Pain is often said to be the final symptom that indicates your body is dysfunctional. A strong nerve connection is the foundation of good health and harmony in the human body, and ‘if you listen to the body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream.’ Try yoga with a chiropractic focus.

Take that tip from Dr Dominik Scheiber, an Austrian chiropractor who recently shifted to Oman backed by ten years of practice in Austria. Dr Dominik believes that combining yoga and chiropractic puts one on the ultimate path to fitness as good health is centred around the spine – the focus of chiropractic care.

“Chiropractic is a unique service which is not so common in Oman. It is a healing art that is interested in promoting and providing health primarily through the nervous system. I personally acknowledge anything that holds to the same philosophy that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself (homeostasis),” said Dr Dominik, adding, “I’m not a magician. Your body will be able to do the magic the moment you are connected. The magic is inside the body. You have all the medicines inside of you.”

He explained that chiropractic care is the go-to treatment option for many medical ailments such as back pain, headache, stress, digestion, blood pressure and even those concerning irregular menstrual cycles. Emotional stress or having a low self-esteem can also result in spine misalignment.

Since yoga helps to lower blood pressure, decrease stress, and strengthen the body’s core, it is considered a perfect therapy for the chiropractic patient. While chiropractic care involves bringing the spine into alignment and balance in the body, yoga strengthens the muscles surrounding the spine, providing better support. So, the health benefits, particularly those concerning circulation and relaxation, help increase the effectiveness of chiropractic as a pain management tool.

Those who combine yoga and chiropractic witness accelerated recovery from ailments as chiropractic and yoga together not only enhance balance, flexibility, and mobility, but tackle these issues from different approaches to give holistic results.

Yoga not only tones and tightens the body, preparing it for much deeper levels of healing, it also stretches the muscles that have been restricted for years, often for one’s entire life. It prepares the body to accept the full benefits of chiropractic care and to respond promptly.

Sitting is the new ‘smoking’

Pointing out that availing of chiropractic care was not an ‘expense’ but an ‘investment’, Dr Dominik said, “The amount of stress from outside is higher than the adaptability of your body. People working in 9-5 jobs mostly have misaligned spines. Today, sitting is the new ‘smoking’. It causes pressure to build on your spinal disks, compress organs, tighten muscles, and decrease mental ability.” He recommended, that people tied down to desks must take short breaks every 20-25 minutes to move around and breathe fresh air.

Referring to a common complaint these days, called ‘tech neck’, Dr Dominik said, “Constant use of mobile phones by young individuals causes stress on their necks and spines. As of now, their bodies are strong and they have greater adaptability. But 20 years later, they could experience a lot of health issues. So, it is important for parents to limit the use of smartphones and devices by their children.

“Clients ask me which exercise is the best for maintaining health? That’s where yoga comes into the picture. Yoga is an approach that not only works on your physical body, but also on your soul. Yoga helps you reconnect with your spiritual self. It works on the energy connection within your body and increases its inner adaptability,” He said, adding, “The connection between your mind, body, and spirit is a shortcut to your happiest, healthiest, and most vibrant self. This is also where yoga and chiropractic meet.

Aligning fasting as a process of renewing oneself – just as chiropractic does, he said, “Fasting is a form of stress, the reaction to which is growth. We need a certain amount of stress to grow. A body that doesn’t go through stress, dies faster. Therefore I appreciate when my patients use Ramadan to their full benefit.”

(Contributed by: Deeba Parween)