What is Yoga

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body, staring from the lower back down to the back of the leg till the foot. Sciatica is due to solidification and inflammation of the spinal nerves. Sciatica is a painful situation considered by symptoms range from quick and intolerable pain in the lower spine, sharp sensational pain in the buttock, to knee and ankle pain, or even sometime deadness or burning in the leg. Sciatic pain is regular in persons with lower back problems, the overweight people, pregnant women, and the aged one. Severe pain is happening in adults at some point in their lives; but sciatica can however cause unbearable pain if it left untreated. Sciatica pain feels like an electric shock, and rise with standing or walking. Yoga can provide relief from this situation of sciatica. Many of persons suffer from sciatica, and get release by regular practice of Yoga. Most effective yoga poses for Sciatica are Supta Padangusthasana, Utthita Parsvakonasana (Intense side stretch), Ardha Chandrasana (Half moon pose), bharadvajasana (Torso twist), Salamba sarvangasana (shoulder stand), Setubandha sarvangasana (Bridge pose), Savasana (Corpse pose), and Adhomukha svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Stretch). Description of one basic asana is given below:

Utthita Parsvakonasana (Intense side stretch)

Steps:

Stand up in mountain poses next to a wall, with your heels and buttocks touching it. Place the brick on the ground at the back of your right foot. Breathe in, and extend your feet apart (as much possible) and rotate your right foot out to the right, till it become parallel to the wall.
Now turn your left foot in slowly to the right. Push the external edge of your left foot tightly on the ground, and fold the right knee.
Now push your thigh down till your calf is at 90 degrees to the ground. Extend your left arm away from left shoulder.
Bend to the right, and put your right palm on the brick. Stretch the left arm upward and palm facing forward. Now turn the arm and get it toward your left ear and your left thumb should contact the wall.
Finally turn your head and stare your left arm. Continue the stretch from the left ankle to the left wrist. Push your external left foot into the floor and move your shoulder toward your body, and extend your spine toward your head. Hold the pose for some time and then again repeat from other side of body.