SpineCare Yoga

POSTURE AND HEALTH.:

The human body is meant to move. Working seated for long spells leads to fatigue, depression, pain and headache. People who go through bouts of depression must go through a posture correction program. Walking with a slouch worsens depression and stress. Bad postures while lying down to rest or to sleep are equally bad. In short, the way we sit, stand, walk, recline, commute, or sleep, affects health both, immediately and in the long run.

Research shows that walking in a slouched position, increases feelings of depression and decreases energy levels. These studies show that by merely bringing in simple corrections in posture and movements:

  • Energy levels can be improved
  • Depression can be modulated
  • Cognitive functions improved

Human body and mind can work optimally with right posture and correct movement. Loss of motivation is also reported in people with poor sitting and walking postures. Any strategy to improve health must include posture and movement corrections.

Wrong postures and being seated for long stretches can cause digestive issues and could give rise to a host of other health issues such as gastro esophageal reflux disorders (GERD). Tonnes of antacids and acid inhibitors are swallowed unnecessarily, when all that may be required is some simple posture correction. Long term use of acid inhibitors can cause very serious health problems such as achlorhydria (nil or reduced acid production in the stomach) that can have deleterious cascading effects on health.

When managing chronic digestive disorders, posture analysis and necessary corrections must be considered before any serious medication is considered.

Poor posture directly affects lung function by restricting movement and expansion of the diaphragm and rib cage. Poor range of movement of the diaphragm can cause shortness of breath and thus, anxiety because blood circulation to the lungs and oxygen intake are affected. Correct posture is important to derive the best from exercise too. Since poor posture affects oxygen uptake, the additional oxygen requirement owing to physical demands becomes difficult. So, exercise with poor posture actually can create fatigue instead of energizing! Poor posture can also cause difficulty in speaking clearly. Singers rely heavily on their breath. They need to maintain correct posture for the voice to sound strong and to reach the audience without having to strain.

Back, shoulder and neck pain are the most noticeable and common effects of poor sitting posture. Sitting slouched without proper support for long spells puts a great deal of stress on the upper body. Over a period of time, poor posture can cause a misalignment in the spine and more discomfort and pain. Besides the stress on the joints, when the spine is misaligned, weight or stress needs to be redistributed to compensate for slouching. The joints have to bear a load that may be more than what they can handle, leading to more pain and degradation of the tissues surrounding the joints.

Tension headaches are another common side effect of poor posture. Office workers tend to experience more headaches simply because they are putting much tension and strain on their bodies by sitting all day. The tension in your neck, shoulders and spine eventually work their way up to the head and cause a tension headache. Obesity, poor muscle tone, badly fitting shoes and pregnancy can make one more vulnerable to posture-related tension headaches. Unlike a migraine that is more neurological, a tension headache is due to musculoskeletal reasons. Ergonomically designed workstations with proper spine care education are the complete solution. It is good to get up and stretch every half hour or so.

Art of Living’s SpineCare Yoga is a simple 12-hour / 4-day module that not only helps you identify how your posture can be corrected. The module offers simple solutions to peak health through posture correction.

If you have any of the following:

  • Tension headache
  • Back pain
  • Neck pain
  • Wrist pain
  • Low energy levels
  • Feelings of depression
  • Acidity
  • Frequent gastric upsets /bowel movement

Consider SpineCare Yoga, the magic answer

For details, please send a mail to: spinecare@vvki.org or call +91 80 67433669 (10-am to 5-pm)

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