Align your spinal curves for better posture and stronger core, and more importantly, help slow degenerative changes in the spine.
Join Palma Manners E-RYT
Yoga for a Healthy Back & Body – Thursdays 9:30am EST
Align Your Spine: Healthy Back, Healthy Body
Align your spinal curves for better posture and stronger core, and more importantly, help slow degenerative changes in the spine.
Learn how to use the body’s own innate healing processes to halt subclinical changes at the root of posture deterioration, loss of mobility and chronic pain issues.
Your spine and all the surrounding structures function best when the spinal curves are stacked on top of each other in the upright position. To keep the spine healthy and supple, we need to stabilize the curves by stacking them and strengthening the supporting structures around them, and mobilize them by moving them together and independently in all main directions – forward bends, backbends, lateral bends, twists, and axial extension postures.
This is exactly what we will do in this yoga practice. We combine spinal mobilization with spinal stabilization to build better alignment and communication between your curves. We try to find an upright position that requires minimal effort to maintain, which helps to release tension in all supporting musculature – your neck, shoulders, hips, and back. The more structurally aligned your body is, the less pain you will have, and the more you will feel at ease.
Your spine and all the surrounding structures function best when the spinal curves are stacked on top of each other in the upright position. To keep the spine healthy and supple, we need to stabilize the curves by stacking them and strengthening the supporting structures around them, and mobilize them by moving them together and independently in all main directions – forward bends, backbends, lateral bends, twists, and axial extension postures.
This is exactly what we will do in this yoga practice. We combine spinal mobilization with spinal stabilization to build better alignment and communication between your curves. We try to find an upright position that requires minimal effort to maintain, which helps to release tension in all supporting musculature – your neck, shoulders, hips, and back. The more structurally aligned your body is, the less pain you will have, and the more you will feel at ease.
Why Should You Care About Your Spine Health?
Your spine is, quite literally, the backbone of your ability to move, sleep and function properly. Why should you care about your spine health? Simply put, most every movement originates from your spine, so taking care of your cervical (upper) and lumbar (lower) spine should be of utmost importance.Without a healthy spine, everyday tasks and movements such as sitting up straight, bending over, picking up objects, walking, twisting and moving your neck can become extremely difficult or painful. When the spine is injured you can expect to have limited mobility; and the inability to move normally, without pain, can be a blow to your quality of life, so it’s important to care about your spine health and to understand its role in your overall well-being.
Your spine has three major functions:
- Protecting the spinal cord and associated nerve roots
- Providing structural support and balance to maintain an upright posture
- Enabling flexible motion
Tips for a Healthy Spine
There are a few fairly straightforward ways for you to protect your spine health every day:
Watch your technique when lifting. If you don’t have the proper form when picking up heavy objects, you may twist the wrong way and damage your spine. To lift correctly, stand as close to the object as you can and use your legs and knees as opposed to your back and upper body to lift the item. If the item is too heavy for you, get help and don’t attempt to lift yourself.
Get a good night’s rest. Your body repairs itself while you sleep. It’s important to get enough sleep to allow for complete healing. A supportive mattress and pillows promoting proper alignment of the spine and neck are also good investments.
Stay active and stretch regularly. Maintaining an active lifestyle can help lower your risk for experiencing low back pain. Optimal exercise routines involve a combination of mobility, core strengthening and stretching. Stretching to stay flexible also helps to promote good joint function and range of motion, which helps to promote spine health and reduce your overall risk for injury.
Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated helps to maintain soft tissue elasticity and fluidity in the joints, which is important for spinal discs to keep their height. When spinal discs shrink due to dehydration, you can become more likely to suffer from a painful disc condition such as a herniation or bulging discs. Water contributes to overall structural health.
Watch your technique when lifting. If you don’t have the proper form when picking up heavy objects, you may twist the wrong way and damage your spine. To lift correctly, stand as close to the object as you can and use your legs and knees as opposed to your back and upper body to lift the item. If the item is too heavy for you, get help and don’t attempt to lift yourself.
Get a good night’s rest. Your body repairs itself while you sleep. It’s important to get enough sleep to allow for complete healing. A supportive mattress and pillows promoting proper alignment of the spine and neck are also good investments.
Stay active and stretch regularly. Maintaining an active lifestyle can help lower your risk for experiencing low back pain. Optimal exercise routines involve a combination of mobility, core strengthening and stretching. Stretching to stay flexible also helps to promote good joint function and range of motion, which helps to promote spine health and reduce your overall risk for injury.
Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated helps to maintain soft tissue elasticity and fluidity in the joints, which is important for spinal discs to keep their height. When spinal discs shrink due to dehydration, you can become more likely to suffer from a painful disc condition such as a herniation or bulging discs. Water contributes to overall structural health.
Empowering Healthy Living for All Ages
Feel free to email Palma directly with any questions at palma@presentwisdom.com
