Boost Your Spine Health with These 3 Simple Movements
Bend, twist, lengthen and fold
In a holistic Hatha yoga practice, the spine moves in 3 ways. Teachers incorporate side bending, twists, and flexion (back bending and rounding). Personally, I start every morning with these 3 simple movements. After years of mid-back pain, a very specific burning sensation between my shoulder blades, I sit all day with little to no discomfort.
I know, I know, sitting all day is bad for you. Most knowledge workers with 9–5s don’t have a choice. Without the luxury or flexibility to work from home, a sit-stand set-up, or the ability to take long breaks away from my desk, I need ways to reduce or even eliminate the discomfort and negative side effects of sitting. Holistic Hatha, specifically it’s focus on spinal movement, is the way.
Explore Cat and Cow
Most of us picture cat and cow from tabletop (or hands and knees). If you’re unfamiliar, from tabletop, you drop your belly, lift your heart for cow pose, and then round the spine, arching the back, for cat pose. Though this is what my morning spinal flexion looks like, it may not work for you, so here…
