SomaVeda Thai Yoga Back Magic

SomaVeda Thai Yoga offers an amazing sequence or flow to reduce or eliminate back pain and back related issues. One of the top three issues we commonly see everyday is dealing with back and spinal issues. This is true for both the Yoga community as well as the lay public, our clients , our selves. According to some sources back pain issues are the number one reason for missed days at work. Anyone suffering from the pain and restriction of back pain and restrictions knows this in their bones!

Stress and strain injuries to the back and torso are quite common in Yoga practice and because of them many students either drop out entirely or shy away from developing an otherwise productive self practice. For those of us who teach Yoga we need concrete ways both to prevent and to restore health and vitality to the spine. The beautiful thing about this particular little back Vinyasana is it’s simplicity and graceful way of bringing energy, attention, consciousness, breath and pressure to not only the spine it’s self but to the entire torso. It’s up close and personal too. This enhances the nurturing qualities latent in all close physical contact.

This spine and torso yoga therapy flow brings a nurturing and balancing focus to all the primary Chakra and Sen Lines (Prana Nadi) of the clients torso front, back and side. It lengthens and releases all of the primary torso musculature including the abdominal, quadratus, paraspinals and psoas/ diaphamatic complex. As it incorporates the forward bend as the compensating posture we see a release for the hamstrings and posterior gluteal muscles. Follow the angles and see where compression of the sciatic nerve is facilitated from several different angles. Compression of the sciatic nerve is almost always indicated in chronic low back pain.

There is a neuromuscular re-educational focus in that as we accumulate little (or big) injuries and strain, scar tissue etc. reducing our access to back motility and communication we become increasingly tenuous in the way we use our back and torso. This leads to a progressive further deterioration typical of atrophy and Sensory Motor Amnesia based spinal syndromes. As we take the client through this sequence and as they are not the motive force for the movements themselves nor the angles they represent there is less antagonistic resistance. There is less antongonistic muscular resistance. The client experiences the movements without the inhibition to do them and this new way of moving educates the nervous system.

The various postures in this sequence also bring much pressure to bear on the internal organs, tissues, fascia and connective tissue of the abdomen. The postures compress, release and create both direct and indirect movement of  not only the physical tissues but the interstitial fluids as well. Since as much as 80% of the superficial lymph nodes are on the torso, chest and groin then bringing energy to them also facilitates the movement of lymph and is beneficial to the immune system.

There is a very strong emotional component to back injuries. Even if the actual injury is long healed the previously injured client will still want to guard, to protect against full movement “just in case”. Quite often they have a sense of despair attached to their injury as they may actually that they don’t know why or how they injured themselves in the first place! The nature of the full support and high level of support this sequence provides allows the client to release and relax into the support every step of the way.

We have often observed that after this flow clients experience either a sense of giddy highness and euphoria and or a release into a very deep relaxation response, apparently according to what their innate has determined is the best.

When practiced and performed from the practiced place of familiarity the Yoga therapists should be in complete control at all times. You should be able to work relaxed and feel where the client s at at all times and be able to literally stop on a dime. Breath is vital and very important in this Vinyasana as the breath is where the keys to release are found. As you move the client through the sequence and you feel the inhibition, the restriction, the guarding, the holding that is where you pause and coach the breath with guided Pranayama. Breathe into the tight place is good coaching. Work on your visualization and see from the inside where the blockages are and then bring your attention directly to them. Of course, it should go with out saying that the therapists themselves should also be monitoring their body mechanics, posture breath and be sure to be grounded and come from a calm stable place at all times.

Back Viyasana is not just for rehab! If your an advanced and healthy Yogi/ Yogini then on the receiving end this flow is amazing. Amazing like a time machine is amazing in that it can show you both the possibility of good extension you have yet to explore but also where you hide and help yourself around your own restrictions, inhibitions and old unresolved injuries etc. This will give you a personal and deeper insight into the possibilities for further development in your own practice.

SomaVeda Back Magic Vinyasana Flow Basic Steps:

1) Seated Back Bridge

2) Full Forward Bend working unilateral back points.

3) Rotation from the back

4) Rotation from the front. Adding the tilt over for extension if this angle is available.

5) Big Seated Spinal Rotation: Both Sides (interlaced fingers held behind the neck and therapists on the side lightly kneeling across the front thigh for compensation.)

6) Padmasana rotation into Big Twisting Bridge (Both Sides)

7) Raised Back extension with locked fingers and elbows high.

8) Simple full forward bend

Relax into Savasana Corpse Pose for a few minutes at the end of the sequence.

Of course as always the Key is practice! Be happy, Touch many, Be well

Dr. J

Don’t forget to check out our many professional SomaVeda Thai Yoga Certification program at http://www.ThaiYogaCenter.Com

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