By Amy Zellmer, Editor-in-chief
Yoga is a powerful tool for recovery after brain injury. Contrary to some beliefs, everyone can do yoga — you don’t need to be super flexible, have great balance, or even be able to stand up. The beauty of yoga is that every pose can be modified to accommodate anyone.
An important aspect of yoga is your breath. Connecting your breath to your body and flow, and getting oxygen flowing to your brain, is what makes yoga so powerful for recovery. Yoga is also a time to quiet the mind and let anxiety and distracting thoughts drift away.
Seated Spinal Twist is a restorative yoga pose that helps promote good digestion and spinal mobility. Seated twists are usually done at the beginning or end of a practice and can be both energizing and relaxing simultaneously.
Some of this yoga pose’s many physical benefits include toning the belly, massaging internal organs, and relieving lower back pain.
Instructions:
- Sit on the floor with your legs crossed, or in a chair with your feet on the floor.
- Inhale as you place your left hand on your right knee and sit up tall through the spine.
- As you exhale, twist to the right, keeping your back long and your shoulder blades back and down.
- You can either keep your head neutral or turn to the right or left if that is comfortable.
- Stay for 30 seconds, lifting a little more through the spine with each inhalation.
- Release back to center on an exhale.
- Repeat on the other side.
Adjustments and modifications:
- If you have trouble sitting cross legged on the floor, you may sit in a chair with your feet firmly on the floor.
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