Yoga for Sciatica

A classic standing posture, Vrksasana establishes strength and balance, and helps you feel centered, steady and grounded.

Bound Angle Pose, or Baddha Konasana, opens the deepest part of the hip muscles.

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, a well-known backbend, will challenge you to lift and open your chest.

Padmasana creates an essential foundation for meditation practice, while stretching the front of the thighs and ankles.

You need strength, flexibility, and endurance, and unwavering concentration for Eagle Pose.

Named for a legendary warrior, Virabhadrasana 2 strengthens your quads, shoulders, and core—not to mention your stamina and inner resolve.

It might look straightforward, but there's more to Dandasana than meets the eye.

Sometimes called the Sage's Pose, Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi III (Marichyasana III) is a wise addition to any practice.

One of yoga's most widely recognized poses, Adho Mukha Svanasana strengthens the core and improves circulation, while providing a delicious, full-body stretch.

Don't let the name fool you. If you're used to sitting in chairs, Easy Pose (or Sukhasana) can be quite challenging.

Extended Triangle Pose is a quintessential standing pose that stretches and strengthens the whole body.

Find length in your side body, from your heel to your fingertips with Extended Side Angle Pose.

Virabhadrasana 1 is a foundational yoga pose that balances flexibility and strength in true warrior fashion.

As a counterpose to Utthita Trikonasana and preparation for seated forward bends and twists, this pose is key to a skilled practice.

The foundation of all standing poses, Mountain Pose makes a great a starting position, resting pose, or tool to improve posture.

This revolved variation of Utthita Parsvakonasana requires a lot of flexibility to twist so deeply and ground the back heel.

Your yoga practice can help relieve your sciatica symptoms and improve your mental outlook when you're faced with that persistent pain.

The surprising key to soothing sciatica and lower back pain is a muscle you may never have heard of—the piriformis.

Low Lunge, or Anjaneyasana in Sanskrit, stretches the thighs and groins and opens the chest. It provides recovery post-workout, and boosts energy while consciously working to improve posture.

This variation of High Lunge, sometimes called Crescent Pose, is a great preparation for the full version of Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose).

Counteract the effects of Modern-Day Sitting Syndrome by lengthening your hip flexors in High Lunge.

The Fire Log Pose stretches the outer hips intensely, particularly the piriformis, which is often the main culprit of sciatic pain.

Dolphin Pose strengthens the core, arms, and legs, while also nicely opening the shoulders.

In this challenging version of a twist, your arms wrap around your legs so your hands can clasp behind the back, almost like a lasso or a snare.

Take a leap of faith into Hanumanasana or Monkey Pose, named for a figure in Hindu mythology who did just that. And when faith doesn't get you all the way there, practice will.

Sarah Powers advises yogis with sciatica which poses to avoid and which to favor.

Lay Virasana back and to take the stretch in the thighs and ankles up a notch.

Say hello to leg and ankle strength as you seek stability and extend into this balancing pose, Half Moon Pose.

Upavistha Konasana is good preparation for most of the seated forward bends, twists, and the wide-leg standing poses.

Oh, your aching back? Or maybe you can't crack those tight hamstrings. Supta Padangusthasana I or Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose I is for you.

Bharadvaja's Twist, or Bharadvajasana in Sanskrit, is a gentle and loving twist that inspires postural and body awareness.

Also called Seated Twist Pose or Ardha Matsyendrasana in Sanskrit, this pose energizes the spine and stimulate proper digestion while improving postural and body awareness.

By providing a conscious opening in the chest and stretch in the shoulders, Cobra Pose, called Bhujangasana in Sanskrit, fights fatigue and relieves lower back pain, boosting both the energetic and the physical body.

Mary Pullig Schatz talks about yoga for sciatica and different ways you can ease the source of pain.