Can Yoga Cause Sciatica ?

Sometimes your yoga practice can be the culprit of your sciatic pain. This happens, says Anna Delury, when yogis develop bad habits in poses. "They overly rotate their back leg or twist their feet or square their hips too much, like in Warrior I," she says. This can cause pressure on the lumbar spine and may irritate the sciatic nerves. Her suggestion: In standing poses keep your feet flat on the floor, each knee facing in the direction of your toes, and let your hips move naturally. Unfortunately, people misunderstand directions from their teacher about where they should place their hips, which often results in squaring them too much, she says. "The hips should receive the movement, not initiate it. Don't force your body into a movement or position it's not ready for." —M.S.