Low back pain in daily life and the gym — two Clinical Somatic movements to help.

Do any of these sound familiar? Lying on the floor with your legs straight is uncomfortable, your low back lifts away from the mat. You lock your knees when you stand without realising it. You find yourself perching on the edge of chairs, leaning on counters or propping yourself on something to take the pressure off your back. Standing for long periods feels awkward or effortful. In the gym, deadlifts, squats or bent over rows aggravate your low back even when your technique feels right. These are all connected. Two movements in this video can help. More classes, courses and free resources: evolvelife.co.uk The Arch and Flatten and the movement sometimes called a psoas release are not stretches. They use slow conscious voluntary movement to give the nervous system new information. Done daily, that gradually changes. What you need: A mat or comfortable floor. No equipment. How long: 10 to 15 minutes. When: Daily. Many people find morning works well. One thing to know: The slow release is where the practice works. Slower than feels natural is right. This is Clinical Somatics, movement education grounded in pain science and motor learning.