I'm not the OP, but I've been living with excruciating neck pain due to degenerated cervical vertebrae and disks, and I've tried everything for the last 10 years, including pain killers, 4 years of chen style tai chi (was very martial, probably made it worse), 2 rounds of physical therapy, strength and cardio training, a standing desk, supplements, etc. Nothing worked - until a coworker introduced me to Mysore Ashtanga Yoga. It's like magic - my neck pain is almost completely gone. The yoga is very strenuous, and there is a ton of bending of the spine. It hurt a lot at first, and I got a lot of numbness in my arms and hands. But after about two months it all went away. It's amazing. It's not a cure though. A couple days without practice and the pain is back. Not as intense, but it's there. The practice must be daily.