Should We Stop Teaching Yoga for Low Back Pain?

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by the legendary Paul Ingraham, owner and operator of www.PainScience.com, to discuss the connection between yoga and low back pain.

Points of discussion include:

• How and why pain is weird
• What’s the difference between acute, chronic, and persistent pain?
• When back pain is connected to a serious medical condition (which is rare), what are some of these possible conditions?
• Is back pain usually a biomechanical or structural problem, or is it caused by something else?
• How well does general exercise help with low back pain?
• What are “corrective exercises”, and are they evidence-based?
• How well does yoga, specifically, help with low back pain?
• Is a weak core a likely cause of back pain, and does strengthening the core cure back pain?
• Are inflexible hamstrings a likely cause of back pain, and does stretching them cure back pain?
• Why are most “Yoga for Low Back Pain” classes not evidence-based?
• Is it possible to teach a “Yoga for Low Back Pain” class in an evidence-based manner?
• What is a nocebo, and how is it different from a placebo?
• …And much more!

Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Paul Ingraham’s article for Jenni’s blog: Yoga Has No “Active Ingredient” for Back Pain

Paul Ingraham’s e-book The Complete Guide to Low Back Pain

Paul Ingraham’s website: www.PainScience.com

Jenni’s email newsletter

Strength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & Travis

Online yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with Jenni

Strength for Yoga email newsletter

To find out more about Travis Pollen: website / Instagram

Music used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.

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