The Effect of Yoga in Chronic Low Back Pain

Inclusion Criteria: * a history of chronic LBP with degenerative joint or disc disease \> than 3 months (47-48) * present with at least minimal pain (3 out on a 0 - 10 pain scale where 0 = no pain, 10 = maximum pain imaginable) * disability (30% or more per Oswestry Disability Scale), * score more than 24 on the Folstein Mini-Mental State Exam * English comprehending individuals naïve to structured yoga practice Exclusion Criteria: * known current pregnancy * claustrophobia * glaucoma * significant or chronic decline in immune function such as reported immune related diagnosis like pneumonia or systemic infection * LBP resulting from something other than disc or joint disease * spinal stenosis, spinal fusion or other orthopedic surgery in the past six months * mental disease/psychosis such as dementia * prior history of chronic neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis) * fibromyalgia * radiculopathy * standard MRI exclusion criteria * inability to make regular time commitments * no transportation means to the scheduled yoga sessions * experience with regular practice of yoga within the past year.