Stiff back - yoga or massage?

[NottsNora]

When I say “stiff”, I actually mean solid. Every time I stretch my arms and neck I creak. It’s been a very bad year and all the stresses have been stored in my back and neck muscles.

Will yoga/stretching sort this out or do I need a massage too to get rid of the knots?

I am rotating my neck as well as raising my arms as much as I can. Are there any other good poses that would work?

Pilates for back care. If you are worried, physio first. One of my Pilates instructors is attached to a physio centre specifically for back pain. It's quite common apparently.

Thanks!

I find regular yoga is as good as massage. But some how I just can’t bring myself to do it.

I can’t afford a series of massages atm tbh. Julienne (is that her name? The online yoga guru?) here I come.

Hope it’s helping you @NottsNora
I have the same thing, sometimes feels literally frozen! Yoga has helped as has weights! And I hate working out. Shoulder press and arm raises. Massage I just freeze up again within a day or two. Does feel amazing immediately after though.

It's possible to get rid of some knots with tennis balls - my Pilates instructor told me to try it when I was having issues with my neck (which stretches did not help with). I was sceptical but found it was surprisingly effective. If you google 'muscle knots tennis balls' you'll find quite a few articles/youtubes - I've not looked at them but they might be helpful.

Yoga definitely

id probably get it checked professionally to ensure no major issues.
then yoga - but not your bog standard gym yoga. find a nice class where the teacher asks for any areas to work on, gently adjusts if you aren't in the correct position and gives adaptations to make a pose easier or harder.

Physio first, I had some problems with my hip and turned out yoga was making it worse.

Yoga can help as long as you don't push yourself too much. I like swimming front crawl for lower back pain as well, think it's the warmth in the pool and gentle rolling movement that does it.

I have had back and hip issues over Xmas. The physio I saw worked absolute wonders and basically got me walking again in a day (it was that bad). As no structural issues (not a slipped disc) he has now advised pilates/walking/swimming all of which I am now doing. They seem to be keeping it at bay.