Ramat Beit Shemesh – According to published estimates, some 20 percent of the population suffers from chronic neck pain caused by a variety of structural dysfunctions in the neck, resulting in impaired quality of life and lost work time. A German study published in The Journal of Pain showed that yoga appears to be an effective treatment for neck pain and provides added benefits of improved psychological well being and quality of life. The Journal of Pain is the per-review publication of the American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org.
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The mainstay of conservative treatment for neck pain is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, and the evidence of its effectiveness is contradictory while side effects, such as nausea and dizziness, are well known. The authors noted that one type of yoga, called lyengar yoga, has been shown effective in other pain syndromes, including low back pain. This activity uses supportive props and the sequences of postures can be tailored to address an individual’s medical problem. No randomized controlled clinical trials have been published to assess the efficacy of lyengar yoga for adults with chronic neck pain.
Researchers at Charité-University Medical Center in Berlin and other sites in Germany and Austria studied 77 volunteer patients. Thirty-eight were assigned to the yoga group and 39 to a group treated with exercise. Unfortunately, the dropout rate was higher than anticipated as 24 subjects withdrew or were lost to follow-up. This reduced the study sample to 25 patients in the yoga group and 28 in self-care exercise. They were asked to complete a standardized questionnaire at the outset of the study, after four weeks, and after ten weeks.
The findings showed there was a significant and clinically important reduction in pain intensity in the yoga group. The authors reasoned that yoga might enhance both the toning of muscles and releasing of muscle tension. Relaxation responses, therefore, could reduce stress related muscle tension and modify neurobiological pain perception. They concluded, based on the study data, that lyengar yoga can be a safe and effective treatment option for chronic neck pain. The study results are consistent with the demonstrated benefits of yoga for treating low back pain.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
Very good article. Too bad many ill-informed and narrow-minded rabbonim have equated classical yoga with all sorts of “new age” meshugaas and apikorsus and have intimidated their followers in the frum tizubr from pursuing yoga as either a physical fitness or therapeutic regimen. Yoga is somthing every frum yid should learn about and for many, it will be shown to have tremendous benefits without compromising their haskhafah or violating halacha.
Cool. What about their wives who ail? Oh, I get it. This time apart relieves the women of their pain in the neck.
Yoga is not merely exercises. It is deeply rooted in Avoda Zara. It is very difficult to “kasher” yoga. Consult with a Rov who knows well both Hilchos AZ (average Rov is unfamiliar with these Halochos!) and Yoga’s origin in AZ (average Rov is unaware of this!) before engaging in an activity that can destroy your soul.
The opening of some classes include movements taken from idolatrous rites. These bowing movements are not essential to the yoga exercises.
If the yoga class is given by a frum person, he would be aware of these things and ignore them.
A competent Rav should be asked about the meditation process; whether this is a religious rite, or just a method of concentrating.
I attended a short class, which was given at the end of a Gym session for kicks, and instead of a stupid ‘zummm’ noise to relax with, I recited the Shma ovber and aver again. I found the combination very relaxing and uplifting physically and mentally.
Having taught yoga for many years with the guidance of my Rav, there is no need to chant, meditate, invoke the Hindu “divine” or anythiing else which is contrary to Torah. Yoga can be used for its physical and mental awareness without any of that. If you attend a class with chanting you’re in the wrong place!
The above picture is not genuine yoga. Traditional yoga never has anyone hanging from anything. Headstands, shoulder stands, handstands are all done with the body weight resting on the wall or for advanced students, freely away from support.