Why Yoga for Scoliosis?
Yoga, meaning yoke or union, is an ancient physical mental and spiritual practice with its roots going back 5,000 years to India. The practice of hatha yoga which includes the physical postures, breathing techniques and relaxation has many physical benefits such as improved posture and increased flexibility and strength.
The body with scoliosis has developed a highly sophisticated compensating ‘act’ and it can also learn a more refined symmetrical ‘act’ with proper instruction. By combining the yoga postures with breathing awareness, one can develop a structural alignment, creating a more normal symmetrical alignment. This is accomplished by stretching muscles that have tightened and strengthening muscles that have become weak from this asymmetrical imbalance. Thereby the body will create a more effortless posture using the bone structure, rather than over working the muscles to hold itself up. Through yoga, one can find that balance point that allows the scoliosis curve to coexist with gravity and activates the body’s natural plumb line. The result for most people with scoliosis is better posture and less pain.
Choosing to do yoga for scoliosis requires commitment and inner awareness. With scoliosis, it is important to not expect perfection but instead accept oneself, and find ones own optimal alignment and center. As there is beauty in the straight alignment of a palm tree, there is also beauty of an oak tree with it’s many twists and turns. Psychologically, doing yoga is very empowering. It gives hope that we can do something to improve our condition and our quality of living.
“I am always happy with the smallest improvement. I do not try to reach ultimate perfection but only the little perfection of every day.” Sparks of Divinity, BKS Iyengar
Featured Yoga for Scoliosis Teacher Trainer
Susan Elena Esquivel
Susan Elena Esquivel started dancing at age 5 beginning a lifelong fascination with form and alignment as well as the body/mind connection. She has been studying yoga for the past 25 years with a focus on the Iyengar method. She is a Certified Iyengar Teacher (CIYT) at the Intermediate Junior II Level and a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). She is the director/owner of the Iyengar Yoga Center of Western Massachusetts.
While attending art school. Susan Elena turned to yoga seeking relief from her own back injuries. It was Iyengar yoga, that had a life changing effect on healing her back and providing that same discipline and meditation in movement that dance brings. It was that magical combination that led her to her first teacher training program and a commitment to the Iyengar method.
Susan Elena is very fortunate to have built strong mentoring relationships with some of the most highly respected senior Iyengar teachers. The four senior teachers she is deeply indebted to and influenced by are Elise Browning Miller, Peentz Dubble, Patricia Walden and Gulnaaz Dashti.
She completed Certified Senior Iyengar Teacher Elise Browning Miller‘s Yoga for Scoliosis Teacher Training Program and is a Certified Yoga for Scoliosis Trainer. Her classes are infused with the knowledge of spinal health gained in her ongoing apprenticeship with Elise from whom she learns firsthand the nuances of scoliosis and other spinal disorders. Working with spinal imbalances is one of her main interests and a way she hopes to ease suffering.
Susan Elena was a member of the Iyengar faculty at Down Under Yoga in Boston, Massachusetts from 2015 – June 2020, where she studied and mentored with Certified Iyengar Teacher and Teacher Trainer Peentz Dubble, whom she credits with instilling in her what it is to be a student and the love of the fine art of teaching yoga.
Currently, she continues her studies and mentorship with Certified Advanced Senior Teacher Patricia Walden, whose guidance has brought enormous depth to Susan Elena’s teaching. She travels to India regularly to learn from the source and was profoundly influenced by Geeta Iyengar.
Susan Elena is a member of INYAUS – Iyengar National Yoga Association of the United States and serves as a Board Member of the New England Iyengar Chapter IYANE. She was honored to be the recipient of the Community Service Project Grant awarded by the Iyengar Association of New England (IYANE) to teach yoga to survivors of domestic violence in 2013 and another grant for pregnant and parenting teens in Western Massachusetts in 2019.
Susan Elena is a nationally recognized sculptor/artist, loves nature, playing the cello and believes yoga is the gateway for her students to reconnect with their bodies and spirits. Through art and yoga, she endeavors to ease suffering and bring her students closer to a fuller, more joyful life. Her teaching is a reflection of her focused practice and studies over many years. She is known for precision while taking a playful approach with skillful sequencing to all levels of study allowing each student to go deeper into the understanding of Iyengar yoga.
Elise Browning Miller
Elise Miller, M.A. in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of North Carolina, is a Senior Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher (CIYT) and is Certified from International Association of Yoga Therapists (C-IAYT). Elise resides in Carmel, CA and has been teaching yoga throughout the United States and internationally since 1976. As a founding director of the California Yoga Center in Mountain View, CA, Elise teaches classes and workshops specializing in back and sports-related injuries.
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NEW! Yoga for Scoliosis: A Path for Students & Teachers
Elise’s new comprehensive 150+ page Yoga for Scoliosis book co-authored with nancy DL heraty.
Order your copy today!
Complete with anatomy of scoliosis, detailed information and photos of poses specifically taught for those with scoliosis. Yoga poses for fused spines included. More detailed with additional poses than the previous Yoga for Scoliosis booklet.
NEW! Yoga for Scoliosis T-shirts
Designed using an x-ray image of Elise’s spine along with inspirational words. Available in three styles, makes a great gift!
Yoga for Scoliosis DVD and booklet
This DVD provides a beginning home practice for anyone with major scoliosis to minor imbalances throughout the body. These poses will empower you to take charge of your own back to improve posture and reduce pain and discomfort. This DVD is based on a therapeutic yoga program that Elise has developed for her own scoliosis and has been used with countless clients around the world.