I finally tried a "Yoga for Scoliosis" class last month. I have never been able to appreciate yoga as regular exercise, though I have tried on numerous occasions in the past. I usually felt uncomfortabe during a vigorous yoga class and afterward, my shoulders and upper back would spasm from all the downward dog and plank poses(I don't know the sanskrit terms). With this class being specially designed for people with scoliosis, I was hoping for better results.
I couldn't have been more pleased. The first difference was that it is a restorative class. I had never heard of restorative yoga, nor would have been interested in resting and relaxing poses because I think exercise and yoga should be physically strenuous in order to be a "workout."
Secondly, we padded our "back caves." Scoliosis creates convex and concave curves in the middle and lower back. I was surprised that just a little placement of padding (with a washcloth or hand towel) under the concave area of my back while lying down really allowed the convex side to relax and helped straighten out my alignment.
Thirdly, I could feel an immediate benefit from practicing Diagonal Breathing. Again, a simple, gentle breathing exercise that helped loosen the grip of tension on my convex curving sides.
I am including a link to my instructors website. She is keenly aware of the structural implications of spinal curvatures in the back which is invaluable to a student. She has information on poses, pictures and link you might find helpful.
