Lower-Back Pain Relief

A new study conducted by the National Institute of Health found that stretching and yoga can significantly reduce lower-back pain.  While yoga and stretching classes are often conducted in health clubs and studios, you can take advantage of the two at home.  There are many different videos on YouTube that give great instruction, and you can also find many instructional videos on some cable television channels.  Personally, sometimes when the weather is crumby I go to my On Demand cable feature and do a 50 minute yoga class.  It's a great workout and I don't even need to leave my family room!

Why are So Many Healthcare Workers Using Alternative Medicine?

A new study found that three out of four workers in the healthcare industry use some form of alternative medicine, such as yoga, pilates, massage, or herbal medicines, among others, to stay healthy.  This number is double the 38% of the general public that engages in using alternative medicine.  Why is there such a disparity in numbers? 

Somebody who works on Wall Street probably knows more about the stock market than somebody who does not.  A carpenter typically knows what wood should be used when building a deck more than someone who is not a carpenter.  And so it is the same with the healthcare workers.  I have found that I, and the people I work with, are much more comfortable engaging in non-traditional health practices.  For example, I use diet supplements like fish oil, exercises like yoga, or mindfulness activities such as meditation more than my friends who do not work in healthcare.  The study indicated that one reason many people not involved in healthcare did not use alternative medicine was that they are dubious about the efficacy of these practices.  One example of such a practice is acupuncture.  Many view acupuncture as a zany Eastern practice, but it is really quite effective.  Of course you should always research anything before you use it, but many of the things you might think look silly are in fact very useful.  And, often, one of their best characteristics is that they are free!  Meditation does not cost anything, and if you have cable, there are numerous yoga and pilates classes right there!

The Health Benefits of Yoga

The University of Missouri put together a movie about the health benefits of yoga.  Doing yoga helps increase flexibility, strength, posture, balance, concentration, and mood, and decreases stress.  So find the nearest yoga studio, bring a bottle of water, and get ready to sweat!