“If you would seek health, look first to the spine.” -Socrates
The spine is one of the most important parts of the body. It provides structure and support, and without it, you would not be able to stand up, let alone keep yourself upright.
While most organs are finished forming after 8 weeks in the womb, the spinal column
(33 short/irregular weight-bearing bones that house the precious spinal cord of the nervous system) continues to grow and specialize well after. The spinal cord and the 31 pairs of spinal nerves play an important role in how we interact with the world around us:
Motor nerves carry sensory input from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of our body – allowing for us to play, dance, fly into Bakasana and float back into Chaturanga Dandasana.
Sensory nerves are the ones that relay information from external stimuli to the brain through the spinal cord.
The fantastic play between what we are able to sense from our environment and then our ability to react to it all is the beauty and the awe-inspiring intelligence of our nervous system. A strong and supple spine ensures not only the efficiency of this crucial system but also the health and longevity of it.
Yoga is a practice that, when done consciously, decompresses the spine, providing a feeling of space. In some cases, yoga can even help alleviate pain from different spine conditions like herniated discs, scoliosis, and also general low-back pain.
One of the best things a human being can do for their nervous system is to manipulate the spinal column in three planes of movement. These being the 6 directions of flexion, extension, lateral extension right and left and twisting/revolving right and left.
a yogi is who has prana in the spine
So from a physical point of view the spinal column is an important channel for all the bodily stimuli that are transferred via the nerves to the brain. It is part of our central nervous system along with the brain.
But also on a spiritual level, the spine is the source of all our energy, the Prana. It is where the three major energy channels or nadis in our body lie.
Starting from the base of the spine, the Ida(female) and Pingala(male) nadis (channels) move in spirals like the DNA helix, crossing at each chakra. . The third nadi, Sushumna is the central channel of energy in the human body that runs from the base of the spine to the crown of the head and carries Kundalini energy, the primal evolutionary force within.
The seven major chakras, on the other hand, are located at the intersection of the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. These chakras are further responsible for our relationship to ourselves, others, defines our spiritual growth, our nature, thoughts and so on.
Our Spine is referred to as Meru Danda in Sanskrit, where Meru also means the sacred mountain Meru from the Hindu Mythology, which was considered to be the axis of the Earth having an entire solar system revolving around it. In other words, spine is the axis for the human body, which acts as a connecting link between Earth and the heaven.
Honour and wake up your Spine and the Energy wich resides in it with this short Warm up Sequence below.
Have a beautiful day!