Yoga and Scoliosis: A Journey to Health and Healing

by Marcia Monroe, Loren M. Fishman MD (Introduction), B. K. S. Iyengar (Foreword by)

Overview

Yoga and Scoliosis: A Journey to Health and Healingis a deeply soothing form of moving meditation and a physical activity and is a safe way to rebuild strength, stamina, and flexibility and to address the spinal curvature of scoliosis without surgery. The book presents an evidence-based look at how this approach works. Dr. Fishman has been treating individuals with scoliosis with yoga for many years and has collected x-rays of his work, before and after, demonstrating actual lessening of the degree of curvature from the practice of Iyengar yoga.

Yoga and Scoliosis: A Journey to Health and Healing is a source of encouragement, knowledge, and healing for those who have scoliosis and need to treat it, but want to avoid braces and/or surgery. It briefly covers the history and treatment modalities of scoliosis and discusses the development of the spine in the embryo. Yoga and Scoliosis explores the complexities of the concept of alignment in the body, with the main part of the book showing how to address scoliosis utilizing Iyengar yoga. Four chapters give instruction in yoga asanas for scoliosis, and another chapter discusses yoga practice in daily living. The book includes a Foreword by B. K. S. Iyengar, the founder of Iyengar Yoga.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936303021
Publisher:	Springer Publishing Company
Publication date:	10/24/2011
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	616,901
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Marcia Monroe teaches children in New York City at the Bloomingdale Family Program. Marcia is a Body Mind Centering teacher, an Infant Developmental Educator, is registered as a somatic movement educator, and is one of a handful of people who have worked extensively with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, founder of The School for Body-Mind Centering. She teaches classes and workshops on yoga and scoliosis and maintains a private practice in New York City and Rio de Janeiro.

Loren Martin Fishman, MD, BPhil, is Assistant Clinical Professor in Rehabilitation at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and former President, New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Treasurer, Manhattan Institute for Cancer Research (Philanthropy).

Table of Contents

"Part I Introduction
1. Introduction to Scoliosis by Dr. Loren Fishman
2. Yoga
3. Concepts of Sequencing
Part II Yoga for Scoliosis
4. Postures on the Floor
5. Standing Asanas
6. Seated Asanas
7. Forward, Lateral, Abdominal, and Back Extensions
8. Inversions
9. Restorative Savasana: Witnessing and Feeling the Breath
Part III On Daily Life
10. On Daily Life
Additional Exercises
Resources"

Editorial Reviews

Marcia Monroe has created a dynamic, practical, and comprehensive guide to understanding how to approach the challenges of spinal asymmetry due to scoliosis. It is based on her many years of uncovering and re-patterning the habitual movements underlying scoliosis in herself and in others whom she has helped. Th rough awareness of the body’s subtle movements in relation to the rebounding forces of gravity and spatial tension, she provides specific guidance on how to create an individualized yoga program for scoliosis. This book will be of significant value to anyone seeking deep insight and support of how to bring the spine into more balanced alignment and ease.”
—Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Developer of Body-Mind Centering®, author of Sensing, Feeling and Action

“ Thanks to large-scale screening programs which make it possible to identify spinal deformity in its early stages, long before surgical intervention is an issue, 999 of every 1000 patients diagnosed with scoliosis are not ‘treatable’ by surgical approaches …99+% of patients who do not need surgery DO need help. Marcia Monroe’s book offers one avenue that patients can explore for that much-needed help in coping with the effects of scoliosis over a lifetime.”—Martha Hawes, PhD, author of Scoliosis and the Human Spine

“Marcia Monroe’s book chronicles her personal journey with idiopathic scoliosis using modified postures of yoga to help achieve balance, comfort, and stability. While contrary to medical thinking, meeting Marcia after thirty years of experience treating patients with scoliosis has led me to accept that she has chosen the best option. Through her dedication to yoga, Marcia has been able to maintain the necessary stability, articulation, and flexibility of the spine without pain.”
— Luis Carlos Schettino, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“Marcia, through her knowledge and understanding of the intricacies involved in addressing scoliosis in yoga provides an invaluable contribution with her book Yoga and Scoliosis: A Journey to Health and Healing. Marcia’s unique approach, derived from personal experience and years of study, offers clear and precise instructions for addressing scoliosis for individuals as well as yoga teachers.”—Patty Townsend, Director of Yoga Center Amherst, MA and Director of Embodyoga® Teacher Training and Therapeutics Study Programs

From the Publisher