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Many people believe that rest is best for a painful back, but actually, what your back really needs when it’s hurt is exercise. Regular exercise relieves back pain by strengthening and stretching the muscles that support the spine and helps to prevent future injury. This is a use it or lose it situation: the more you rest, the weaker your back gets, even if it is hurt. Studies have actually shown that you can heal your back pain faster and get back to your regular activities with just two days of rest. So let’s look at some of the best exercises for relieving back pain. Yoga A good, regular yoga practice will go far in relieving the stress and tension that sometimes cause mild back pain, and in fact, studies have shown that yoga is the number one most effective exercise for relieving back pain. However, not all yoga poses relieve back pain, and some can in fact aggravate existing pain, so it is important to know which poses will be most helpful in relieving back pain. It is best to do these exercises under the supervision of a certified yoga instructor, and if you encounter any problems with these poses, you should consult an expert. Even just one or two sessions with a yoga instructor can help, as an instructor will help you with your form and posture during poses. Here are some of the best yoga poses for relieving back pain. Each pose should be held from five to ten seconds, depending upon your level of comfort, and should be done on a mat or other soft, supportive surface. CORPSE: Lie flat on your back in a relaxed position, arms resting at your sides, palms down, and legs lying naturally, with knees turned out slightly. If it hurts your back to have your knees turned outward, do this pose with knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Breathe in and out for a few seconds while allowing any tension to leave the body. CAT STRETCH: Start out on your hands and knees with a flat back. Your hands should be directly under your shoulders with fingers spread. Knees should be directly under the hips. Head is held loosely so that you are looking at the floor between your hands. Inhale, and as you exhale, arch your back toward the ceiling, tuck your chin in to your chest so that you are looking at your navel, and tuck your tailbone underneath. Hold, then release back into your original position. WIND-RELEASING POSE: Lie flat on your back as in Corpse pose. As you inhale, bend your knee, place your hands right below the knee, and draw your leg towards your chest. Your left leg should remain flat on the floor. Exhale and bring your forehead up to touch your knee. Inhale, and then as you exhale, return to your original position. Repeat with the other leg. SAGE TWIST: Warning for this pose—it involves twisting your back, so you should take particular care not to twist too far or you risk aggravating any existing back pain. This should be a gentle stretch; twist just as far as is comfortable. Sit on the floor with both legs out in front of you. Bend your right knee, lift your right leg over your left, and place your right foot on the floor next to your left knee. Sitting with spine straight, place your left elbow on the right side of your right knee. Bend your left arm so that your left fingertips are touching your right hip, while at the same time, twisting to look over your right shoulder. This is where you need to be careful not to twist too far. Hold for a few seconds, release, and repeat on the opposite side. PALM TREE: Stand with feet facing forward, arms at your sides, weight distributed evenly on both feet. Raise both arms over your head, interlock your fingers, and turn your hands so that your palms are facing upward. Next, place your palms on your head and turn your head so that you are looking slightly upward. Stretch your arms upwards, and at the same time, come up onto your toes if you can do so without pain. Stretch your entire body upward and hold, if you can. Some people have difficulty balancing during this pose, so just do the stretching parts if you need to. FISH POSE: Lie on your back with knees bent and arms at your side. Arch your back as far as you comfortably can and raise it off the ground by pushing the floor with your elbows. If you can, tilt your head backwards and rest the crown of your head on the floor. Breathe deeply from the diaphragm and hold pose for one minute if you can. LOCUST: Lie face down with arms at the side, palms down, and elbows slightly bent with fingers pointing towards the feet. Raise your legs and thighs as high off the ground as possible without causing your back any pain. Hold for one second and repeat up to twelve times. This can be a vigorous exercise so you must take care to strain already injured muscles. BENDING FORWARD POSTURE: Stand up straight with feet together and arms hanging loosely along your sides. Breathe in deeply and raise your arms straight above your head. While breathing out, bend forward and touch your toes if you can. If you can’t reach your toes, grab hold of your ankles or calves. To complete the pose, you should touch your head to your knees, but this may be too difficult for many who suffer from lower back pain. Your movements during this pose should be smooth, not jerky.

Hi. I'm pretty new to this community, so HELLO to everyone here. I've started doing sat kriya every morning for a couple of weeks now, and I'm doing at least one sadhana and want to continue doing the sat kriya every morning as long as I can. I love it, since I do notice the differences in my being and in how I react and relate to myself and my environment. The mind chatter is quieter and I feel more self-respect and I can stand up for myself in a different way than I could before. Now.. I am struggling with a really closed heart chakra, and after a couple of really tough years I have grown strong but also less empathetic than before. Sadly. But this kriya has in SHORT time moved the energy up within me, and it has put me in a weird mode, which i presume is the cleansing of body and subconscious. So, as I grow more strong and grounded, I have become depressed and tired/apathetic as a person. I have during these last couple of days felt an interesting movement within me, but also a big clog in my chest area. I now feel constant pain in my heart chakra, it must be the cleansing of it and the acceptance of the pain I have to go through and all, but i don't know how I can handle it. I can speak to a friend, and my heart hurts. I have a hard tiem breathing as i breathe really heavy now. I have also started with the sodarshana chakra kriya in the afternoons as it might balance the process but I don't know if I'm pushing it too far or not. Is there anything I can do, or should I just bare it out? I mean, if I feel depressed, should I just feel that or should I try to be more happy and "overcome" the feeling? Might be stupid questions, but you're dealing with a person who have a hard time dealing with personal feelings and who doesn't know how to overcome/work through it.. Thankful for all help and suggestions!! Sat Naam to you all!

Good day Due to ailing health on Planet Earth...And continuing decline of civilization, I asked what people on Earth refer to as personal higher power or the vocabulary word God. I told her/his that humans here need assistance immediately before deceit is increased. Reply was that false religion caused this. I replied it's your responsibility when you awake to solve living being's problems. Reply was I cannot and I am not as powerful or intelligent as defined. I replied you are most overrated in that. Reply was it is correct but I am underrated as a person. I replied you are absolutely correct. Second part of our conversation: Their point: I or we cannot do anything to solve Earth's problems. My reply: There is no 'I' but there is a We. Their point: We agree. My point: Is your energy being tortured or disrespected ? Their point: Yes and I am ashamed of malevolent actions. My reply: Try telling them you are free from this. Their: I never declare or said ever to anyone. My conversation closer: Ok, we need to work together to solve our problems and there cannot be any weakness. If one person or being suffers you do later. And due to irrevocable cause and effect you are flawed. Them: You or they cannot hurt us and we are invincible or close to it. But you are strong for understanding freedom and liberty. Me: I am pleased you know what will happen. Them: We apologize for not doing more but we are weak to Yoga Maya.