A reader asked if I would write a post addressing lower back pain.
The first thing to remember is that your lower back is part of your whole back.
The second thing to remember is that your whole back is part of your whole body.
Nothing operates in isolation but relates to and affects other parts.
So, for example, although it may seem far removed from your back, your head and its balance on top of the spine play a large role in how your lower back feels.
When I have a student with lower back pain I make sure that they have been checked out by a medical professional. A lot of lower back pain is related to how we use ourselves. But there are some serious conditions that can manifest as back pain. And you want to make sure you rule those out.
There is already quite a bit of useful information on the blog that is worth exploring if you have lower back pain. I encourage you to check out the following in particular:
- The simplest thing that you can do for yourself and what I teach my own students on day one is to rest their back on the floor in the Constructive Rest position. If you have lower back pain and you haven’t tried this give it a go.
- Work on an awareness of and respect your head—spine relationship. Your head is heavy. It weighs 10-12 lbs. If it is constantly forward of your body or you are pulling it back and down onto your spine this will impact your lower back.
- Find your hip joints. This is where you want to learn to bend. Not your waist.
- Explore how you stand. Habitually parking your hips forward as you stand will put pressure on your lower back.
