What can you do when diagnosed with scoliosis? If the curve is large enough or you are young and still growing, your doctor may recommend bracing or even surgery. Or they may say there is nothing really that can be done. When I was diagnosed at age 16 with a 24 degree curve in my thoracic spine, I was told by my doctor to swim and continue to stay active, but since I wasn’t having pain, it was mainly “cosmetic.” My parents and I chose not to do the year-long brace nor the extensive surgery to correct the curve.
Over the years my spine continued to change, although I didn’t know how much until 4-1/2 decades later, at age 63, I requested an x-ray to see what might be creating my back pain. In 2020 it was determined I now had a reverse “S” curve (Right Thoracic Left Lumber) with my thoracic curve at 52 degrees and a lumbar one at 34 degrees. No wonder I was having back pain!
But thank goodness I had found yoga early in my 40s. And yes, I quickly began studying with “Yoga for Scoliosis” teachers. But it wasn’t until I started working with Dr. Loren Fishman, a renowned medical doctor and yoga teacher/therapist, that I started doing specific yoga poses daily to help counteract my curves and strengthen my weak spinal muscles. And guess what? After months of working with those poses, my back pain has dropped considerably, I’ve gotten stronger, can hold my poses considerably longer and I believe my yogic posture helps disguise many of the asymmetries in my body caused by my “extra curves.”
Virtually every day, I do the three yoga poses that Dr. Fishman recommends for my specific scoliosis. It takes me just 5 minutes a day. And unlike in most yoga classes, my special “Yoga for Scoli poses” are done on only one side – my weak side. The first pose is Side Arm Balance (Vasistasana) and its focus is to strengthen the muscles in my lumbar curve. The second pose is Half Moon (Ardha Chandrasana). It and the third pose, Floating Plank, strengthen the muscles in my thoracic spine.
Now I know these poses might look challenging to many, but there are many variations and stages of working into the full pose. So everyone can do this. We just take it one step at a time. Little by little we get stronger and can hold longer. It just takes practice and a bit of diligence.
I also do lengthening poses daily for my spine. Some are done using my yoga wall and others are done with normal props. I can also teach you how to emulate the traction for your spine even when a yoga wall is not available to you. It feels SO GOOD!
So if you have scoliosis and want to do something wonderful for your spine, and for your self-image, don’t wait. Contact me to start learning how certain yoga poses can possibly stop the progression of your curve(s) and maybe even reduce your curves (see Dr. Fishman’s research at https://sciatica.org/?page_id=65). I’m starting a new Group Yoga Therapy for Scoliosis class in September. Would love to have you join me! For more information, click here: