Target the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ of back pain with these 3 stretches

According to Heimann, taking the time to properly care for this area can usher away a great deal of the pain lingering at the base of your spine. “I call it the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ because it’s the area of disaster that as a triad creates compression tension on the low back,” she says. “Over time, it can lead to degeneration at the disc and at the joint level. In the short term, it can lead to discomfort and muscle tightness.”

To locate the territory on your back, trace a line from just below your pubic bone, up to your outer hip, and around your sacrum. Do the same thing on the other side, picture the lines you’ve traced in 3-D, and there you have it—one of the most shipwrecked zones of your body.

When I ask Heimann what movement patterns spark Bermuda back pain, she tells me (shocker) that we can blame it on our all-day, everyday desk job stance. “Sitting is a huge culprit because it will create tightness around the hips that will make your body have to compensate somewhere else,” she explains. For example, many people’s outer hips are super tight from sitting all day. That means when you do finally get up, your lower back has to compensate for that lack of flexibility. Everything is interconnected, so no imbalances will go unnoticed by your body.

In an ideal world, all of us could quit our day jobs and restore the base of our spines to, say, a placid lake. That seems highly unlikely, but all hope isn’t loss! Below, Heimann shares three basic stretches that will help you neutralize any imbalances lingering at your sacrum.

Give your painful lower back some love with these 3 stretches

For a longer flow, refer to Heimann’s Instagram post above.

1. Bridge pose

According to Heimann, this stretch/booty-burner sets the pelvis neutral, gets the glutes firing, and lengthens out the front of your hips.

How to do it: Lie down on the floor, bend your knees, and place your feet just behind your butt. Places your hands flat out to your sides with your palms facing down. Push through your hands and lift your butt and back off the floor, making sure to keep your pelvis completely neutral. Lower down.

2. Low lunge

This pose activates the glutei while simultaneously opening up the front of the hips. Ahhh.

How to do it: From tabletop position, step your right foot between your hands. Both legs should be at a 90-degree angle and you can place your hands on your front thigh. Repeat on the opposite side.

3. Side lunge

Heimann says that this pose opens up in the adductors, a group of muscles that runs up the inner thighs.

How to do it: Start standing. Step your right foot out to the side, bend the knee, and sit back into the hip. Try your best to keep your knee directly above your ankle. Repeat on the opposite side.

If you have chronic lower back pain, acupressure could majorly help. Plus, the key muscle to work out if you’re dealing with an aching lumbar.