How To Massage Your Back With 2 Tennis Balls

If you have no one to massage your back for you and want to save some money, check out this interesting video on how to massage your back with 2 tennis balls. Interesting but it can be painful too because the tennis balls can be hard. I think it's ok to also use rubber balls too.

 

Tight hamstrings, a short lower back and the caterpillar pose

I have been trying forward bends for as far as I remember. Years with no results....I tend to lean back because my lower back may be tight and as I lean forwards, I get a back strain from arching the back. My hamstrings are also tight. I watched Bernie Clark's video on the caterpillar last weekend and have decided to change some things. Since a few days ago I have been sitting on a block with my knees bent and now I do feel the stretch on the lower back well. It's a better stretch. When I keep my legs straight my knees complain so I have to bend them. So far I have been holding this pose for only 2 minutes. It's already hard to sit relaxed in that pose. I think I will increase the time held once I get more comfortable. For my counter pose, I use the saddle pose. That pose itself comes with some challenges and modifications. I will blog about that later. I need to read another chapter of a novel before knocking off.

Yin yoga

I shall start documenting my progress with yin yoga in this blog from now onwards. My target is to archieve flexiblity and relax and sleep well. I want to be able to fold forwards fully and to do the saddle pose to heal my digestion problems. I also want to do more hip openers. I am not very flexible in many parts and I have the occasional knee pain whenever I stretch in the wrong direction.

I have read Paul Grilley's and Biff Mithoeffer's books. I have also been  watching Bernie Clark's YouTube videos as well. I also bought that book on Gravity Yoga from Lucus Roockwood. According to them you have to stretch for at least 5 minutes for each pose to get there. I am now at a lost on which poses to do with so little time every night. Each book has it's own suggestions too. I have been stretching for the past few months and I rely a lot on props like blocks and belts. So far I still hurt my knees and sometimes the back too.  I haven't become more flexible yet. Maybe I am too ambitious. This blog will record my progress. I regret that I have no original pictures to share at the moment. Perhaps when I am in the mood, I will draw with my tablet some of the poses. 

Yoga For Back Pain Part 3

Here's another video on how to relieve back pain again. The child pose is widely practiced in most yoga and pilates classes. Run through the whole video. There are also other poses too.

 

Yoga For Back Pain Part 2

This is a 39 minute video that focuses on yoga for backpain.  The poses are rather intermediate so don't rush it if you can't do it. Hey, the view in the backdrop is very nice. I wonder where she shot this clip.

 

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Yoga For Back Pain

Esther here has a wonderful video on how to relieve back pain with these simple yoga poses. She's got so many videos online and I love how she teaches. Her explanation is very clear and easy to understand.

 

Yoga For Shoulder Pain Part 3

Oh look! It's my favourite yoga teacher again! Yes I've tried the stretch for my yin yoga practice with the yoga belt and holding it behind my back. I'm still not flexible yet and I can't make make my hands touch yet. I hope to reach that level some day. Check out the video below.