Customer Reviews

Yoga for Scoliosis

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Yoga for Scoliosis features Elise Browning Miller, a yoga instructor who discovered in her 20s that yoga was the only thing which helped to control her scoliosis. Her four background exercisers each have scoliosis as well, and Elise frequently refers to their differing curvatures throughout the practice. I don't have scoliosis myself, but I was interested in trying this video in hopes that it would provide nice stretches for my back.

The main part of the DVD is broken up into three sections. The first is a short introduction (4 minutes) with Elise followed by a brief overview (1 minute) of scoliosis by an orthopedic surgeon. The next section is the 50 minute yoga practice, and the final segment is the bonus materials, including longer interviews with both Elise and the surgeon (4.5 minutes each), and six bonus yoga postures (wall stretch, down dog, shoulder stretch, warrior 1 with wall, chair twist, and 3 part pull) which are performed with props.

The yoga practice itself is broken up into three segments, with Elise providing a short introduction at the start of each segment. The first, Breathing and Spinal Lengthening Poses (16 minutes), focuses on poses to stretch out the spine. It begins with yogic breathing and then moves on to standing side and wall stretches, cat pose, puppy pose, child, down dog, and lunge. The second, Centering and Strengthening Poses (18 minutes), consists mainly of standing postures, including mountain, triangle (performed with a chair), warrior 1 & 2, and wide-legged forward bend. From a face down position, there are also simple back extensions, cobra, and child's pose. The final segment, Restorative, Releasing, and Relaxing Poses (16 minutes), includes a supported back bend (over a ball or bolster), a side stretch, chair twist, reclined hand to foot pose, revolved stomach pose, and relaxation posture.

Although I don't have scoliosis, I found this to be a nice, relaxing basic yoga practice. However, given Elise's frequent reminders about spinal curvature, the video is most ideally suited to those with scoliosis or other back conditions.

i have an s curve scoliosis and after doing this dvd for about a year practicing at least one section every single day, i was able to feel noticeable improvements especailly on my lower spine. people who have scoliosis usually have more muscle formation on side than the other and for me, muscle was actually beginning to build up on the side where there was very little muscle before. i admit, i haven't kept up my diligent routine but it works!

The exercises of this dvd are very good and well-explained. However, I realized that I couldn't do all of them - at least at this point. Once I become more flexible, I may be able to do so.

Initially, I thought that the dvd was either blank - as other review had said - or that I had problems to play the dvd in my computer. A friend said that I should download a program called VLC media player, which is known for enabling computers to play basically everything. It really played it afterwards. In case you experience the same problem, this program is available for free - google it and download it!

Although I like to buy at amazon.com, this dvd was a bit expensive here. I bought it at www.deepdiscounts.com since it was cheaper and shipping was free.

I hope that this is helpful!

I love this DVD. Very professionally done, poses are held a reasonable length of time and she really focuses on adjustments for each type of spinal curve. Also, she shows how to stretch out muscles that have shortened, such as the right shoulder muscles which, in my case, have become so used to rolling forward that I couldn't keep my right shoulder back. After doing the stretch on the wall every other day for a week I can now keep my right shoulder back easier.

I recently shattered one of my vertebrates and had a fusion as a result. In addition to wanting to strengthen my back muscles, I also have a lot of nerve damage that I am repairing through yoga. I have been looking for a good yoga series specific to back problems, and I feel lucky to have found this. I would recommend this DVD to anyone with back problems. Elise Miller provides a set of three 17 minute series (stretching, strengthening and relaxation), and I have found each of the poses to be immediately rewarding. It is a low impact video, but provides great results with the right tempo, a very decent explanation of the poses, good music and good camera work.

Yoga for Scoliosis / B000AB0Z4A

I just want to insert a warning: Though the DVD title is "Yoga for Scoliosis", these exercises are for scoliosis sufferers who have NOT had the spinal fusion surgery.

In other words, if you are like me and underwent the corrective surgery in your youth, and are looking for yoga exercises that you can safely participate in or for pain management techniques, the exercises in this DVD are not appropriate for you. I am still looking for a good set of yoga exercises to relieve my back pain, and if anyone knows of a "Yoga for Scoliosis, Post-Spinal Surgery" resource, I'd be grateful to know of it.

Beyond that, I'm sure this DVD is quite good for non-surgery-corrected scoliosis sufferers, but I do wish the title and/or product description had made that more clear, since this is a very important point - it needs to be made very clear that post-surgery patients can harm themselves with these exercises. I also thought it was a bit deceptive (though maybe normal in the yoga DVD industry) that a whole list of "extras" was listed once the DVD started - some people can't afford yoga balls and yoga mats and yoga belts, and it seems wrong that that need isn't presented "up front" before dropping $30 on the video itself. Caveat emptor, I suppose.

This version does not provide a closed caption option for the hard of hearing. I do not own this movie - I rented this through my Blockbuster Online account.

~ Ana Mardoll

Many already wrote great reviews, I can only add that the pace is VERY slow, poses are held for 15 seconds - 1 min each. This is a bit too slow for me, though the detailed instructions for several diff types of curvatures is excellent. Use of chair & wall are used only 1-2x, but straps are used more heavily for leg stretches & helping to align the spine. The usual poses such as mountain, side angle, wide legged fwd bend, child's pose, laying spinal twist, doward dog, warrior 1, etc.

You can see a preview at yogaforscoliosis com

I purchased the DVD after purchasing the book. The book is great for those with scoliosis and those who want a great yoga DVD that focuses on the spine. I, like some other reviewers, can see and feel a NOTICEABLE reduction in the curve of my spine. My waistline was almost totally straight on one side and now, although not even, bends inward almost as much as the other side does - so it is far less uneven. Also, when doing the leanover test (from the book) (like the test from gradeschool), the S is not as exaggerated as it was. Best of all, I no longer have a continuous lower back ache. I do the spine straightening exercises along with a power walking video almost daily. (After a few times, you may not need to actually watch the DVD - but, can add the relevant exercies to your own workout..) I had trouble understanding a couple of exercises and emailed the author. Someone promptly responded and was very helpful - when it talks about decompressing the compressed/curved side of the spine, they mean to bend the opposite way of your natural curve - think about stretching/straightening out the inner bend of a letter C. For example, my lower back is naturally a bit to the left, so on one exereice I am to bend at the waist to the left (making the lower spine curve to the right) - which I had a hard time wrapping my mind around. I do have some difficulty doing the straightening exercises for the upper curve (secondary curve in my case)(I believe it is just me) - so I plan to purchase a power gym/bar so I can just hang from it a few minutes a day. Essentially, I believe this will help achieve the same affect of stretching the upper spine..

Great DVD for scoliosis sufferers. Poses are explained well and positions are adapted depending on the type and direction of curvature.

This is a well done dvd. Exercises are very well explained and easy to follow, and do not require any equipment, other than objects easily found at home.