You might think a curved and twisted spine may make yoga impossible. It’s the opposite: yoga makes living and breathing with scoliosis better. And Elise and DL’s new Yoga for Scoliosis book will help you do yoga better.
Through working on my posture and breath in yoga, I have learned how to reduce my thoracic curve, de-rotate my spine, and breathe into areas which are compressed. When I don’t practice, I know it. My back aches more with twinges and tightness. When I practice, I feel more integrated, graceful, and free.
Yoga for Scoliosis book
Elise Browning Miller and nancy DL heraty, two great yoga teachers, just released Yoga for Scoliosis: A Path for Students and Teachers. It is a wonderful book, clearly written with beautiful photographs and illustrations. It’s also quite practical: its spiral-bound pages lay open perfectly so I can consult it in the middle of my sequence.
This Yoga for Scoliosis book describes scoliosis, its four main patterns, and the benefits of yoga for scoliosis. The authors include instructions for beginning your own home practice (including advice about props) and then go into asanas and pranayama.
Covered asanas include:
- standing poses
- seated poses
- back poses, backbends, and back strengtheners,
- twisting poses,
- supine and side-bending poses,
- core strength poses,
- inversion poses, and
- breath awareness for scoliosis.
Each asana is well-described with at least one photograph, instructive text, variations, and specific adjustments for each pattern of scoliosis.
The book concludes with seven yoga for scoliosis practice sequences. These sequences are easy to skim and each refers back to the full instructions for each asana in the sequence.
About the Authors
Over the years, I have taken several workshops and classes from Iyengar yoga teacher Elise Browning Miller. Elise is based in Palo Alto, and she teaches all over the US and even internationally. I have followed her to Cleveland, Chicago, Kalamazoo, and Sonoma. Working with Elise has taught me how to use yoga to be stronger, more joyful, and work with my scoliosis rather than suffer with it. With her help, I have less pain and am lighter in my own body. Who wouldn’t want that?
When I have attended Elise’s workshops in Chicago, I met and worked with DL as well. DL co-authored the book with Elise and is a gentle and nurturing presence in workshops.
Get the Book!
If you teach yoga or do yoga and have scoliosis, get the book! You won’t be disappointed. You can purchase the book from Elise’s website.
