Twists or revolved (parivrtta) yoga poses can be practiced: standing, seated, reclined (supta) and inverted. Twisting poses help keep the spine healthy by squeezing and rehydrating the spongey disks between the vertebrae which tend to get compressed with age. Twists help to balance energy and relax the nervous system.
BENEFITS
- balances mood & energy
- grounding & stimulating
- relieves tension in the spine, hips & shoulders
POSES
- ardha matsyendrasana (half lord of the fishes pose)
- bharadvajasana (sage pose)
- parivrtta trikonasana (revolved triangle)
- parivrtta utkatasana (revolved chair pose)
- parsva bakasana (side crow pose)
COUNTER POSES
- forward folds
- backbends
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
- Slowly enter a twist or revolved postures.
- Picture spine as a spiral staircase: go up 1 step at a time starting at the lower back and slowly working the way up each vertebrae of the spine.
RESOURCES
- Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual ~David Swenson
- Yoga Anatomy ~Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews
- Yoga for Depression ~Amy Weintraub
- Yoga Sequencing ~Mark Stephens
