One of the many reasons for this wellness journey is my experience with chronic pain. After giving birth to my daughter in 2016, I experienced chronic lower back pain that hindered me from most daily activities. I suspected that my faulty epidural and c section experience was at play. The doctors suspected otherwise. Meanwhile, aside from arthritis and inflammation, there were no other answers to the pain I was experiencing.
Doctors gave me painkillers and muscle relaxers. Every couple of months I have radiofrequency ablation (RFA) performed on the nerves In my lower back, which is when the doctor would burn the nerves in my back to stop them from sending pain signals to my brain. After a few years in and out of the doctor’s offices with no explanations and more pinholes from drawn blood, I was desperate for a more holistic solution. So I started smoking more weed, doing Yoga, eating healthier, and treating my body with respect.
Am I 100% better? No. Were these the magical cures I and so many others were looking for? Also, no.
Gentle Yoga Helped Improve Overall Wellness & Wellbeing
But after I pushed through the tough and awkward transitional period, gentle yoga and other similar activities made my day to day more manageable. I found myself to do a little more every day without completely exhausting myself. My moods were more stable, and I didn’t rely on medications as much to manage the pain. Today I can walk farther, sit down longer, and enjoy more of my daily activities.
I owe the ability to accomplish those tasks largely to yoga. Yoga got me started with working out. As my body became hungrier for more strenuous movement, I added a workout regime to my schedule. But I remember when I first started Yoga and stretching, I thought my body was going to snap. Some people can touch their toes with ease, while I was lucky to get an inch or two past my knees.
Many of the yoga poses seemed out of reach and painful, causing me to lose courage by the moment. I needed something easy, gentle, and that would keep me encouraged.
Gentle Yoga YouTube Video Recommendations
A friend of mine was also interested in incorporating more yoga and workout regimes into her routine. She asked me for a few suggestions, which led to create a playlist on YouTube, which led me here. We can’t be the only people who wanted to start yoga but needed extra-extra easy beginner friendly videos to start with.
So here are some of the best videos and instructors I’ve come across on YouTube:
Gentle Seated Stretch With Kassandra
I absolutely love Kassandra on YouTube. I’ve gone through most of her videos. If she says a video is a beginner or intermediate, I would take her advice wisely! You honestly cannot go wrong with any of her videos, but this seated stretch video is perfect. Since the session is seated, it’s gentler and more accessible on the body. It’s a great video and an easy way to ease yourself into the Yoga world.
Yoga for Menstrual Cramps With Kassandra
Kassandra outdoes herself once again with this period relief Yoga session. You don’t have to actually be on your period for this session. It just means that it’s gentle and shouldn’t add to any discomfort you might already be experiencing. It also means that there should be no inverted poses, or poses in which your feet rise above your head. Overall, these period yoga sessions are accessible for most people of any age or ability.
Gentle Chair Yoga With Kassandra
Chair Yoga is another easy and accessible stretching practice. Much like the traditional seated method, you are stationary. Only instead of sitting on the floor, you sit in a chair. This positioning offers more leverage and can help you get into some of the deep nooks And crazies in your spine. It’s easy on Your joints since you’re not standing and you can do it just about anywhere.
Period Yoga With Olive
Another period yoga session because it’s guaranteed To be soft and gentle. You won’t be pretzling yourself into the mermaid pose or doing handstands in these sessions. These sessions are focused around the hip and gluten areas that hold a lot of stress. They can also get tight if you sit a lot. By stretching these zones, you can ease the stress in your body but also even your flow. Olive is sweet and gentle. She’s the perfect soothing touch after a stressful day of menstruating. Sounds like a two-fer to me!
Restorative Yin With Adrienne
Adriene is another yoga instructor that I adore. Combine her with a restorative yoga session and I’m in heaven. Restorative Yoga is literally all about allowing your body to reset. This means you won’t be doing any rapid sun salutations or chaturangas. In fact, Yin is a fancy term for long-holding a pose, meaning you might stay in a position for two or three minutes. This session and the others like it help you dig into tough spots, as if you’re giving yourself a massage so your body comes out feeling refreshed and renewed.
What Do I Need for Yoga or a Home Gym?
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Luckily, yoga itself is inexpensive. Most can make do with a yoga mat and maybe some blocks or a strap to make some poses more accessible. I do have a few other must-have yoga items I can’t live without, but breaking the bank isn’t necessary.
Over the years, my yoga and home workout collection has grown. What started as a Five Below mat, strap, and blocks turned into a cute little shelving unit with a variety of mats, mat spray cleaners, wheels, and so much more.
If you’re interested in discovering what else you might need to complete your yoga or home workout experience, you can always check out my Amazon Influencers Yoga and Home Workout list here.
Thank you for reading! Are there any particular yoga YouTube videos or instructors that you enjoy? If so, drop a comment down below!
Affiliate links: Amazon Influencers Yoga and Home Workout list
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