CrossFlowRx: Chair Yoga for Sciatica with Dr. Risa Ravitz. 2 minute doctor intro + 15 minute chair yoga routine. Open your body in all of the right places to get your blood flowing, oxygen moving, and calm your sciatic nerve. Breathing and opening the body reduces inflammation. Inflammation causes sciatica (in conjunction with many other culprits). If you can reduce your inflammation, and open the spots that may be the source of your sciatica, you will find massive relief. Deep breaths, LISTEN to your body, and enjoy a seriously pain-reduced life!

Note from Heidi: after a car accident when I was 18 left me with "permanent neck damage", and doctors were afraid of paralysis, I went to all of my PT, and complained of lower back pain repeatedly. My complaints were dismissed, and I was told that the pain was all coming from my neck injuries. Cut to my 20-something self walking in Times Square, and collapsing from what I could only describe as a "rip roaring, searing pain". My husband walked into our apartment later to find me on the floor, in the fetal position, sweating (I was always freezing, I rarely sweat). One MRI later showed that I had, in fact, broken two vertebrae in my lumbar spine, that hadn't healed properly, and the scar tissue had gotten so big that it finally touched the sciatic nerve.

The poses in this video were some of the ones that I used to alleviate sciatic pain, with the approval of my spinal surgeon (who thankfully helped me avoid surgery), and my PT, of course. This video is not a replacement for medical care, but with the approval of Dr. Risa Ravitz, my amazing doctor currently helping me navigate the nerve pain and damage in my neck from that long ago car accident, it is our hope that this can provide you with RELIEF. Chronic pain is not a joke. It is a crippling condition. It harms your body, mind and soul. Please take care of yourself!

A note from Dr. Risa Ravitz: This is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a physician for specific health needs and for a proper diagnosis.

For more on Dr. Ravitz, please check out her instagram: @migrainedoctor.

For more on this topic, please check out our blog post: http://heidiyoga.com/blogs/yoga-for-sciatica-with-dr-risa-ravitz