with Rachel Krentzman

"The body is as young as the spine is flexible." ~ Ancient yogic saying

Did you know that by age 60, more than 9 out of 10 people will have some form of degeneration in the intervertebral discs?

Even at 35, disc degeneration affects one in three people. In fact, it is so common that it is considered a “normal” part of aging. 

Disc degeneration does not necessarily cause pain. Until it does – and at that point, the “normal” disc degeneration is labeled “degenerative disc disease.” 

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease are many. They include sharp and/or chronic pain in the back and neck, weakness or numbness in the arms and legs, nerve compression, and bone spurs.

As far as the medical system goes, there is no reason to pay attention to disc degeneration unless you develop problems. 

But that is kind of like playing Russian Roulette with your body. If you’re lucky, maybe you will sail through life without any back pain issues – no matter how bad your discs are. And if you’re not lucky, well, then you risk becoming one of the people who enters a lifelong struggle with chronic back pain and nerve compression. 

Can yoga help prevent degenerative disc disease? Indeed, research indicates that long-term yoga practitioners have significantly less degenerative disc disease than matched controls.

Researchers believe that the stretching and bending of the spine that occurs during yoga may enhance disc imbibition, i.e., the movement of nutrients and fluids into the vertebral discs, and hence decrease or slow age-related disc degeneration.

Muscle movement creates bibition, which is used to nourish structures that don’t have a defined blood supply. 

How can yoga help foster greater fluidity in the spine and create space between the vertebrae? Join us for a course with yoga therapist and physical therapist Rachel Krentzman and learn how yoga can help relieve nerve compression and improve your overall posture. You will also understand what postures to avoid and how to modify movement to suit your needs.

Using Yoga to Create Space & Relieve Compression in the Spine

Yoga Sutra 2.46 states, “Sthira Sukham Asanam” – yoga asana should be steady and comfortable.

This well-known Yoga Sutra teaches us how to find balance in our asana practice, but it also holds the key to working with back pain. Some individuals come to yoga with tightness and inflexibility, while others present with hypermobility and a lack of joint stability.  

Understanding this continuum of stability vs. flexibility and where you fit in holds the secret to working with lower back pain.

While yoga can help individuals with lower back pain, not all yoga is safe for those with degenerative changes in the spine. In fact, some individuals can experience back pain from a yoga practice that may not be suited to their body type or by performing the postures with improper alignment or lack of awareness. 

This course will help you understand where movement occurs in the spine and how to avoid pain from compression, even if you have been diagnosed with arthritis or degenerative disc disease.

What You Will Learn: