Lack of motion in the spine is one of the main reasons for back pain. Since I know firsthand the causes of back pain and have experienced it myself, as a writer, about back problems, I must admit that we all experience it. We are all imperfect and my experience is no different!
The movie was playing in an outdoor park near Vancouver so I decided to go out and watch it last night. As the film played, I was able to sit on the grass and cross my legs. It was dry and the movie was great. I felt good after the ride home.
My processing disorder means I’m not always the most organized. However, I realize that it was a problem and I needed alternative methods to sitting on the ground for two hours. I will admit I didn’t feel very comfortable during the 2 hour film. My fidgeting was so bad that by the end I was ready for the next part. It was a relief to be able to ride the remaining 5 kilometers on my bike at the conclusion.
Problem is, when watching a movie you can become so immersed in it that your spine forgets to move. I was able to take my eyes off of the screen because the emotion levels were intense and that I didn’t want to miss anything. My attention was so focused on the movie, that I hardly moved my head!
Sitting on a stool would not have allowed me to sustain the slight movements in my spine. Your body is constantly reminding you that you must move if you sit still. I chose to ignore its call!
My back still hurts today, despite the fact that I rode home from work last night. Although young people might be able bounce back from bed feeling great, my scoliosis makes me realize that my spine needs attention and care.
First, I tried to do many things. “Sunrise Salutations”. This is how I wake up each morning. My feet are on the ground so I get up and lie down. Next, I place my hands in a prayer position. Next, I raise them up above the rest of my body while exhaling deeply. This opens each vertebra. Next, I stretch my arms out to the sides and turn the palms inwards. As you exhale, let your arms relax. Then slowly lower your arms towards your sides. Next, return your arms to the position of prayer. This can be repeated several times if needed. After a good night’s sleep, your spine will awaken and move.
You can think of your spine as a baby. Repeat this motion until your pain begins to lessen. Your spine only needs this first step. You can use one of these large motion balls to sit on and maintain the circular movement in your spine.
So I don’t blow up my ball, but I do move my pelvic region and spine around in a circular motion. I place myself in the sitting posture so the weight of mine goes forward. Then, it leans forward on the right side, then I cross the weight to the left. I then shift back to the front. Rotating the spine and pelvic bones in this way will encourage more movement to your low back.
Take a deep, long breath. Your spine will arch in the forward direction. Next, exhale and your back should relax.
Your spine should now feel more awake. You can’t just do these moves once. The pain won’t go away. As you begin to do more deliberate activities, the back pain will gradually diminish. The pain is similar to a baby. Every now and then, you will get a reminder of the problem. Treat it with compassion, it will disappear!
It is an alarm for baby boomers that the end is near! It is impossible to expect things to be the same as they were in the past. To keep our bones and joints moving, we can create constant movement in our spine to stop the “rust” from building up.