Have you ever wondered if neck and Back Suffering are connected?  It’s not an unusual question since very often a person can have a stiff neck or pain in their neck and eventually have pain in the back as well.Other times, its your back pain that can travel upto your neck to cause severe neck pain.  Why is it that neck and back pain are seemingly connected in this way, and is there anything you can do to address one or the other, or better yet, both at the same time?  Let’s take a look at this subject a bit closer.

Why Neck and Back Pain are Connected

If you think that the pain in your neck leads to back pain, or the back pain you have can travel up to your neck, you’re not imagining things.  The muscles in the back are actually a big bundle of muscles that are all connected to one another, and to the muscles in the legs, shoulders, and neck.  This is why neck and back pain are often connected – if you have an injury or a problem with your neck muscles this will make the back muscles work overtime to support the movement that your neck muscles would normally handle.  At the same time, if you have an injury or overextension of the back muscles this means that the neck muscles are not supported the way they should be.Neck and Back Pain rely on each other for movement and support so you can really imagine how their pain can be connected.  Any injury or overuse in one area will cause a problem with the other.

Address Neck and Back Pain

When you realize how neck and Back Pain are connected you might immediately begin realizing how to correct or address the situation.  Think about when you have a problem or overextension of your neck and be aware of the fact that your back is going to be working overtime to move your head and upper body.  Make sure your posture is upright and relaxed so that the muscles are not cramped and tense.  If you have neck pain but don’t notice that your back hurts, still keep it relaxed at night with a heating pad and some support under your knees.  If you have back pain for any reason, be gentle with your neck and upper body when it comes to movement.  While you may not always have neck and back pain at the same time, you know that one can easily lead to another if you’re not careful about your movements.

Sometimes just being careful about neck and back pain and realizing how they’re connected can be enough to keep you from suffering both.  Make sure all areas of your back are supported, from your neck to the small of the back, and you’re sure to have at least some relief.

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Celebrities swear by yoga and more specifically, pilates yoga, as the ultimate way of putting the finishing touches on an exercise regimen and toning all those difficult areas. If you’d like to get started, you may not know where to begin. There isn’t just one type of yoga, in fact there are many. This article examines some of the different styles so that you can choose which yoga class would best suit you.

Iyengar yoga helps individuals with coordination, balance and circulation by emphasizing concentration and slow, methodical stretching. The breaks between positions and props (like straps, mats and blocks) take some of the strain off the body, making this ideal for older participants and beginners. Practitioners are encouraged to find a sense of oneness and peace through regulated breathing and posture.

Fitness yoga aims to increase flexibility, muscle strength and improve energy and cardiovascular systems. This is a more modern approach to the ancient principles and targets certain areas like the gluteus muscle or abdomen to tone and strengthen. Similarly, Pilates yoga is one of the most popular forms, with over 11 million regular practitioners in the US and over 14,000 instructors. The core postural muscles and spinal cord are emphasized, in addition to utilizing flowing movements to strengthen and define.

Ashtanga Vinyasa (also known as “power yoga” or “Raja yoga”) is derived from an ancient Indian manuscript called “the Yoga Kurunta.” The word “ashtanga” literally translates to mean “eight limbs,” which refers to eight positions: yama (moral codes), niyama (self-purification and study), asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (sense control), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (contemplation). Vinyasa means “breath-synchronized movement.” After warming up with “Sun Salutations,” the different postures are repeated with smooth flowing movements and specific breathing patterns. This advanced style of yoga attracts people who may typically be the cardio types, participating in kickboxing or step classes, and is intended to help extroverted high-stress personalities find their inner quietude.

A couple of forms of yoga are used for therapeutic purposes. Bikram yoga (also known as “hot yoga”) occurs in a sauna-like room maintained at 95-100 degrees to induce sweating, leading to body cleansing and additional weight loss. These twenty-six positions loosen the muscles in a relaxing way. The Forrest style meditation yoga from Santa Monica California is intended to release inner emotional pain, purify the body of toxins and strengthen the abdomen through deep breathing and stretches.

Some styles focus on the spiritual side, with chanting, meditating and contemplating, borrowing inspiration from the eight principles of ashtanga. Jivamukti and Kundalini use chanting and rapid repetitive movements to free trapped energy. Karma yoga is derived from the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient sandskrit Hindu scripture and is based around the idea of “union through action.” It is believed that one can express love for God by giving up selfish desires and participating in “detached, selfless action,” which will eventually result in liberation. The Anusara style is a form of meditation yoga for beginners because teachers believe in positive communication to open the heart and mind. All levels are welcomed and there is a philosophical belief in the intrinsic goodness of humankind. This light-hearted approach to alignment is a good springboard to more intense forms.

Many participants report increased happiness and energy after a yoga class. While you won’t get any major weight loss assistance or a heart workout with yoga, it’s good to add in one class each week to strengthen your spirit and connect mind with body.

Perhaps more than any other form of exercise, Yoga has been around the longest. Originating in India, this popular form of exercise has been practiced around the world. Why? The physical portion of the workout is very low-impact and can be performed by anyone of any age. The same cannot be said of kick boxing classes or Jazzercise. But there is more to Yoga than just working out the body. It is also a lifestyle that can bring clarity to the mind through spiritual exercises of meditation and concentration. Are you ready to begin your path to a healthy body and mind? Click here to find out more: Yoga Posture Techniques and at Yoga Classes also at Yoga Retreat