updated on Movement

Yoga Postures for a Healthy Spine

Yoga-for-healthy-spine

When I was in my early 20’s, before my yoga practice was fully developed, I had a terrible fall that resulted in excruciating pain. My cervical spine muscles seized up around my neck, and all the muscles in my shoulders and upper back screamed at me — it was truly debilitating and I thought that it was just something I was going to have to live with.

As I began to elevate my yoga practice and took my 200 hour yoga teacher training course, the pain started to dissipate. I practised consistently with focus and determination four hours a day, six days a week. I did so not with an intent to heal my back, but because I really wanted to master the Asanas. Yet, an amazing shift happened and the back pain which I had suffered from intermittently over the last decade and a half began to fade into a distant memory. It was gone. 

A healthy back contributes to a healthy life, and the six yoga postures below, if practised daily, can heal an injured back. Practising these simple postures doesn’t have to take a lot of time. They can be done in 5-10 minutes (depending how many times you repeat each move.) Whatever you choose, it’s definitely worthwhile to add them to your daily routine as a preventative measure against back stiffness and soreness and for a healthy spine.

Practise these six yoga postures upon waking for a healthy spine and back. Here you will find guidance on their benefits and instructions on how to do them. 

1. SUPTA MATSYENDRASANA (SUPINE SPINAL TWIST POSE)

supine spinal twist yoga pose
INSTRUCTIONS
  • Lie on back.
  • Bend knees and place soles of both feet flat on the ground, directly in front of buttocks.
  • Exhale and slowly lower legs to the right, trying to bring knees down to the floor. Extend your right leg, and cross your left knee over to the right side. 
  • At the same time, gently turn the head and neck in the opposite direction from the legs. Uniformly twisting the entire spine. 
  • Extend your left arm out to the side and rest your right hand on your left knee. 
  • Hold breath in final position while mentally counting three seconds. 
  • Inhale, untwist the spine, bend both knees and raise them to their upright position, soles of feet on the ground. 
  • Repeat on the left side to complete one round.
  • Practise 5 complete rounds. 
BENEFITS

This yoga posture massages the abdominal muscles and organs, and helps improve digestion and eliminate constipation. The twisting stretch of the spinal muscles relieves the strain and stiffness caused by prolonged sitting. This pose calms the mind and relaxes the body. It is also great for the relief of lower back pain, as it opens the shoulders, elongating the spine.

Contraindications: Neck, back or hip injury.

2. JHULANA LURHAKANASANA (ROCK SIDE TO SIDE)

rock side to side yoga pose

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Lie flat on the back. 
  • Bend both legs to chest. 
  • Interlock fingers of both hands and clasp them around shins just below knees. (Starting position.)
  • Roll body side to side 5 to 10 times, touching the sides of legs to the floor. 
BENEFITS

This asana massages the back, buttocks and hips. It is most useful if done first thing in the morning after waking. 

Practice note: Use a folded blanket for this practice so that there is no possibility of causing damage to the spine. While rocking back, the head should remain forward. Be careful not to hit the head on the floor. 

3. MARJARIASANA (CAT/COW STRETCH POSE)

cow yoga pose
cat yoga pose

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Sit in vajrasana (thunderbolt pose), heels out, toes touching.
  • Raise buttocks into kneeling position.
  • Lean forward, placing hands flat on the floor. Stack shoulders over wrists, fingers facing forward.
  • Line hands up with knees, with arms and thighs should be perpendicular to the floor.
  • Keep knees together or slightly separated. (Starting position).
  • Then, inhale, raise the head and depress the spine, pressing the belly button towards the ground so the back becomes concave.
  • Expand the abdomen fully, fill the lungs with the maximum amount of air. Hold breath for 3 seconds. 
  • Exhale, lower the head and stretching the spine upward. Pull the chin towards the chest. 
  • At the end of the exhalation, contract the abdomen (pull the belly button towards the spine) and pull in (squeeze) the buttocks.
  • The head will now be between the arms, facing the thighs. Hold the breath for 3 seconds, accentuating the arch of the spine and the abdominal contraction. This is one round.
BENEFITS

This yoga posture improves the flexibility of the neck, shoulders and spine. It gently tones the female reproductive system. It may be safely practised up to the sixth month of pregnancy; forceful contraction of the abdomen, however, should be avoided after 3 months. Moreover, women suffering from menstrual disorders and leucorrhea will obtain relief by doing marjariasana and it may be practised during menstruation for relief of cramps. 

