Supple spine, supple life

Spinal mobility is so important for spinal health. It supports:

• Balance- twists and side-to-side movements work the the core and oblique muscles
• Range of motion- increases our ability to stretch and reach
• Tension reduction- releases stiffness of muscles connected to the spine which is like, a lot of them 🤣

I also believe that a fluid, flexible spine will help us have a fluid, flexible mindset. For my supporting evidence, I turn to poetry instead of science. Here is an excerpt from one of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets, the early 20th century German Rainier Maria Rilke:

What locks itself in sameness is congealed Is it safer to be gray and numb? What turns hard becomes rigid and is easily shattered.

-From In Praise of Mortality, translated by Anita Burrows & Joanna Macy

If we have already established that the mind and body are not separate in my previous posts, does it not follow that a flexible, supple spine would support a flexible, supple mindset- fluidly adapting to changes and challenges? I think the image of a tree, bending and moving but not breaking during a storm illustrates this concept beautifully. And also, the idea of having a spine "locked in sameness" be "easily shattered" is, like, terrifying😧

I also must share that I simply feel better after I do any little bit of spinal work, rocking side to side while letting my neck and head kind of bobble, taking a couple twists to each side in my chair at my desk, and especially supine (lying-down) twists, which we did in the practice I shared last week. I feel better right away, less tense and less stiff, and in general as well. So I encourage you to explore which spinal mobility movements you enjoy the most, and find little ways to sneak them in throughout the day, then reap the benefits of feeling better.

One of these days I'll do some data gathering, measuring people's growth mindset before and after a multi-week yoga program to collect some evidence as to how yoga in general can improve people's mental flexibility. I have been struggling to find that specific framework for a study in existing research. So let me know if you want to be part of my informal study whenever I do it!

There is a bonus this week because I actually recorded two versions of the practice... the first one I did was outside and it was so hot and I was dying and literally sweated my glasses off my face, but the lighting from the golden hour is gorgeous, and there are fun nature wind sounds in the background so I said. I was worried it wasn't as smooth for my viewers, and recorded another one inside which turned out to be five minutes longer, so now you have two options to choose from 😊

Let me know which one you liked best - and why please, I'd be so grateful for feedback! I'm also taking requests so let me know what you need some yoga for and I'd be delighted to put something together to share as a post 😎 You can just reply to this email!

Thanks for taking the time to read this - especially Father's Day weekend, for those dads reading this!

In deep gratitude,

💕Carly