There are many benefits to practicing yoga, not only for shaping and losing weight, but also for the health of various parts of the body, including the joints. So, does practicing yoga have benefits for the cervical spine?
Are there benefits to practicing yoga for the cervical spine?
Practicing yoga does have certain benefits for the cervical spine.
The stretching movements in yoga can promote blood circulation in the head, neck, and shoulders, alleviate fatigue in the spine and neck, and thus help maintain the health of the cervical spine.
Can you practice yoga if you have a cervical spine problem?
Mild discomfort in the cervical spine can be relieved through yoga practice, but if the cervical spine problem is more severe, practicing yoga may not only fail to alleviate the symptoms, but may also worsen them.
What yoga can be practiced with a cervical spine problem?
1. Stretch both arms parallel to the shoulders, clench your fists, lean the elbows backward, and exert force to stretch the arms parallel to the shoulders. Repeat this 20 to 30 times daily to fully relax the muscles. This can effectively adjust the imbalance in shoulder movement, promote blood circulation in the shoulder, neck, and head areas.
2. The practitioner lies flat on a yoga mat, slowly raises both legs, gradually bringing them close to the head. Keep the legs straight and ideally touch the ground above the head. This movement not only exercises the flexibility of the waist and legs, but also stretches the spine, enhances blood circulation in the neck and back, and achieves the effect of exercising the cervical spine.
The dangers of practicing yoga with severe cervical spine problems
If the cervical spine problem is more severe, practicing yoga is not recommended. Excessive stretching exercises can cause uneven force on the cervical spine. During stretching, the muscles on one side of the body are in a tense state and under excessive pressure, which can easily lead to local muscle fatigue, soreness, swelling, and symptoms such as cervical disc protrusion. This can worsen the cervical spine problem.
How to protect the cervical spine while practicing yoga
When practicing facial yoga, avoid excessive twisting of the neck, such as forcefully pressing the neck and looking backwards, as this can easily cause discomfort in the shoulders and neck.
Pay attention while practicing yoga, slightly tuck in the chin to lengthen the cervical spine, and keep the entire spine in a natural state.
