The photo below of me was taken in Pune, India, when I was studying yoga with renowned master BKS Iyengar in 1979.
At that time, while I knew I wanted to improve my posture, I had no idea that my pelvis was forward and that I had unconsciously acquired “modern posture.”
I knew my upper back was getting progressively more rounded and the dowager’s hump at the base of my neck embarrassed and pained me to no end.
When I went to the mall to shop and was surrounded by mannequins, I was totally blind to the fact that they were positioned with the pelvis forward, as was mine.
When I met Angie Thusius, the woman who introduced Balance to the US, she pointed out that people had their pelvis forward. I thought, “Well that may be true of others, but it certainly isn’t true of me. I’m a yoga teacher.”
However, yoga teacher or not, I could not deny that I had intermittent bouts of painful sciatica. I also suffered from shoulder and neck pain that wasn’t being helped by a high-level yoga education or a rigorous daily yoga practice.
So it was a lucky day when I began learning Balance. At first, it was like being in a dense fog, because the guidelines were so totally different from anything I had heard, studied, or imagined. I felt confused, doubtful, and annoyed.
That all changed quickly because I was feeling so much better. I have never again had a bout of sciatica, and my upper back began to straighten and elongate. In time, the dowager’s hump disappeared.
What I began to understand is that the Balance guidelines return us to the original alignment that we had as children. I saw that everyone around me had unconsciously become uncentered through no fault of their own, as had I.
Here is the deep insight that led me to abruptly quit a successful yoga career: the original skeletal alignment that I had regained with Angie’s help comes before any other physical activity, whether it be sitting in a chair or climbing Mount Everest.
Balanced alignment is essential for safe and efficient exercise, for all athletic or artistic pursuits, walking, making love, and fixing dinner. Balance comes first or injury follows.
The fact that 80% of the US population has LOWER back pain (the repeated statistic doesn’t include upper back and neck pain) clearly indicates that we as a nation are missing some basic know-how about our bodies.
The first guideline in all Balanced positions deals with how to center your pelvis. Then and only then can you begin to heal your pain and your posture. Learning and living the physics of flesh and bone in Balance is the most efficient path forward.
To live centered is the most important key to aging well. Balance is your best insurance policy.
On the left below is a photo of me taken in November 2021. Even though I am 40 years older than in the photo with Mr. Iyengar I am straighter and have increased my height. In our culture, almost everyone gets more curved and shorter as they age. This doesn’t have to happen. At any age, you can immediately begin to get straighter, taller, and more comfortable
In class Friday, June 24th, at noon PT we will focus on relaxation while centering the pelvis when sitting and standing, and walking.
One Response
So beautifully said, Jean! I love the comment that original skeletal alignment comes before any and all physical activity. With your guidance, this has definitely proven true for me, and I am forever grateful. Imagine all of us growing taller, straighter, and in less pain as we grow older. What more motivation and inspiration could one ask for!