Yoga Therapy for Scoliosis begins this September! Call or email to registrar

Yoga, meaning yoke or union, is an ancient physical mental and spiritual practice with its roots going back 5,000 years to India. The practice of hatha yoga which includes the physical postures, breathing techniques and relaxation has many physical benefits such as improved posture and increased flexibility and strength.

The body with scoliosis has developed a highly sophisticated compensating 'act' and it can also learn a more refined symmetrical 'act' with proper instruction. By combining the yoga postures with breathing awareness, one can develop a structural alignment, creating a more normal symmetrical alignment. This is accomplished by stretching muscles that have tightened and strengthening muscles that have become weak from this asymmetrical imbalance. Thereby the body will create a more effortless posture using the bone structure, rather than over working the muscles to hold itself up. Through yoga, one can find that balance point that allows the scoliosis curve to coexist with gravity and activates the body's natural plumb line. The result for most people with scoliosis is better posture and less pain.
Choosing to do yoga for scoliosis requires commitment and inner awareness. With scoliosis, it is important to not expect perfection but instead accept oneself, and find ones own optimal alignment and center. As there is beauty in the straight alignment of a palm tree, there is also beauty of an oak tree with it’s many twists and turns. Psychologically, doing yoga is very empowering. It gives hope that we can do something to improve our condition and our quality of living.

An Approach to Yoga for Scoliosis

1. Breathe:

In yoga it is important to focus on breathing through your nose and to learn how to breathe into the area of discomfort or side of the lungs and ribs where the breath does not flow easily. The Ujjayi breath allows you to hear a slight hissing sound which reminds you to keep breathing while doing the poses. If you hear no sound you may have stopped breathing. This breath helps you to concentrate and also slows down the nervous system.

2. For those who wish to decrease the lateral curve.

First, it is important to elongate or lengthen the spine to bring it back to center. Then it is important to strengthen the legs, abdominal muscles, and muscles that run along the spine to prevent the lateral curve from increasing.

3. For those who wish to decrease the posterior rotation.

In all poses especially twists it is possible to de-rotate the rotation of the scoliosis and thereby gain more alignment and balance.

4. Realigning your posture.

Finding your center is quite a challenge for those with scoliosis but like an oak tree we can find our center with all our beautiful twists and turns. In a way, we are learning to re-map from within. Also, it is important to keep the 4 natural curves of the spine when standing in daily life and also during standing poses in yoga. This allows students with the fusion to be able to do a wide range of poses.

5. Defy gravity, re-center and lengthen the spine.

With scoliosis there is a shift of the body’s center of gravity and often we loose height and are constantly fighting gravity’s pull. By hanging in an inverted position, it is possible to realign, release tension in the muscles, create more space between the vertebrae, and re-center the body. In more advanced inversions you can strengthen the arms and legs as well.