Are you one of the millions of people who suffer from back pain and swallow an aspirin praying it just lets you get up and do what you have to do during the day without feeling like you’re going to start crying soon?

Are you so tired of taking pills that offer only a temporary solution that you just decided to live with the pain?

Are you so used to living in pain that you have just accepted it as a part of your life?

Read this carefully:  You do not have to endure pain of any kind.  Chronic pain is not a way of living; it can be alleviated and removed from your life for good!

If you have reached this stage, it is time for you to try acupuncture.

Although you may think that letting someone stick needles into you is kind of a contradiction when talking about getting rid of pain, it actually does offer relief and thousands, if not millions, of people have tried it successfully.

Acupuncture comes from an ancient Chinese tradition that believes that the energy, Qi, moves throughout the body along pathways called meridians.  When a person’s energy is blocked, it causes him or her pain and disease.  Thus, through acupuncture the doctor stimulates specific points in the meridians to restore the flow of energy.

Western medicine has tried, without luck, to locate this energy with the latest and most advanced equipment, however, extensive research shows acupuncture is truly very effective in alleviating chronic pain like osteoarthritis, lower back pain, menstrual cramps, and migraines.  It seems that the needles, when inserted in very specific points, stimulate the nerves and release the body’s endorphins and opioids, alleviating pain. This practice also dilates blood vessels, improving blood circulation.

So, even though traditional medicine hasn’t been able to understand how acupuncture works in the body, centuries of proof, in the form of trusting and alleviated people, have made western doctors give this natural medicine option the benefit of the doubt.  In the United States alone, the number of licensed acupuncturists goes over 6,500, and the FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical instruments.  In addition, the treatment through this alternative method is being covered today by many health insurance policies when applied to certain states and illnesses.

Let’s be clear.  Acupuncture can’t repair a damaged spinal disk or joint that has been affected by arthritis, nevertheless, it can reduce the swelling and inflammation that causes nerve compression.

If you want to give acupuncture a try, consult with a physician first and ask for a referral.  It is indispensable that you find a serious doctor with reliable knowledge on this mysterious practice.  And always remember that the best remedy for pain is prevention, thus beware of posture and get a good back support system, reduce stress as much as possible, simplify your life, take time for yourself and your family, eat healthy foods, get a good night’s sleep every day, and prefer a healthy lifestyle in general.  In this way, you will never know the meaning of living in pain.

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People who spend many hours a day sitting down because of their jobs are in danger of suffering serious health, bone and posture problems due to inactivity.  In fact, sitting in front of a computer can be considered the modern occupational hazard.

Even if you have good posture habits and use an ergonomic seat with appropriate back support, your body will demand a break once in a while to get rid of the tension and stress in the muscles and the joints caused by inactivity.  Fortunately, there are some yoga postures that can be easily adapted and performed while sitting down at your desk. These don’t demand more than five minutes, letting you enjoy the benefits of hatha yoga without leaving the office, at the same time revitalizing your whole organism:

1.    Awareness of breath
Sit on the front edge of your chair, making sure that your ears, shoulders and hips are aligned and that the chair’s height allows your knees to be in line with the hip joints and that your feet rest on the floor exactly under your knees.  If the chair is not adjustable, put books under your feet.  Next, close your eyes and concentrate on breathing smoothly and evenly from your diaphragm; upper abdomen and lower ribs expand when you inhale and contract when you exhale.  After one minute, start the routine explained below, always beginning in this sitting position.

2.    Shoulder roll
Make sure you are sitting as explained above and next, inhale and draw the shoulders up toward your ears and back, exhale and move them down and forward.  Repeat three times and then reverse the direction.  You will increase the mobility in your shoulder joints and open your chest.

3.    Sitting twist
From the sitting position, exhale and twist to the right while your hands are resting on the right armrest to provide support, or, in an armless chair, put your right hand on the seat behind your pelvis and the left hand on your right thigh.  Always keep your back straight and your shoulders tucked back.  Every time you inhale, lengthen your spine, and with each exhalation, squeeze the belly and gently twist a little further.  Hold for 30-60 seconds and move to the other side.

4.    Leg crib
Put your outer left ankle on your right thigh.  Rest your right hand on the ankle and the left one on your left knee, exhale and bend forward from the hips.  Make sure your spine is straight when you bend.  Do not bend beyond your comfort zone; it is not necessary and could hurt you. The idea is to stretch soothingly the deep muscles around the left hip.  Hold for 30-60 seconds and change sides.

5.    Wide-legged forward
Separate your knees and feet a bit wider than your hips and put your hands on your thighs.  Exhale and bend forward from the hips with a straight spine.  Remain in this position for a few breaths and next, slide your hands down the legs letting the spine curve.  Breathe into the hips and feel your spine elongating and opening.  To try a deeper stretch, put your hands on the floor between your feet.  Hold for 30-60 seconds and slowly get up with the force of your legs and abdominal muscles.

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