Transformation Your Practice. Transform Your Life.

August 11, 2017

Wow, can you believe it is already August? The summer is flying by. I'm sure that many of you are traveling and spending time with loved ones. As wonderful as the exuberant energy of Summer can be, our Home Practice is the perfect anchor to make sure you (and your spine) are feeling their best so that you don't miss a second of experiencing the things you love.

My wonderful client, Ben Steger, is the perfect example of someone who's posture was keeping him struggling to stay active. His work kept him at a desk most of the day, locked into those habitual patterns that contribute to early onset Hyper-Kyposis. As a new Dad, he was struggling to find the time (and right tools) to help counter-pose his daily habits. He's come such a long way because of his dedication to his daily at-home practice. See his testimonial below:

Ben's Testimonial

"I have bad posture and I've had bad posture since kindergarten (at least). To me, standing up straight or sitting upright was an active exercise; comparable to holding my arm in the air. If I did stand up straight, with my head aligned, breathing was difficult. It was work, and I couldn't do it for very long. When I would see an elderly person walking, hunched over and uncomfortable, I'd correct myself for 30 seconds before it would slip my mind, or correcting my posture became physically exhausting / difficult. I needed to do something about it or in another 10, 20, or 30 years I would become stuck in a head forward and hunched position.

I've been partaking in Rachel's at home yoga program for a year, dedicating approximately 15-20 minutes every other night. Physically, I'm able to stand up straighter; my back has gained much needed flexibility. That flexibility has allowed my head/neck to move backwards to its proper resting place, more in line with my shoulders. Because I'm more properly aligned, it is now much less work to hold that position, and stand / sit straighter, than it was previously. Anecdotally, quite a few people have asked if I've lost weight, and though I haven't lost much, I attribute those reactions to me looking taller / slimmer due to my improved posture.

When we first started, there's no doubt I was Rachel's biggest skeptic. The initial back stretches seemed remedial, but they unclenched tight areas of my spine that first allowed for renewed flexibility. After a few months, those stretches turned into strengthening, and the process & goals became more apparent to me while the changes became noticeable to those around me.

I still "get lazy" and slouch, perhaps for hours at a time. I still have work to do to get to a point where I don't need to be conscious of my posture, if ever. However, my back actually signals me during these relapses, creating discomfort that reminds me to rethink my incorrect positioning. When my back hurts after changing a few diapers, or mowing the lawn, or putting together some IKEA, Rachel has taught me how to take 5 minutes, lie down in neutral spine, and reset."

A helpful tip from Ben: Get rid of your handbag or briefcase and wear a backpack on both shoulders!"

We'll be running a "Back to School" discount on the Online Home Practice Series until October 1st. $30 off your first year with the program when you pay in full. That ends up being LESS than $25 a month to take control of your own healing, with the support of an uplifting community and my team of Yoga for Backcare & Scoliosis specialists to answer any questions you might have.

The only thing left to ask yourself is, what's holding you back from living your best life?