This question about pain related to scoliosis is one that I get asked the most.
Chronic pain is not that easily understood- especially when it comes to scoliosis pain. There can be muscle pain, nerve pain, and other types of pain as well.
The way the brain interprets information from the tissues can change. And people experience pain differently. Some people with small curves have alot of pain and some people with large curves have no pain at all!
Pain was the primary motivator for my yoga practice- Well, it was anxiety and needing a way to deal with the resulting stress-related tension and tightness in my body to be more precise. There were several types of pain happening simultaneously.
Pain and suffering is in fact most people’s motivation for yoga I’ve discovered, not enlightenment. At least here in the West, that’s what I’ve found. Whether it’s physical pain or emotional or psychological pain, or all three, suffering of some sort is going on.
Buddhists say this suffering is inevitable in a human existence. They also say there is a way out of it- meditation.
I can tell you from my many times proven experience and that of my chiropractor’s assessment that my body is much happier after a yoga for scoliosis retreat than after a meditation retreat where I am sitting still for many hours each day, especially if temperatures are cool. Gravity takes over in that situation and worsens the scoliosis curve pattern, the tightness and the pain. My mind is calm, though!
On the flip side, if I have been practicing a strength-focused yoga practice regularly I can attend a meditation retreat and experience little to no physical pain. Both the meditation and the movement practices are beneficial.
So what to do? Most of us can’t realistically spend several hours every day in a sunny location doing yoga practices specific for our bodies. Wouldn’t that be lovely, though?
A regular practice that includes specific components for posture and breath can make the difference between just surviving with scoliosis and thriving with scoliosis. Understanding your curve pattern and using props appropriately provides alot of relief in tight areas and gives you feedback on how to create stability. Slowing down enough to notice what is happening in a pose and changing what you do on each side where needed all serve to enhance the benefits of your practice.
I personally have managed to level out my pelvis and dramatically reduce the sacro-iliac pain with gentle yoga practices. The takeaway here is, it’s not about avoiding certain postures, it’s HOW you do them that makes the difference. And of course, the consistency of regular practice.
To explore how this approach may work for you, book a complimentary 30 minutes call to discuss your yoga practice and your health challenges. We will discuss whether yoga for scoliosis may be helpful for you right now to help support you in reaching your goals. Here is the link: http://yogakat.ca/schedule-an-appointment/
