Why does your back hurt? Your body might tell you if you listen carefully

Oftentimes our bodies try to get our attention through physical pain and discomfort. The messages that the body is trying to send us range from simple “Quit lifting heavy things in awkward positions” or “Stop sitting so much and move me” to more complex “You’ve been carrying this emotional burden for years, isn’t it time you address it?”

The body will often reveal its story if you listen attentively, compassionately, and without judgment. And this is exactly what we will try to do in the practices below.

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Relieve neck and upper back tension by listening to your body

In this short practice, we will explore the discomforts and listen to the messages from the neck and upper back. We will use simple and wide-ranging movements of the neck, arms, and upper back to understand where the tension is stored, what other body parts it is connected to, and what makes it feel better. We will also take time to listen to the messages the body is trying to communicate and look for ways to give it what it needs.

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Soothe your back and sense the reasons for back pain by talking to your body

This practice is centered around lower back discomfort. Back pain can show up for all sorts of reasons, but only your body and mind know what causes yours. Throughout the practice, we will pay very close attention to how your body reacts to different movements, breathing techniques, and positions. In the end, we will talk to the body to see if there are any other messages it is trying to communicate. For this practice to be effective, we need to take time, focus on our sensations, and listen to the signals with curiosity and compassion.

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