Yoga for Back Care & Scoliosis with Judith

A recent testimonial:

"Our sessions made a quick and dramatic positive change in my back pain and have taught me more about how to keep this pain at bay.

There are many aspects that have been so very helpful 1 - The corrections in poses and breathing into spaces, particularly my back, has been hugely helpful. 2 - The modifications for poses (using chairs, blankets, bolsters and blocks) to help optimize benefits of the pose have been so helpful as well - and I thought I knew a fair amount of modifications going into it! 3 - The introduction to the yoga ropes and swing have been life and body changing! I"m amazed by how helpful this has been and I know it will continue to help me throughout my life.

I'm lucky to have found you and am very grateful for our work together! Your expertise is unique and I believe it could help so many people.”

--AP

In mountain pose (tadasana), a block can be used between the thighs to encourage postural awareness and specific actions. Placing the block longwise versus shortness provides different lessons.

Longwise block– I use this positioning to encourage weightbearing through full foot, controlling knee hyperextension if present, hip compactness and levelness, drawing the femurs into hip joints, opening hip joints, and creating space between pelvic rim and navel

Shortwise block – I use this positioning to encourage weightbearing into heels, moving the femurs back with slight inward rotation, and opening the sacroiliac joints in cases of low back pain

**Urdva hastasana dandasana**

A lesson in finding more space between the pelvis and lower ribs, extending the thoracic spine, and drawing the shoulder blades into the back body. This is helpful for any scoliosis type. Those with thoracic scoliosis benefit from giving particular attention to bringing the shoulder blade on the convex side forward and toward the midline.

Do you have back pain? This symptom can be due to scoliosis, which involves abnormalities in the curves of the spine.

Adult scoliosis is common, resulting from natural wear-and-tear and age-related arthritis. Adults with scoliosis often find symptom relief through physical therapy.

I am a physical therapist with special training in yoga for scoliosis. I blend physical therapy and yoga therapy to offer one-on-one personalized sessions to treat scoliosis or other causes of back pain.

I adapt each yoga pose to suit your needs and abilities. For example, downward-facing dog pose is a wonderful pose for lengthening the spine and muscles of the back. Pictured are a variety of downward-facing dog poses that could be used to help you lengthen your spine, improve alignment, increase strength, develop breath awareness, and create space in your body -- often easing long-standing discomforts.

Are you experiencing back discomfort? I offer personalized yoga therapy for back problems and postural issues, including but not limited to scoliosis, spinal fusion, and hyperkyphosis. Join me to learn how to use yoga to lengthen your spine, find ease of movement, increase strength, improve balance, and break free from your back discomfort!

I am a physical therapist with specialized training in yoga therapeutics for back care and scoliosis. I welcome working with individuals with any level of yoga experience (including novices) and any age (adolescents to older adults).

Yoga for Scoliosis: Supported warrior I (virabhadrasana I) can be used to develop pelvic stability and leg strength as well as work on spinal derotation and lengthening.

For example, for a person with a right thoraco-lumbar scoliosis:
• Arms can be used at back of chair seat to leverage the right ribs and scapula toward the midline and draw them more anteriorly
• Left arm can then be raised to open the left concavity

The other day, I worked with a client who was experiencing chronic pain in her right shoulder joint. Here, I’m working with her in Warrior 1 (virabhadrasana 1) to connect shoulder movement to activation of muscles of her back.

**Twisting Poses**

Gentle twisting helps release tight back muscles and alleviate digestive issues. Twisting poses in persons with scoliosis should be done in a way that counters their specific curve, as opposed to twisting evenly along the entire spine in persons without scoliosis.

For example, for a person with a right thoracic or thoraco-lumbar scoliosis:

• Rightward twisting should be done with attention to drawing the right ribs to the midline and right shoulder blade into the body to help counter the lateral deviation, while also elongating and bringing breath into the left torso to counter shortening on this side

• Leftward twisting should be done with attention to bringing the right back ribs forward to help counter the rotational deviation

• The hands should be used on a chair or wall to help focus the appropriate movements