4. PARSVA SUKHASANA (SEATED SIDE BEND)

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Start in easy pose (legs crossed. Spine, head and neck aligned over pelvis.) 
  • Place your left hand on the floor with your elbow slightly bent.
  • Reach your right arm up and overhead and fold to the left side.
  • Feel the fold come from the thoracic and lumbar spine.
  • Hold the pose for 30 seconds to 1 minute, switch sides and repeat. This is one round.
  • Practise 5 complete rounds.
BENEFITS

The seated side bend is a soothing yoga posture that stretches the neck, shoulders, back and obliques. This pose helps to relax the mind and relieve stress and anxiety. It is also beneficial in bending the spine laterally, increasing the range of motion of the spine to the right and left side.

Contraindications: Hips, back or shoulder injury.

5. SUPTA BADDHA KONASANA (RECLINED BOUND ANGLE POSE)

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Sit on the floor, bend your legs and pull your knees toward your body.
  • Let your thighs fall open, press the soles of your feet together and carefully pull your heels toward your pelvis.
  • Exhale and lie down with your arms alongside your body and your palms facing up.
  • Stay in reclining bound angle pose for 1 to 5 minutes.
BENEFITS

The reclined bound angle pose stretches the groin, inner thighs, and hips, and helps relieve symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. It also stimulates the abdominal and reproductive organs, improves digestion and increases blood circulation. Furthermore, this pose relieves tension in the iliacus and psoas muscles, relieving strain in the lumbar spine. 

Practice note: Start with bound angle pose (baddha konasana) and then lower yourself slowly to the ground, lying on your back for reclined bound angle pose. Follow-up with standing poses, such as the Windmill, seated twists or forward bends. 

Contraindications: Knee or groin injury and lower back pain.

6. PARIVRTTA PRASARITA PADOTANASANA (STANDING WIDE-LEGGED FORWARD BEND WITH TWIST AKA WINDMILL)

INSTRUCTIONS
  • Begin in a wide-leg forward bend. Then move your right hand to the centre of the mat. Line your middle finger up between the centre of your eyebrows.
  • Inhale, reach your left arm up toward the ceiling, twist your torso to the left and turn your head to follow your arm. Look up towards your left thumb. 
  • Slightly lean back with your chest. Breathe here for 30 seconds or at least three deep breaths.
  • Untwist your torso and switch hands. Twist to your right. Hold for 30 seconds (three deep breaths). This is one round.
  • Practise 5 complete rounds. 
BENEFITS

The standing wide-legged forward bend with twist post lengthens and strengthens the spine, opens the shoulders, strengthens the core and stretches the hamstrings, calves, hips and lower back. This pose stimulates the abdominal organs, improving digestion; it also helps to detoxify the body and tonifies the reproductive organs.

Contraindications: Back, shoulder or neck injury.

Remember to ensure that you move your spine in all six directions, whichever postures you choose for your daily practice: sagittally (forward and backward), laterally (side bend) right and left, and transverse (twist right, twist left), to get a full variation of movement and increase the range of motion of the spine. These steps will ensure you have a healthy spine for life.

Namaste

Mimi

Sources;

Spotebi Exercise Guide
Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha, Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Yoga Publication Trust, Munger, Bihar School of Yoga, Bihar, India

Mimi Adeogba

Mimi is a lifestyle coach, consultant and yoga instructor who is passionate about intentionally guiding others along the path of increased self-awareness by practicing yogic principles. Mimi trains yoga instructors in the US, Indonesia, Rishikesh, Italy, France and the British Virgin Islands. As a visiting teacher at Rishikesh Yogpeeth, Rishikesh Yog Sansthan, Adhiroha, YogaMea and Co.Inspire, she helped develop and enhance the yoga teacher training curriculum for their 200-, 300-, and 500-hour courses. Her love of yoga is only eclipsed by her love of exploring diverse cultures and of traveling. These attributes inspired her to create destination teacher training courses in 2016, which is when she co-founded Swadhyaya Yoga School (SYS). Mimi is trained in Ayurveda and holds two doctorates in Naturology, a natural healing discipline. They are a D.N. and Ph.D., from the American Institute of Holistic Theology, in Birmingham, in Alabama. She studied various other biological sciences at Yale University, Baylor College of Medicine, and New Mexico State University before rising to her role as a yoga practitioner and teacher. Mimi hosts the podcast “SHIfT HAPPENS on the Path of Yoga.”

SYS is a Registered Yoga School with Yoga Alliance, which designates our teacher training programs as one which follows the Yoga Alliance’s standards. Complete a verified training with SYS and become eligible to register with YA as a Registered Yoga Teacher at various levels. SYS has partnered with Well Daily to bring our exclusive courses to Bali, Indonesia, offering non-certified and certified 200-, 300- and 500-hour yoga teacher trainings, Elevate your personal practice and becoming an effective teacher of others. Our robust curriculum provides a strong foundation on the path of yoga, and instruction for developing your yoga brand into a thriving, successful business.

Recommended Articles