The primary goal: maintaining vertebral space
One of the most important things we can do as yoga teachers when students have scoliosis is to help keep the vertebral space intact so that they do not continue to have more compression over time. This is where traction and wall ropes can be very helpful. The Iyengar tradition has a long history of working with scoliosis, documented in detail by Lois Steinberg, who writes that the goal is to "restore the natural curves of the spine and create space between the vertebrae."
Compression is the enemy in scoliosis. As the lateral curve increases, the vertebrae on the concave side of the curve are compressed together. Over time, this compression can lead to disc degeneration, nerve impingement, and pain. Traction — creating length along the spine — counteracts this compression and is the foundation of the therapeutic approach.
"The goal in working with scoliosis is to restore the natural curves of the spine and create space between the vertebrae." — Lois Steinberg, Yoga for the Lower Back
Props and tools: wall ropes, trestle, and support
Wall ropes are one of the most effective tools for scoliosis. They allow the student to hang and decompress the spine, creating traction along the full length of the vertebral column. Specific rope configurations can target the concave side of the curve, helping to open the compressed side without forcing the convex side.
The trestle back extender is a wooden support that allows the spine to extend and decompress in a supported position. For scoliosis, it is used to create traction along the concave side of the curve. When lying down in poses, support is placed under the curvature — a folded blanket or a block — to prevent the curve from collapsing further under gravity.
The distance of the feet and the arms is also adjusted in standing and lying poses to account for the asymmetry of the spine. What appears to be a symmetrical pose from the outside must be adjusted to create symmetrical internal experience for the scoliosis student.