Customer Reviews

Cure Back Pain with Yoga

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Thank you to Dr. Loren Fishman for this invaluable guide to preventing and curing back pain with yoga. The beauty of this book, unlike many others, is that it actually acknowledges that there are major types of back pain instead of lumping muscle spasm with arthritis or herniated disc, etc. This book respects the differences, and that is common sense, because what's good for back pain in pregnancy is obviously not the same as what will relieve the pain of a herniated disc. Dr. Fishman's approach is clearly safer and more effective.
For a beginner like me, the simple, lucid discussion of what yoga is was extremely illuminating. I found the explanations of the various types of back pain - arthritis, sacroiliac joint derangement, etc. - easy to read and coherent. . If you don't know what's wrong with you, Dr. Fishman steers you in the right direction with lucid explanations of causes of back pain, including muscular problems, arthritis, sacroiliac joint derangement, etc. He even provides advice (and yoga poses) for people who have recently had back surgery.
The poses themselves are described and/or shown for beginners or for those who are more disabled and at a higher level of difficulty for those who are more advanced. This book is a pleasure to read and to use.

The book is structured with a description of the conditions the yoga pose is intended to help. I had been unsuccessful in finding information about piriformus syndrome and found the book informative with helpful exercises.

I found Yoga being used in some therapeutic programs for my son. I also bought Richard Hittleman's 28 day program of yoga some time ago when I had decided to try to get back into shape and found it a great way to begin an exercise program.

I had been SUFFERING with constant sciatic pain for over 2 years. I was told that I had a herniated L4 and L5 and would need surgery. Approximately, at the same time, I read an article in the NYTimes describing my condition and Dr. Loren's treatment . I immediately called his office and made an appointment. After his examination and use of an EMG , he diagnosed me with one of the worst cases of piriformis syndrome he had ever seen. After several months of aggressive physical therapy I had total relief from pain. For 2 years after therapy I diligently did certain yoga stretches prescribed by Dr. Fishman. I have been PAIN FREE since 1992!!! Sight unseen, I would recommend this book. Carolyn Z.

I had chronic back pain for 13 years. Sometimes to the point of not being able to walk. After many years, I could "manage it" to a point but was often limited in what I could do actively. I kept asking my Chiropractor if there was anything I could do on my own to save my back and he always said no.

After being fed up with going to the chiropractor over and over and not getting better, I was convinced that there must be a way I could help myself. I found this book and another one. The first one did not really help. Then "Cure Back Pain with Yoga" arrived in my mailbox.

The next morning, I tried some of the exercises in the book. Then I ran about six miles without any pain whatsoever! I never see the Chiropractor anymore. I now have a great sense of when I have back pain what is the cause and how to fix it - a huge freedom. I run every morning and I have this book to thank for being able to do so.

To anyone with back problems, I recommend this book full heartedly.

I was looking for a clear book with yoga positions recommended for back problems. This one seems to be very clear and with variuos back problems described and the positions recommended for every kind of back problem. (there are also the positions for back pain during the pregnancy and after back surgery. I have a herniated disc (L5-L4) and over the years I was suffering from periodic sciatica Now with my daily routine of exercices (yoga and stretching)I manage to have a normal life without pain and without pills any more. And I managed also to improve my calm, reduce the stress and have some rest doing the daily exercices.

Every time the pain appears I do also the mckenzie recommended positions (not in the book but from my rehabilitation) and in 2 days, the pain just disappears.


(sorry fo my english :-))

I bought this for a friend who recently had back surgery. Apparently, he likes the book as his back pain is diminishing.

I think the poses recommended in this book would be difficult for some beginners to perform if not possibly damaging to already sore backs. There are not enough cautions or alternative options for easing into poses. If you are pain free and in great shape then you could keep your back health and strong using this book. I would not recommend it to anyone who actually is currently dealing with a sore back.
At the time I ordered this book I also ordered Mary Pullig Schatz's book, Back Care Basics, and I much prefer Dr.Schatz's book.

Both these authors know what they're talking about, and provide advice on using yoga to alleviate or end many types of back pain that you're unlikely to find elsewhere.

An excellent testimonial for this exercise as a happy alternative to surgery for common back pain

This book has some really bad stuff in it. It has lots of back bending/arching exercises for lumbar stenosis which is just wrong. Try Back Care Basics by Mary Pullig Schatz. It is based on science and the expertise and wisdom of B.K.S. Iyengar.