If you are suffering from sciatica start doing pigeon pose as part of your asana practice...not part of the AYP set of asanas but wonderful for stretching the piriformis.
I had BAD,painful, excrutiating sciatica...started doing lots of hatha and so far no more pain!
After getting rid of the pain of sciatica, I really don't care if I get enlightened with shiva and shakti uniting resulting in my head popping off in a blaze of ecstatic bliss....when my body feels good...I feel the presence of GOD!