I have been experiencing some back pain for a few months now due to frequently sitting at my desk to study or work, not being very physically active and having bad posture. All of this combined has led to tension build-up, especially in my upper and lower back. If you’re like me, dedicating yourself to your desk for long hours may also result in recurring pain and bad posture.
My doctor told me to be more active and do some stretches. However, going to the chiropractor for multiple sessions does not seem financially sustainable as a student. Therefore, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I went to YouTube before bed one night and searched for “stretches for upper back”, as the tension there was more persistent. Out of the few videos, one that caught my eye was labelled “Yoga for Neck, Shoulders, and Upper Back”, and so I clicked on it and started following the 10 minute video.
After I was done, I immediately felt relaxed and my back felt lighter; as if the tension had been slightly lifted. The instructor made me do meditation as well, which made my brain wind down. I didn’t feel the need to go on my phone again before bed, as I felt ready to sleep right away.
Because this video seemed to help alleviate my pain a little, the next day I decided to do the process again before bed. I was worried as I had an exam the day after and felt like I wouldn’t be able to sleep, but the yoga mixed with meditation helped me relax and unwind so I could fall asleep much more easily.
After doing yoga for a week, I noticed some changes in my persistent pain and daily routine. The tension in my back had reduced to the point it didn’t bother me as much. I also started to sit straighter in order to curb the pain and that helped as well. I felt more mobile, light and not as stiff as before. The meditation helped me reduce screen time before bed, and because my sleep improved, I had slightly more energy during the day.
It was quite surprising that a small change, such as doing a 10 minute yoga routine before bed affected me so positively. It made me want to chase that feeling and so I gradually started to increase my time to 15 minutes and targeted other parts of my body where I felt stiff. There were definitely times when I felt lazy or too tired to do the yoga, but remembering how the pain reduced after each session kept me going, and eventually I didn’t feel the need to keep consulting a doctor or search for other methods that might cost money.
That’s why I highly recommend this practice, as it’s easy to follow, less time-consuming, financially sustainable, and has very nice results. Have you tried exercising for back pain? Let us know your tips and tricks down below in the comments!
