Scoliosis

yogiforlife · 10-15-2007, 02:01 AM

I realize there are other threads about this but I was hoping one of the many instructors we have here could answer a few questions for me. I have a young friend who is still growing and I would say has a mild case of scoliosis. I assume Yoga could be beneficial to her physical state but I only practice myself, I have no training in the teaching area, what can I tell her about how a regular stretching program would do for her? Can Yoga actually straighten your spine or just strengthen the surrounding muscles?

InnerAthlete · 10-15-2007, 02:46 PM

If the student is young (and that is a relative term) then the propensity for healing is typically greater. In fact if she is under 20 then there is a strong chance her spine could return to it's natural state with proper work.

The work of rectifying a spinal curvature (scoliosis) takes time, patience, commitment, and protocols. It is not, however, a regular stretching program that makes such a correction possible. Therapeutics are more complex than "stretching programs".

If she finds the right teacher and is willing to do whatever it takes, she will likely see positive results.

yogiforlife · 10-15-2007, 05:12 PM

Thanks Inner, glad you responded. I'm not exactly qualified to suggest things to people, I only do Yoga myself. It just seemed logical to me, with all the time I spend doing Yoga that someone who has a condition like that, would benefit emmensly from Yoga.

jaj · 10-17-2007, 09:40 PM

You know what? Have to say, one of the best things for scoliosis is classical ballet training.

Now, classical ballet can hurt the body in some ways. Dancers who are very serious and dedicated experience injuries because some of the positions are unatural. But a serious student who is not seeking a career in ballet, who goes an hour four times a week (rather than say 5 hours a day as professionals do) can see an improvement.

A friend of mine with scoliosis did this and to say the difference was noticeable would be an understatement. It actually took my breath away.

It doesn't have to be forever. A year even. as long as the practice is diligent. Of course, one runs the risk that the student will fall in love with it and not want to stop. But there are worse things.

Of course, doing this in conjunction with a doctor's advice is prudent.

Ballet, for all its faults, absolutely is good for straightening the spine.

yogiforlife · 10-19-2007, 12:04 PM

See and thats the thing. I'm sure there are many different things out there besides from Yoga that can help correct physical ailments. I just don't like coming across to the people I know as someone who constantly preaches for people to do Yoga as if it fixes everything, even though I feel very strongly about how much it works. I just know from personal experience that with all the poses, especially the backbends, my body is more protected from sufferring an injury. I also can't imagine my alignment being off a whole lot.

InnerAthlete · 10-22-2007, 10:58 AM

You don't have to proselytize. The people that want what you have will come to you.
They will see you model your life and it will be that, not your words, that draw them to you and thus to yoga.

To me there is no other modality that is as comprehensive for wellbeing as a full yoga practice. Why others are so resistant or chose to state it is not a "panacea", I do not know.

Illimit · 10-22-2007, 04:25 PM

Excellent!

Illimit, Inc.
Pure Consciousness
Illimit - Pure Consciousness - Gloria in Excelsis Deo

jaj · 11-21-2007, 06:55 AM

On one of the other threads on scoliosis, a practitioner recommends a book that addresses yoga for this condition. You might check out the other threads.

10-15-2007, 02:46 PM	#2
InnerAthlete Mostly Good Egg Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cert. Purna Yoga Teacher-Seattle Posts: 1,691	If the student is young (and that is a relative term) then the propensity for healing is typically greater. In fact if she is under 20 then there is a strong chance her spine could return to it's natural state with proper work. The work of rectifying a spinal curvature (scoliosis) takes time, patience, commitment, and protocols. It is not, however, a regular stretching program that makes such a correction possible. Therapeutics are more complex than "stretching programs". If she finds the right teacher and is willing to do whatever it takes, she will likely see positive results. __________________ ---- http://www.yogamojodojo.com http://www.teamyoga.com http://www.innerathlete.net/forum

10-22-2007, 10:58 AM	#6
InnerAthlete Mostly Good Egg Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cert. Purna Yoga Teacher-Seattle Posts: 1,691	You don't have to proselytize. The people that want what you have will come to you. They will see you model your life and it will be that, not your words, that draw them to you and thus to yoga. To me there is no other modality that is as comprehensive for wellbeing as a full yoga practice. Why others are so resistant or chose to state it is not a "panacea", I do not know. __________________ ---- http://www.yogamojodojo.com http://www.teamyoga.com http://www.innerathlete.net/forum

10-22-2007, 04:25 PM	#7
Illimit éka Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1	Excellent! Illimit, Inc. Pure Consciousness Illimit - Pure Consciousness - Gloria in Excelsis Deo __________________ Illimit, Inc. Pure Consciousness [url]http://www.Illimit.com[/url]

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10-15-2007, 02:01 AM	#1
yogiforlife saptatí Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 71	I realize there are other threads about this but I was hoping one of the many instructors we have here could answer a few questions for me. I have a young friend who is still growing and I would say has a mild case of scoliosis. I assume Yoga could be beneficial to her physical state but I only practice myself, I have no training in the teaching area, what can I tell her about how a regular stretching program would do for her? Can Yoga actually straighten your spine or just strengthen the surrounding muscles?

10-15-2007, 05:12 PM	#3
yogiforlife saptatí Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 71	Thanks Inner, glad you responded. I'm not exactly qualified to suggest things to people, I only do Yoga myself. It just seemed logical to me, with all the time I spend doing Yoga that someone who has a condition like that, would benefit emmensly from Yoga.

10-17-2007, 09:40 PM	#4
jaj astan Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: east coast Posts: 8	You know what? Have to say, one of the best things for scoliosis is classical ballet training. Now, classical ballet can hurt the body in some ways. Dancers who are very serious and dedicated experience injuries because some of the positions are unatural. But a serious student who is not seeking a career in ballet, who goes an hour four times a week (rather than say 5 hours a day as professionals do) can see an improvement. A friend of mine with scoliosis did this and to say the difference was noticeable would be an understatement. It actually took my breath away. It doesn't have to be forever. A year even. as long as the practice is diligent. Of course, one runs the risk that the student will fall in love with it and not want to stop. But there are worse things. Of course, doing this in conjunction with a doctor's advice is prudent. Ballet, for all its faults, absolutely is good for straightening the spine.

10-19-2007, 12:04 PM	#5
yogiforlife saptatí Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 71	See and thats the thing. I'm sure there are many different things out there besides from Yoga that can help correct physical ailments. I just don't like coming across to the people I know as someone who constantly preaches for people to do Yoga as if it fixes everything, even though I feel very strongly about how much it works. I just know from personal experience that with all the poses, especially the backbends, my body is more protected from sufferring an injury. I also can't imagine my alignment being off a whole lot.

11-21-2007, 06:55 AM	#8
jaj astan Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: east coast Posts: 8	On one of the other threads on scoliosis, a practitioner recommends a book that addresses yoga for this condition. You might check out the other threads.