Fitness
What's the Best Exercise for Your Age?
Fitness
7 Yoga Poses That Can Give You a Sore Back
If you're not thoughtful about the way you move, your "om" could turn into a serious "ouch." Here are 7 simple yoga exercises that can cause back pain -- and how to stay safe
Cobra
We've seen you -- pushing up on your arms and into the floor so that you can mimic the exaggerated arch of this pose's namesake serpent. While the graceful position is pretty easy on the eyes, it's not difficult to see how hard it can be on your spine.All the force you are exerting to arch your back concentrates at a narrow point in the lumbar spine, causing a compression injury and most likely, a very sore back.
Though this may fly in the face of what you've always known a cobra to be, don't put any substantial pressure on your hands when you are moving into this pose, says Rowe. Allow your body to bend from your mid-back, instead of lower down. Make sure you feel your body lengthening from the front, pulling through your shoulder blades as you move into your arch. "This posture should be easy and comfortable, and it's more important to do it in a way that protects your body than to match the picture in your mind of how it is supposed to look," she says.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I)
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