Back Problems

[red]

Tony,
I've been doing "synergy yoga" I don't know if you get it over there, but it blows the sock off every yoga school I've gone to in the past 20 years. Guys from the class have given up Pilates as "too wimpy" compared to synergy yoga. It's basically a stretching class with a fair bit of strength and balance thrown in. The key is in the breathing during the stretches. The breathing muscles (core strength muscles) have to work hard to give controlled breathing and the lungs massage internal organs.

Personally I've seen huge health benefits - no more back pain, the reappearance of stomach muscles and breath control. I highly recommend it if you can find a teacher.

Also I've spent a fair bit of time in the gym building particular muscle groups. My improvement was dramatic when I gave up home-based exercise (using physio rubber bands) and started working with weights and a Swiss Ball. You can check out a book called surf flex for some exercises.

[Tony B]

I forgot to mention the epidural steroid injections - these didnt help either
Tony

Hi Red. The Pilates teacher I use is a physio who specialises in back problems - she is also a top athlete having won a number of inernational marathons. She does use a lot of yoga in here classes.