Defying gravity: A modified inverted pose such as this one helps a person with scoliosis to align its body without the usual distortions caused by gravity. Inversions also develop strength in the back and arms, increases circulation to the vertebrae, brain and other organs, encourage lymphatic circulation and venous blood return. Courtesy of Jakartadoyoga studio/Toto Santiko Budi Originating from the Greek word sol, which means twists and turns, scoliosis is an abnormal lateral (side-to-side) curvature of the spine and perhaps one of the most dramatic spinal aberrations.

Not only does it create spinal deformity and rib displacement, it also twists the shoulders and hips and shifts the body’s center of gravity. At its worst, a scoliotic spine can compress the heart and lungs and cause pain and cardiopulmonary complications.

In scoliosis, the spine forms an S curve (or a reversed S) from side to side down the back and, at the same time, the back of the spine rotates  toward the concave side of the S, twisting the rib cage and making the sides of the back uneven.

When this curvature occurs in the mid-back region, the ribs compress on the concave side of the spine and spread apart on the convex side. On the concave side, the attached ribs are pushed sideways and forward, while on the convex side, they collapse toward the spine and move back, forming the characteristic rotation of the rib cage. The ribs on the convex side often protrude to the back, and over this protrusion there frequently develops a tense, painful mass of muscle tissue.

Scoliosis can be either structural or functional. The structural variety is more serious and develops as a result of unequal growth of the two sides of the vertebral bodies. It usually appears during adolescence, and its causes are not well understood.

Functional scoliosis only affects the back muscles and does not structurally alter the body. It can result from such things as poor posture or repeated unbalanced activity, such as always carrying books on one side. It is much more common than structural scoliosis and usually much less noticeable since the degree of curvature is less, and almost always reversible.

To determine whether a scoliosis is functional or structural, bend forward from the hips. If a lateral (side-to-side) curve visible when standing disappears in this position, the scoliosis is functional; if the curve remains, it is built into the ribs and spine, and the scoliosis is structural.

How does yoga heal scoliosis? More than three decades ago, one of my teachers, Ann Baross, then an aspiring dancer, was told by her doctor that she had to have surgery to correct her 30-degree scoliosis or she would be in pain for the rest of her life.

Instead of heeding the doctor’s advice, Ann, who now teaches in California and Bali, began to study Iyengar-style yoga in a studio in San Francisco. She then went to Pune, India, where she practiced five to six hours a day with the master himself BKS Iyengar for the next six months. The practice not only saved her from surgery and corrected her scoliotic spine but gave her a new lease on life in the path of yoga.

Through yoga, one can find that balance point that allows the scoliosis curve to coexist with gravity and activates the body’s natural plumb line. The result for most people with scoliosis is better posture and less pain.

And even for those who have yet to feel the symptoms of scoliosis, yoga can be a preventive measure. Statistics show that if you have been diagnosed with scoliosis as a teenager, the degree of curvature may increase.

By combining certain yoga postures with breathing awareness, one can develop a structural alignment, creating a more normal symmetrical alignment.

Yoga works by elongating the spine and stretching muscles that have become imbalanced, then strengthens the muscles that support the back, including the legs, psoas and abdominal muscles, as well as muscles that run along the spine.  

With scoliosis, there is a shift of the body’s center of gravity and often we lose height and are constantly fighting gravity’s pull. By hanging in certain inverted yoga positions, we can realign, release tension in the muscles, create more space between the vertebrae, and re-center the body.

It is best to work with an Iyengar-trained teacher who understands proper alignment and ways to modify posture for those with spinal imbalances. Always be clear to the teacher about your condition before you start, even showing your X-rays, so that she or he can tailor the practice to your needs.  

One of the senior instructors qualified to teach the medical aspects of yoga is Cle Souren, who founded and heads one of the world’s largest Iyengar institutes, the BKS Iyengar Yoga Institute Amsterdam. Souren will be holding a workshop on back problems, including scoliosis and slipped discs, in the Jakartadoyoga studio in Central Jakarta on June 5 and 6.

Whether or not yoga can reduce the degree of the scoliosis depends on whether your scoliosis is functional or structural, but with an open mind and consistent practice, anything is possible.

More importantly, yoga gives people a tool to cope with scoliosis instead of depending on someone else to “fix” them. Yoga not only alleviates their pain but also fosters a sense of empowerment. The first thing for scoliotic yoga students to do is to learn to find their center again, to correct their misalignment, by “re-mapping” from within.

Through committed practice under the guidance of a competent teacher, yoga practitioners can develop and nurture strong inner awareness and loving attention to transform their discomfort into a guide that helps them get in touch with their bodies.

Namaste.


*For further information on the upcoming Yoga for Back Problems Workshop, please visit www.jakartadoyoga.com or call 021 310 0071.

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