Good day, Steemians!

These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them. ~ Rumi

Do you suffer from sciatica? I can help with that! 

I fell in love with yoga when it cured my debilitating, chronic hip pain in less than a month. It was a legit miracle--I had no idea that was even possible!--so it's part of my mission to help others experience glorious freedom from pain too.

@immarojas asked for some yogic ways for dealing with sciatica, so I address that today in hopes that it brings relief to many! 

What is sciatica?

Nerve roots emerge and converge from the lower lumbar and sacral spine to form the sciatic nerve. It is the longest and largest nerve in the body. Compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve may result in sciatica.

Sciatica is a symptom of another condition. For example, it might be caused by 

• a herniated disc that presses on the nerve
• cartilage loss from something like osteoarthritis
• spinal degeneration and the inflammatory proteins released in that condition
• sitting for too long
• poor posture
• a tight piriformis muscle

It is marked by sharp, shooting, and/or searing pain; numbness; tingling; and/or weakness that radiates along the sciatic nerve from the lower back down to the butt, legs, and feet. It is typically felt on only one side of the body, and it often gets worse when sitting, coughing, or sneezing. 

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What can be done to relieve sciatica pain?

Thankfully, there are lots of things you can do to help yourself feel better!

• Rest.
• Get yourself a nice massage. 
• Drink valerian tea.
• Put some comfrey on it!
• Take anti-inflammatories: ginger, turmeric, pineapple, garlic, rosemary, mint, lavender, coconut oil, and green tea, to name just a few.
• Incorporate a few yoga asanas = postures into your daily routine. 

YOGA!

Stretching the spine is essential not only to relieve pain but to prevent spinal degeneration. Plus it feels really swell, like extra super duper awesome yummy amazing!!! 

Here are a few poses that help relieve sciatica pain when you hold them for just a minute or two (or ten!) daily:

Marichyasana I & variations, including this pictured twist

Reclining Pigeon

Reclining Hand to Big Toe Pose

Reclining Hand to Big Toe Pose II 

And Reclining Hand to Big Toe Pose III, in which you bring the leg back to center, cross it over the body, and drop it to the floor on the other side...use your imagination to see that because I don't have a picture today, or better yet just give it a go! 

Pigeon

Bow Pose

Additionally, any lengthening stretches, whether standing or supine, feel awesome & vastly improve spinal health. Try standing or laying down and reaching the arms overhead, really extending from toes all the way to the fingertips. You can add a little lean to one side, then the other.

I mean that's really it...just move your body in a couple ways that feel really great and have proven beneficial for thousands of years. Super accessible, super sustainable, super fun! 

And of course, a deep breath can always make anything better!

Now do you want to get into something...weird? 

I believe that physical pain is caused by something unaddressed at the emotional, mental, or spiritual level. It is a manifestation of energy in the material body because the disturbance in the force went unattended in the more subtle dimensions.

There is a medical intuitive I dig named Louise Hay. In her decades of experience, she observes sciatica is often correlated with "Being hypocritical. Fear of money and of the future." She recommends the mantras/affirmations, "I move into my greater good. My good is everywhere, and I am secure and safe" for individuals who want relief from sciatica.

If that makes sense to you, then run with it, meditate on it, see what comes up. If it doesn't resonate, then forget it--you're free to take it or leave it. 

In my own experience, my hip pain was definitely screaming at me to make some changes to be happier & healthier. And as soon as I embraced yoga, this crippling pain I'd had for years disappeared to the point I actually forgot I had ever had it. May that truth and potential inspire you! 

>:<>:< Happy Healing! >:<>:<

💛 Sara!