Beginner Yoga Pose May Help With Back Pain

By Jessica Soccorsi
Senior Staff Writer
Lower back pain is common among many adults and young individuals, and certain forms of stretching may be just the remedy.

In September 2005, Siegfried Bleher and Kimberly Williams of the Department of Community Medicine at West Virginia University began a scientific study to determine whether the practice of a special type of Yoga called Iyengar Yoga would help individuals with lower back pain.

"The goal of this program is to help people learn what it takes to help themselves. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the affect of Iyengar Yoga on chronic low back pain," Williams said.

Bleher, the main instructorof the position, was the only certified Iyengar instructor in West Virginia when the study began.

Since then, Williams has also become certified and serves as an assistant.
According to Williams, this method of yoga originated with a man named BKS Iyengar, a world-renowned yoga instructor whose techniques have been picked up by yoga instructors across the world.

Although many people have claimed to see some positive results in using the method, Williams said this will be the first study to evaluate its effects scientifically.

The study, which is funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine through the National Institute of Health, will ultimately evaluate the affects of Iyengar Yoga on four different groups of participants.

The first group is nearing the end of their classes. Williams said they are currently recruiting more people for the second group.

All groups meet twice a week over the course of six months to fully develop the use of Iyengar positions.

Williams said members of the group start out in fairly simple poses and gradually progress to more advanced, difficult positions.

"Something very unique about his method is that it focuses on proper alignment in each pose because no matter what their imbalance is, we try to help them get proper alignment," Williams said.

Another distinguishing factor of the Iyengar method is that it focuses on the use of props such as mats, ropes, blankets, pillows, stools, blocks, chairs, as well as other tools, Williams said.
Trish Ammar, class member, said her back problems were predominantly caused from right lower back strain.

"It's not evident by observing, but it really does help," Ammar said. "The instructors give you subtle instructions that help over a long period of time."

Since the start of the study, Williams said they have had one person drop out due to serious back problems.

There are also two women involved in the program who now go at their own pace after having relapses in their backs outside of the classes.

Elaine Ridgway said she had severe chronic back pain and has only sought treatment through this study. After her relapse, Bleher and Williams started her back at the beginning doing more intermediate poses.

"When they re-examined my condition after the relapse, I was much more satisfied and confident with going at my own pace," Ridgway said.

While some participants say they feel positive affects on the yoga classes, Williams said the study's final outcome has yet to be determined. "No analysis has been done on the data that we have collected so far, so we really can't be sure what the final affects will be," Williams said.

Read more of that study here

Namate,
Nat