Watch Your Back

When it comes to back pain, this gentle approach is best.

By Hillari Dowdle

"Viniyoga is easy for people who aren't so yoga oriented and tuned in to their bodies," Rothenberg says. "During the course of the study, we had people who came to our classes and said they'd never considered doing yoga, but they were in so much pain. They were able to do it, and they got results. They felt better; they slept better. They were able to do things again, like hiking or gardening or playing tennis. They were getting their lives back."

Exactly why Viniyoga works is a matter of some debate. The study itself did not draw any clear conclusions. Theorizing that the results were due to a combination of mental focus and physical movement, the study simply noted that more research was needed to identify "mechanisms of action." (Another Sherman-led, NCCAM-funded, Viniyoga-focused study on this subject is currently under way.)

"The protocol Robin and I developed is about adapting the postures to reduce symptoms," Kraftsow says. "It's aimed at strengthening what's weak, balancing what's asymmetrical, releasing chronic contraction, and building proprioceptive awareness. It is not about mastering the forms of the postures."

Still, Kraftsow says that caution is needed before one embraces the results of this study wholesale. "Viniyoga is a sophisticated science of sequencing," says Kraftsow. "The right sequence can heal you; the wrong sequence can make things worse. The medical community should be aware that just because this study is evidence based doesn't mean that all yoga will be good for back pain. Not even all Viniyoga will be good for back pain. Yoga that is adapted intelligently for the purpose of working with back pain, as our sequence was, will be good for back pain. Other yoga can send you to the hospital."

In the world of yoga—even therapeutic yoga, unfortunately—it's caveat emptor. Looking for a teacher whose name is followed by "C.Y.T." (certified yoga therapist) is a good place to start, Kraftsow suggests. If that's not possible in your area, look for a gentle form of yoga in which jumping or intense forward bending are not part of the class. Talk to your teachers beforehand to ascertain their level of experience, and make sure that individual needs can be accommodated. And, if possible, take a private lesson before you sign up for a class.

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