Gabriel’s Yoga Therapy for Sciatic Relief is designed to strengthen the key muscles that support the sciatic area and to gradually increase the body’s range of motion without causing additional strain. This results in less pain, less often, without the expense or side effects of medication. In some cases, sciatic pain disappears entirely, as this program combines treatment with preventative techniques that you can work into your daily routine.

Gabriel’s Yoga Therapy for Sciatic Relief complements other types of treatment. If you are getting chiropractic, massage, or physical therapy, I coordinate with your health professionals to create an individual plan for optimum wellness.

Movement

Regular movement is one of the most important things you can do to prevent sciatic pain. Strength is the basic foundation for all movement, and it affects all other aspects of our fitness and overall wellness. I work with you to customize a series of gentle exercises that develop structural stability and functional ability in a progressive manner. We work from the floor upward, from the feet to the glutes, abs, and sacrum.

Each yoga pose, core strength exercise, stretch, and motion is modified for the individual body, with consideration for how you are feeling in that moment. For example, if you have just driven home from a week in Disneyland, we will adjust the session based on how stiff, tired, and sore you are.

RICE

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation, or RICE, is the classic formula for treating sports injuries, and it is effective in managing sciatica too. Ice the area for 10 to 12 minutes every hour, get extra rest, and do what you can to elevate your legs and lower back several times throughout the day. Some people find that lying down on their back on the floor or a bed and extending their legs up against the wall reduces pain immediately.

You might have read that heat provides pain relief – and sometimes it does, for a moment. But heat actually increases the inflammation that causes sciatic pain. Using heat can prolong the duration of a sciatic flare-up and increase the intensity of the pain or discomfort. I advise clients to avoid heat when sciatica is present.

Sitting

Chairs create problems in several areas, especially the lower back, hips, and neck. It is very stressful on the body to hold still all day, resulting in tension and stiffness in muscles and joints. Car seats put additional stress on the sciatic area, which can result in numbness, tingling, and pain while driving.

I help clients improve their seated posture for work, driving, and leisure activities. We also develop regular movements and adjustments you can work into your daily routine. Just getting up and stretching the hamstrings at a regular interval can help keep sciatic pain at bay.

Sleeping

How we sleep has a profound impact on the sciatic area. Stomach sleepers experience tension and stiffness in the neck and lower back, while side sleepers feel the tension in their hips and lower back. People who sleep on their backs feel it in their knees and lower back.

Simple improvements in your sleeping position, such as by adding a knee pillow or elevating the legs, can make a big difference in the intensity of sciatic sensation.

For more information about Yoga Therapy for Sciatic Relief or to schedule a consultation, please email Gabriel at yogatherapygh@gmail.com.