Is Yoga A Good Type Of Exercise For People With Scoliosis
Yoga is good for every body and for all kinds of health problems. For each kind of ailment, there are specific yoga poses which along with controlled breathing technique, if practiced regularly, help to maintain a better state of heath and positive attitude towards life.
For people with scoliosis, yoga helps in better posture and lesser pain. Despite having curved spine, you can still be balanced. It also arrests further curvature of the spine.
The following Yoga poses are helpful in scoliosis:
1. Tadasana (The Mountain Pose)
This yoga pose straightens the spine, strengthens the muscles of abdomen and tones up the abdominal organs.
2. Vrksasana (The Tree Pose)
This yoga pose improves balance and strengthens the spine and tones up leg muscles.
3. Trikonasana (The Triangular Pose)
There are different variations of this pose. This yoga pose tones up the muscles at the back, hips and legs and soothes the neck and back ache. It is an all-round limbering exercise.
4. Matsyasana (The Fish Pose)
The Fish Pose tones cervical and thoracic spine, relieves pelvic congestion
5. Sarvangasana (The Shoulder-Stand Pose)
The Shoulder-stand Pose improves blood flow to thyroid, parathyroid glands, head, neck, brain, sense organs and facial skin.
6. Halasana (The Plough Pose)
This yoga pose is extremely beneficial for spinal column. It revitalizes the nerves and muscles at the back, reduces stiffness of shoulders and back, massages abdominal organs and tones endocrine glands.
7. Naukasana (The Boat Pose)
It is good for lower back, hips and the pelvic region. It strengthens the abdominal organs.
Scoliosis shifts the body’s center of gravity. By practicing different yoga poses, you are realigning your posture. For people suffering from scoliosis, the focus of yoga poses is on spine, feet and legs, abdominal muscles, scapula and rhythmic breathing Yoga poses which stretch your spine and the inverted postures all help in aligning your body and bringing balance. You learn to accept yourself gracefully and improve the quality of your life.
It is also important to simultaneously practice rhythmic breathing. Gently do Kapalbhati (The Cleansing Breath), Ujjayi (Energy Renewing Breathing) and Anuloma-Viloma (Alternate nostril breathing) which will gradually make it easy for breath to flow into the lungs and the ribs. You will also find mental strength and peace from within.
The most important thing is to practice the yoga poses and breathing technique under the expert guidance of a yoga teacher who will understand your capacity and limitations. The instructor would guide you to work out the quantum of poses to be done and time duration for each day.
