| Whiplash, with the help of yoga, and when this pain | | | | pulled downward, over time even the top floor of the |
| subsided, Saskia resumed the full JFS series. About | | | | building will start to sag downward, too. If you leg |
| eight weeks later, shoulder flexion became normal. | | | | muscles are tight, they can cause a perpetual pull on |
| After three and a half months of yoga therapy, neck | | | | your upper body. Over time, this constant downward |
| mobility became close to or beyond normal. | | | | pull can cause a variety of chronic pain conditions and |
| Whiplash occurs when the soft tissue in the spine is | | | | made worse with whiplash. |
| stretched and strained after the body is thrown in a | | | | Four-limbed staff pose (chaturanga dandasana) |
| sudden, forceful jerk. The injury most commonly | | | | requires a significant amount of strength from the |
| occurs in car crashes involving sudden deceleration, | | | | entire shoulder girdle. Some styles of yoga do this |
| but the injury can also occur in other strenuous | | | | pose repeatedly and, if you begin to feel some |
| physical activities such as diving. | | | | shoulder pain, it's important to drop your knees to the |
| In yoga therapy, you use a set of posture designed | | | | floor as you lower down, easing the burden on the |
| specifically for your individual problems (whiplash) and | | | | shoulder. Downward facing dog, handstand preparation |
| imbalances to heal your body. Often many pain and | | | | and easy dolphin keep the shoulders working without |
| misalignment issues will clear up in unison once your | | | | taxing them. Over time whiplash will ease. |
| muscles are balanced and properly aligned. | | | | Upper extremity weight bearing of Downward Facing |
| After a terrible car accident left her with chronic pain in | | | | Dog Pose is a fundamental provocative pose for neck |
| her neck, (whiplash) shoulders and back, Melissa | | | | and shoulder issues (whiplash). With care, one can |
| discovered yoga as a way to help alleviate some of | | | | learn to bear their weight through their arms with |
| her symptoms and prevent some of her migraines. As | | | | slightly back bending upper thoracic/ lower cervical |
| she began to delve more deeply into the yogic way of | | | | spine, stable shoulder blades, and seated humeral |
| life, Melissa discovered that what made her unique in | | | | heads. It is actually easier to actively increase elevation |
| the yoga community was her age. Whereas most | | | | with the closed kinetic chain activity of Dog pose then |
| people in the yoga community are older adults, Melissa | | | | the open kinetic chain activity of arm elevation in |
| became a certified teacher at the age of 25. Her | | | | standing. It is more difficult to facilitate the extending |
| youth and vibrancy lend nicely to her teaching and her | | | | upper spine, scapular stabilization, and downward glide |
| own practice. | | | | of humerus while standing. In standing the spine is |
| Visualize your body as being similar to a three story | | | | stabilized with the inner action of lengthening. The entire |
| building. If one of the supporting beams is shifted and | | | | body has to work well to lift the spine. |