Living with scoliosis is a puzzle. Often a person doesn't know they have it until some crisis brings attention to it. For some it is mild, for others it is debilitating. For me, It's a moody situation - some days I'm doing very well, others not so much. I do my best by listening to my body and regularly engaging in weight training, stretching and Pilates. Yin yoga and restorative yoga are my cornerstones in managing the pain and giving me a much needed mental and physical rest from it.
Having to deal with doctors is the worst part. I don't want to see x-rays or MRI reports, and hate having attention called to the skeleton in my closet. Doctors have, for the most part, been useless. They give me mixed responses, none of them helpful unless it's a physical therapy referral. So I joined a Facebook scoliosis awareness group to learn more, and most of what I've learned is horrifying. The fusion isn't a once in a lifetime event; most patients have to go in for revision surgeries as the years go by. And potential complications ... well that's not my focus here.
The Great Mystery
In western medicine scoliosis is considered idiopathic, meaning of unknown cause. Some time ago Kim, a yoga teacher friend, shared an Ayurvedic article suggesting the innate cause of scoliosis is imbalance in the nadis, or energetic pathways. Unfortunately I lost the link, but searching for it opened an avenue of exploration and awareness. Later on in my research I attended an Ayurveda workshop during which the teacher lectured on the primary nadis: Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. It's an area that anyone with or without spine problems might want to know more about, because these energy channels affect the whole body.
 |
| Source: ReikiScoop.com |
Balancing Energetic Flow
Sushumna is the column of energy flowing up the spine from the root to crown chakra.
The Ida energy channel runs up the left side of the spine and is associated with the vibration of the moon and feminine, yin energy. The translation from Sanskrit is "comfort." Ida circulates calming energy. It communicates with the left nostril and the right hemisphere of the brain.
The Pingala energy channel runs up the right side of the spine and is associated with yang, male energy and the power of the sun. Pingala is the Sanskrit word for "flow." It delivers energy and strength to the body, mind and spirit. Pingala communicates with the right nostril and left hemisphere of the brain.
Ida and Pingala flow in a double helix energetic pattern, crossing Sushumna and intersecting at each of the primary chakras. When in harmony the life force (prana) flows unheeded, the chakras are healthy, and life is in balance. When energetic patterns are not in accord, the chakras become imbalanced, obstructed and/or overactive.
It all reminds me of the medical symbol, caduceus - two snakes encircling the staff of Hermes, the messenger god.
Can imbalance of these nadis truly cause spinal deformity? Being as familiar with energy practice as I am, I do believe that over a lifetime, an imbalance of flow in the spinal pathways can cause a developing body to gradually adopt certain postures that might contribute to or exacerbate curvatures while the spine is growing. "Stand up! Pull your shoulders back! Don't slouch!" A child immediately stands at attention like a soldier until the mental signal dissipates and the spine and posture settle back into the customary, comfortable shape of its owner.
It seems reasonably possible that there is a causal effect on the physical posture. Think about it. I know then when I'm sitting up, but very tired, my head will start nodding off to one side and my shoulders slump. The brain is tired, perceptions are dulled, my neck gives up trying to holding that heavy head up. Therefore it makes sense to me that chronically impeded prana can create weakness, contraction and gripping in corresponding parts of the physical body.
On the other hand, it seems plausible that misaligned posture and habits of holding the body in certain ways can negatively impact the energetic pathways of Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. Patterns of slouching, standing with one hip jutting out, sitting on one foot or always slumping with an elbow on a car door or armchair cause apparent responses. Your foot might go to sleep or you may experience pins and needles, an aching shoulder, etc. Why would the nadis not reciprocate on their level? Over a lifetime, could this discordant call and response between the spine, chakras and nadis cause the vertebral chain to become misshapen? It can't possibly be helping the situation.
Relief Through Yoga
The yogic practice of pranayama was developed to cleanse and balance Ida and Pingala and their corresponding messages to each side of the brain, thus bringing harmony to the body. Alternate Nostril Breathing is perhaps the most well-known pranayama exercise and it is a magic bullet for anxiety and insomnia. Yogi Brett Larkin gives us this offering on alternate nostril breathing: ANB Tutorial
Yin yoga is one of my coping mechanisms for the physical misalignment and discomfort. Yin yoga is based on the Taoist philosophy of yin (still, lunar) energy and yang (active, solar) energy which comprise qi (life energy). The goal of yin yoga is to level off yang energy and stimulate the balance and flow of qi, or chi, the Chinese equivalent of prana. When the long holds are released, a rush of cleansing, refreshing chi flows through areas compressed by the pose.
Restorative yoga is another source of relief. The prolonged, gentle stretching while the body is supported by blankets, bolsters and other props relieves muscle spasms, soothes aches and provides opening to the joints. Restorative yoga poses are a respite from pain and negative, nervous thoughts, and help to facilitate a deep, healing state of relaxation.
I don't mean to discredit traditional hatha and vinyasa yoga styles. Strengthening yoga certainly provides a multitude of benefits, but my focus today is on healthy flow of the body's electrical circuits. I highly recommend Dr. Loren Fishman's body of work covering yoga for arthritis, back pain and osteoporosis at www.sciatica.org.  |
| Credit: burlymind.com |
Bottom Line
Do I honestly believe practicing alternate nostril breathing, restorative and yin yoga can give me a straight, healthy spine? They can't hurt, and even temporary relief is helpful in supporting your quality of life. ANB and other pranayama exercises help with the fatigue, insomnia, and nerve impulses caused by my curves. An often overlooked aspect of scoliosis is that the curvature impacts the rib cage and often affects the breathing process. A soothing prana practice and conscious deep breathing are certainly helpful. The physical asana and stretching from the hatha practices help bring physical alignment back to the body, even temporarily. With time, a regular practice can help you have more stamina, employ a better posture awareness and just feel better, and may halt the progression of scoliosis. Pilates for scoliosis is another avenue I strongly encourage.
My Scoliosis Awareness Grid:
- The "pelvis" is a merkaba carved from golden healer calcite
- The "spine" consists of hematoid points, sun stone tumbles and golden healer tumbles
- The skull atop is a polished lithium point - this was first time I've seen that spooky manifestation caused by the phantoms!
- The green ribbon for Scoliosis Awareness consists of emerald and peridot chips
- An angelite angel offers her prayers
Sources:
Yin yoga is one of my coping mechanisms for the physical misalignment and discomfort. Yin yoga is based on the Taoist philosophy of yin (still, lunar) energy and yang (active, solar) energy which comprise qi (life energy). The goal of yin yoga is to level off yang energy and stimulate the balance and flow of qi, or chi, the Chinese equivalent of prana. When the long holds are released, a rush of cleansing, refreshing chi flows through areas compressed by the pose. 
Comments
Post a Comment
Love? Thoughts? Suggestions? I'd love to hear them. ♥♥♥ Love & Light! ♥♥♥