As the father of  two sons and living in Southern California, I kept a busy lifestyle, with all the requirements of their busy daily lives. I also enjoyed the outdoors by running long distance, mountain climbing, swimming, and of course-working.

As time went on I noticed more and more problems with back pain, such as tight muscles, stiffness, and soreness that stemmed from my back into my legs. Although I never had any serious injury, my time in the Marines as an infantryman and a car accident in my 30’s had added to the problem. Perhaps I simply felt like this was part of aging, and I would just have to deal with it.

I would tell my family doctor about the back pain, he would do a ‘routine’ assessment, one Dr. suggested I had Sciatica and offered some type of pain killer (which I didn’t want to take), and there was no real damage to be addressed with surgery. I attended a few chiropractic visits which included X-rays and regular adjustment schedule. The chiropractic adjustments helped some, but the visits were brief, and really didn’t help with the muscle pain, tightness and the soreness that went from my back to my legs.

I would regularly use a heating rub like Tiger balm or a heating pad or Jacuzzi pool for some comfort, and did as many stretches as I could think of to relieve the tension in those areas. I continued with my active outdoor lifestyle despite the pain and discomfort, because I love being athletic and working hard.

And then, when I wasn’t even seeking it or expecting it, something wonderful happened that caused a change in my back situation. I met a fantastic young lady named Loredana and we began dating. Her profession was a Yoga instructor. Yoga was something that I knew nothing about, except perhaps my notions that this was a sport for women, and I imagined them in a room twisting themselves into pretzels while chanting, burning incense and listening to flute music.

On a whim one day, I decided to surprise my ‘new love’ at a local yoga class she was teaching. I did not even know what to wear, but since the class was in a common area between a coffee shop and a library in our town, I figured I could fake it in a pair of cargo shorts and a t-shirt.

Trying hard to act like I knew what I was doing, (and not embarrass myself in front a girl I was still trying to impress and catch), I went through the moves with as much precision as possible. I was surprised at the amount of muscle and endurance required…I got a workout! True that some of the poses made my back tight, but she quickly taught me how to breathe into the discomfort, and also assisted her students with adjustments to their poses to be aligned properly.

I learned from Loredana that yoga is not about competition, but that it is for working on yourself and your mind-body connection. The flexibility that comes from doing yoga is excellent at relieving tension in your back.

I kept coming back to yoga classes. True, I was very attracted to my girlfriend, but in just 2 or 3 sessions, my back was feeling amazingly better. I was not much for the advanced poses that resembled pretzels, but I did my best at the basics, and it worked.

Men often overlook taking care of their back from the standpoint of care and flexibility, and most men experience back problems. The lucky few live with only slight pain or inconvenience from time to time. But according to reports,  80% of men suffer back problems, and are forced to endure back pain that hinders their health and well being.

A woman can do a lot to help encourage her man to try yoga with her.  Doing about 30 minutes of a properly sequenced Yoga routine 2 -3 times a week can do wonders, and this can be done at home using a DVD. With her encouragement and starting at home, she can give her man an introduction to yoga that will over ride his fears or distaste of doing yoga. And, it is a wonderful activity that you two can enjoy together.

Even a man that has experienced a serious injury, yoga will help him increase flexibility, relive back pain, increase strength and actually lengthen his muscles.

Loredana, the instructor spoken about in this article, felt so strongly about the subject of men doing yoga to help their back, that she developed a class titled Men’s Back Health Through Yoga. The class is taught at her studio, in the local Adult Education program, and is available on DVD for use at home.

I am pleased to have been involved with it, and that my back feels so much better, no matter what I do.

So, give your man the gift of a back health- using yoga!

Phillip D. Meilbeck is a lifelong athlete, personal fitness trainer, nutritionist and outdoorsman who makes health and fitness a lifestyle and a passion. He works with his wife Loredana, a registered yoga instructor, to bring the benefits of yoga to more men for improved back health. To learn more about the programs they have developed for you, please visit http://www.mensbackhealth.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/men’s-health-articles/back-health-is-a-gift-to-your-man-1623042.html