Yoga for Aching Backs

           If you struggle with chronic low-back problems, taking up YOGA may bring relief while lifting your mood. In a new study, researchers determined that people who practiced yoga were more likely to defeat pain and depression than those who received standard treatments for their low-back troubles.
          The study focused on 90 adults who suffered from mild to moderate functional disability resulting from low back pain. For 24 weeks, the study members either took twice weekly, 90-minute yoga classes (with a focus on poses that targeted the low back) or underwent conventional medical care. When the 24 weeks were up, the yoga-practicing participants were found to have less pain, less functional disability, and less depression than their study counterparts. 
           Past studies show that acupuncture, chiropractic care, and the Alexander Technique may also help ease low back pain.