A gentle twist incorporated into a mindful movement practice can help support the spine’s range of motion by rotating the spine and stretching the muscles of the back. Twists are also thought to help aid digestion as they can create movement in and around our organs and help that food move along! They can even help us feel more energized and uplifted, and literally change our perspective as we look in another direction.

If you are unsure if spinal twists are safe for you, consult your doctor. If pregnant, or if you have spinal disc injury, chronic digestive issues, or sacroiliac (SI) joint issues, you may also want to consult with your doctor first.

In this 9-minute practice, Yoga Teacher Matthew Sanford and Greater Los Angeles VA Physician Indira Subramanian explore seated spinal twists.

 

To twist safely from a seated position, inhale and lengthen the spine by sitting up tall, and ground yourself through the sitting bones. Try to twist from the lower spine first, with your head and neck twisting last. You don’t have to twist deeply to get the benefits. As Yoga Teacher Matthew Sanford says, “there is no ‘winning’ in a twist”.

You can also try out the other sessions in Connecting Mind & Body series here on #LiveWholeHealth – VA News or in the following series of links:

Interested in learning more Whole Health and how it can support your health and well-being? Start Your Journey With Whole Health – Whole Health (va.gov).

Did your health care provider ever prescribe movement to help improve your health? Check out the benefits of movement and consider prescribing it for yourself! Prescribing Movement – Whole Health Library (va.gov).

Topics in this story

Leave a comment

The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN, address, phone number, etc.) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection.

2 Comments

  1. Steve Willis December 14, 2022 at 21:26

    Ms. Whitehead, are there VA-specific trauma-informed Yoga trainings available?

    I am retired Army, an e-RYT 200, teaching in northern IL, with a goal of teaching at the VA.

  2. Tsi Harter December 14, 2022 at 09:46

    The pain, stiffness, is gone and I’m breathing much easier.

Comments are closed.

More Stories