as the shape of the outer pose.
How? Here are some ideas. You can do them all, but the 4th is the best!
- Get feedback from a yoga instructor familiar with alignment.
- Get a massage, which could also be helpful as an aid to change soft tissue in the hip and back muscles.
- Get an orthopedic doctor’s assessment. They may refer you to physical therapy if your pain level is high and causing problems with walking and standing.
- Get an assessment by a physical therapist.
Of the 4 options, physical therapy would be the most helpful. Why choose physical therapy? As an expert in the study of movement, a physical therapist gathers scientific data about your body. Specifically, they can measure your range of motion, strength, and endurance in your back and hip region as well as assess your postural alignment and neuromuscular coordination. With this data, a PT develops a personalized plan of care for you.
A PT can find muscle imbalances and potential other problems such as lack of core strength or hip bursitis. See if you can find a PT who practices yoga and can directly relate to your yoga practice like no other medical professional can do.
Onward! Namaste! Develop your yoga practice- integrating Western scientific knowledge with an ancient tradition of body wisdom. Be mindful as you move.
Also here are a few additional health tips for yoga enthusiasts:
- Prioritize warm-up and cool-down routines.
- Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet to support physical activity.
- Incorporate other forms of exercise to complement yoga, such as strength training and cardio.
I encourage you to continue the yoga journey with a mindful and informed approach, remember practice and patience are key to becoming a better yogi.
Start your PT journey today.
As physical therapists, we know the importance of movement for overall health and well-being. From injury recovery to achieving optimal performance, our passion is to help every patient reach their goals and live an active, pain-free life.
