Generally speaking, the most common areas for pain are neck, shoulders and back.
Let's talk about your back!

There are many reasons for back pain, be it an old injury or a new sensation in your body resulting from too much pressure, or you've been using your back to compensate for your core. Knowing the root cause of the pain is essential to creating a solution. With that in mind, below are some tips to help navigate the pain and relief stress/ tension in your back,  and also your body. 

1- RESTORATIVE YOGA: Give yourself 20 minutes, morning or evening to gently move your body with focus on the fascia, this yoga flow helps stretch, decompress and decrease inflammation. 

2- FOAM ROLLER: This is a great tool to have on deck. Foam rolling has been proven to be beneficial for the back, legs and even lengthens the spine. It's a major decompressor and needs a little bit of technique to practice. Keep your heels down and hands behind your head to support your neck as you foam, avoid foaming the low back, focus on the mid and upper back. You might hear a few cracks as your spine releases. 

3-ACUPRESSURE MAT: Mimicking acupressure points, this nifty tool will surprise you. Definitely a little uncomfortable to lay on. Once you lean into the discomfort you'll start to reap the benefits; getting tingly sensations all around the back and neck. Improves circulation in the back and helps release tension.

4- BLOCKS: Not only do they work amazingly at enhancing your yoga practice, blocks can assist in supporting your back while you work to relax specific muscles in and around the area. Go to poses; for low back pain is supported bridge pose with a block. For mid back pain, fish pose with two blocks placed in a t shape one along your spine and one supporting your head. Your back will thank you!

Take time for these practices and you will yourself more in touch with your body, more in sync with your mind and more at peace with your back. 

Questions? info@yogibandits.com
*All products can be found on Amazon and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Are you just getting into yoga?  Maybe you've been practicing for quite some time, or you are actively looking  for ways to advance your practice. Either way the tools we use in our practice, can enhance our yoga experience, whether it's helping us get into a pose, relax deeper into the moment or just offer overall support. 
As a yoga teacher with over 8 years of experience teaching hot yoga, beginner yoga, restorative yoga, vinyasa and leading teacher trainings.
I've tried tons of products and included my favortites in this article that I use almost regularly,  either to enhance my personal practice or to customize my clients yoga practice.  
*All products can be found on Amazon and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Some great options for consistent yoga students, all three have great grip. The Prolite is great for travelling as it's relatively lighter than the Pro. The Pro is great for hot yoga or if you sweat alot.  If you are just starting out Gaiam is a solid option. ​

Blocks are my favorite things to use and teach with. The Manduka cork has a great feel to it, though a little heavy.  The Gaiam is the most standard in terms of weight and texture. Reehut's are realitvely thinner than the rest and super light. ​

To anyone scared to go upside down, these inversion benches can really change that. All three work well on making you feel super supported, it's a matter of budget on which one you decide. ​

Yoga balls can be amazing at assisting you in maintaining better posture, up leveling your work outs and adding creative stretches to your day. I recommend finding the ideal one for your needs as each come with some extra props. ​

Clients love these! They are great at enhancing your yoga practice and using for assitance in deepening stretches or poses. The basic Gaiam is my go-to but all three work great. ​

Foam rolling works! Great on upper back, glutes and subsituting a block. All three get the job done, the Grid foam roller tends to push into pressure points, giving a different sensation when you roll than they other two options. Though you can glide easier on those. ​

Questions? www.yogibandits.com