Yoga for scoliosis can be life-changing

A recent article discussed how yoga helped one person manage scoliosis. Several readers wrote in to share their own experiences. Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves to the side.

Louise Zamparutti explained that she felt ashamed of her scoliosis for many years. It was diagnosed when she was in her early 20s, after she had started a career as a dancer. Her teachers often criticized her posture, and she felt her curved spine meant she didn't deserve to dance. She has a curve in her upper and lower back, which also makes her waist uneven and her ribs and hips sit differently.

Zamparutti found that teaching ashtanga yoga for over 10 years, and now swimming, helped her cope with the constant pain. However, she still struggled with the shame. Reading the article made her feel less alone, realizing that others also have scoliosis and find different ways to deal with it. She believes there should be no shame in managing the condition and still pursuing one's goals.

Kirie Pedersen shared a similar story. She suffered from severe lower back pain due to scoliosis, which pinched a nerve. By her 50s, the pain was so bad she often walked with an ice pack. A friend, who taught yoga and was a physical therapist, advised her to do something about her back. Pedersen was taught basic yoga poses, which were difficult at first, but she continued with them.

She later asked her physical therapist to include these exercises in her routine. Pedersen found that physical therapy exercises can be boring, which is why many people stop doing them. Now 75, she has been pain-free for years by doing her yoga and physical therapy routine six days a week. She finds it helps her body, heart, and mind.

Alice Devon also found yoga beneficial for her scoliosis, which was diagnosed when she was 14. In 1969, the medical options were limited: wearing a body cast for years or facing a wheelchair by age 19. She chose neither and discovered yoga through a friend. Now 70, she has been practicing yoga for 56 years. She has no pain, lives a normal life, and is surprisingly flexible. She notes that consistency over the years is key to staying in good shape.