Back problems are epidemic across America. Almost everyone has experience some back pain at one time or another. Many major discount stores require their employee to way back supports when doing any lifting. Yet, most people continue to suffer with their back discomfort, occasionally finding short-term relief, but never really solving the problem.

Whenever a new student comes to class at Yoga & Inner Peace, I always ask the student about physical problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure and back problems. At least one-third of my new students have some sort of back problem, usually lower back. Sadly, this reflects the national condition.

Most back problems manifest in some form of vertebral misalignment or subluxation. One or more vertebrae have moved from their, natural, healthy alignment into an unnatural alignment. This re-positioning frequently causes pain, limits mobility and strength, and appears to weaken the function of the back and alter the posture of the entire body. Often, chiropractors correct this misalignment and the problem appears to be solved. Just as often, the problem reoccurs. Why? The vertebra was back in place; why has it gone out again? To understand what happens, we must comprehend what keeps the vertebrae in place.

The analogy has often been used compares the spine to a tall, commercial, radio broadcasting tower. This tower is held up by steel cables on many side running from a point on the tower to an anchor point on the ground. If one were to loosen the center wires on one side of the tower and tighten the center wires on the opposite side of the tower, what would happen? You can imagine the tower bending or buckling in the middle. It would bend toward the tighter wires and away from the looser ones. It would no longer retain its strongest, best-functioning shape. Although our muscles and vertebrae aren’t made of steel like the radio tower and its supporting wires, it is easy to see the similarity in what happens in our backs. The spine is the tower and the muscles around the spine are the steel cables which support the tower. When the muscles around the spine don’t have the proper muscle tone, the vertebra are not held in proper alignment and back problems result.

A "by-product" of back problems and the ensuing pain is the tightening of the muscles around the affected area and often the muscles in most of the back. Keeping the muscles in this condition - basically in a state of contraction or spasm - uses energy, drains the body of its reserves and brings you down not just physically, but also mentally.

Yoga makes you more sensitive and aware of your whole body condition, particularly muscle tension. With this awareness, you learn techniques which you can used to release the tension and increase your energy and vitality.

In each our classes at Yoga & Inner Peace we teach a series of twelve basic asanas (yoga postures) which, when practiced correctly, work on toning all of the major muscle groups which support the spine. It is particularly important for optimum spinal health that all of these muscles have good strength in order to support the spine correctly. Even after only a few weeks of regular practice, many students begin to report improvement in back problems they have plagued them for many years.

As with many things in life, there is a catch. Improvement of muscle tone and the resultant decrease in back problems takes self-effort. Unlike many situations in our culture where we can get instant relief from whatever is bothering us with pill or plastic, there is no quick, permanent solution with back problems. The real solution is directly proportionate to the effort you put out.

New Directions for Better Living