Both my massage therapist and chiropractor tell me that I have a very immobile sacrum. I guess my SI joint muscles are really stiff. Are there any specific yoga poses or techniques I can utilize to improve the mobility of my sacrum?
Thank you in advance for any help.
Absolutely.
What is the nature, breadth, and depth of your current practice and what is your gender, age, health, fitness level, occupation, and station in life?
gordon
Thank you for the response sir. The information you asked:
I have practiced yoga about 5 times in my life. I am definitely a beginner to the practice but am willing to do what it takes to get rid of this pain. My doctor was useless, he just wanted to drug me up which isn’t a good idea considering my job. I am a 37 year old male who runs about five miles a week and is in law enforcement with no real health issues other than some neck, back, and hip pain. I’m not sure what you mean by station in life, sorry. Thank you.
I mean are you relating well with the world around you? Are you happy, content, satisfied? Not that these are required however they do paint a more complete picture of the life you are trying to adjust.
Adjusting only the physical body is a partial remedy but in most cases it isn’t effective OR it is temporarily effective.
If you do not have a yoga practice I would be curious what brought you here to a yoga forum - the advice of your healthcare provider? Something else?
The sacrum is a tricky fellow. In the male structure it is very strong and rarely loose. And this is how it should be. However it is required to move with the body in certain movements. A loose sacrum (to me) is far more complex than an “immobile” one and I’ve not heard too many clients or practitioner talk of immobility in the sacrum. But of course there are always dualistic natures - too loose or too tight
Getting it moving has to be done mindfully as making it loose destabilizes the lower back. I personally would not take yoga postures like an Advil AND expect a similar result. If one is seeking therapeutic treatment it is best to go to one trained in it. As you well know from your profession, it is best to let professionals be professionals and have laypeople stay out of harms way.
There are certainly ways to work with the muscles surrounding the sacrum -which may be tight or in spasm but it is not a “do this pose and that pose” sort of remedy.
I don’t relate all that well with the world around me because the world I live in is full of criminals and terrible scenes.
I seem to date women who are into yoga who then take me there once they figure out I’m full of stress from work. But it was my massage therapist who I respect a lot who suggest I take it regularly.
I guess I’m confused that if there aren’t poses for this, then how would yoga help?
That’s a good question.
So I’ll relate it to your field.
Are added car/foot patrols the ONLY way to stop crime? No. Do they help? Are they needed? In some cases are they exactly the perfect things for certain situations, Absolutely.
It is the same with postures. Postures are a small part of a much larger picture, just as handcuffs are only one thing on a utility belt. It just so happens that postures is what pop culture has brought to the surface and popularized. But poastures are only a sliver of the larger tree.
That having been said, of course there are postures that MAY be helpful. However it is far more on-target to be assessed (since you are unique) by a trained teacher before assembling a series for you. You know, you can by a suit off the rack and you get a suit that fits off the rack. Or you can have a suit tailored and wear a suit that fits you perfectly.
If you are interested in what yoga might offer you to manage BOTH your stress level AND your neck/sacrum issues (though they cannot be separate animals) simply go to a few classes and when you go, go gently without a desire to do anything in particular, to perform, to compete et al. Just go for the going and see what comes of it.
I would suggest something not too intense, not to fast, not too fiery as that may feel “okay” or even “good” but may ultimately add fuel to a burning flame rather than easing an aggravated nature. Calm, calm, calm, even if you are initially resistant.
Thank you sir. I’ll call a couple yoga studios and ask if they offer a relaxing form of yoga.
Just gentle. Most offerings can be relaxing. I would just steer clear of “power” “hot” and “vinyasa” as you’ve already got enough heat in your living. You can always “go there” later.