One of the most painful positions for a person with low back pain is to be seated. We all tend to slump; putting ourselves in a ‘C curve’. Often times when we’re not slumping we’re sitting up rigidly straight with what we think of as ‘good posture.’ Neither of these positions is very good for us.

When we slump we are creating a hinge in the spine, where none exists. The spine can curve as an integrated unit,  but it isn’t beneficial for us to hinge from one point (L5-S1 for instance.) We very well may be putting pressure on our discs creating our own pain. That's the bad news. The good news is that we may be able to do something about it. 

Don't concern yourself with trying to sit up straight. Instead, think about sitting on your sit bones rather than your tailbone. Think, then feel your sit bones releasing down into the chair as your head moves up. This opposition will help you lengthen your spine, instead of compressing it.

You’ll be giving the nerves coming from your spinal cord a little more room. It’s almost as if you can give yourself gentle traction, whenever you remember these principles. If you’re in pain, you may remember these as well as other Alexander Technique principles quite often!

Would you like to LEARN MORE>>> ?

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