YOGA UNION Backcare & Scoliosis Center
Yoga Union Backcare (Posture, Herniation, Scoliosis) & Emotional Health Classes
The Yoga Union Backcare & Scoliosis Center, located at Yoga Union, 37 West 28th street, 4th floor in a studio considered to be one of the most beautiful in NY, is the largest dedicated Yoga for Backcare and Scoliosis in the world, with the most far-reaching program. It includes two annual Certification programs with Alison West, as well as workshops programs and series that support the work of those in pain, including Yoga for Anxiety and Depression, Yoga for Hypermobility/Hyperextension and Meditation.
Our motto is “Conscious Movement, Conscious Life,” meaning that the same awareness developed by paying attention to how the body moves and is newly integrated through Yoga can be applied to life and how we live it.
Because we have both a Backcare and a General Yoga program, our students can go “From Healing to Health.” Students can graduate from their back pain, postural issues and other problems into our regular program, taught by some of the same teachers teaching in the Backcare Center. This is seldom the case, and students often flounder in their attempt to find a solid follow-up program to any therapeutic care.
Backcare
Good posture is the foundation of a pain free back. Our Backcare Classes are designed for all types of back issues, pain and postural problems including scoliosis. Come lengthen your spine and move out of the habitual behaviors that are making your back hurt! All levels welcome including those new to yoga.
Backcare and Posture Basics
For all types of back issues, pain and postural problems including scoliosis. This class moves more slowly than the open level backcare classes. It offers a deliberate, step-by-step approach to the basic yoga postures and movement patterns that help relieve back pain. Suitable to those new to alignment-based yoga, new to working with their back issue through yoga practice, or those who like to move at a slower pace.
Backcare Beginners’ Series
This series will cover the basic skills you need to participate in the Backcare and Posture classes. With other beginners new to Yoga Union, you will be taught basic anatomy or the spine, safe movement for your back issue, how to stand and sit with good posture, how to use props, and how to practice basic yoga postures to alleviate back pain. Appropriate for scoliosis, disc herniation, kyphosis, lordosis, spondylolisthesis, stenosis, back muscle strain, neck issues, etc. This series offers a methodical introduction to yoga for back care that will help you integrate smoothly into the Backcare and Backcare Basics classes.
Backcare Beginners’ Series for Seniors
This series, especially designed for seniors new to the Yoga Union, offers a gentle introduction to practices that improve posture and relieve back pain, many of which you can do at home. It is targeted for those who are ambulatory but might have certain physical limitations (e.g., using a cane, bone fragility, balance issues) that make other backcare classes less accessible. This Introduction to Yoga for Backcare will improve your strength and range of motion, and help you develop ease and awareness to support your day-to-day activities.
Yoga for Scoliosis & Posture Basics
For students with spinal asymmetry. All levels welcome, especially those new to yoga for scoliosis. Learn about your curves, what scoliosis is, and how yoga can be practiced safely in the presence of asymmetry. These classes help increase balance and proprioception, lengthen the spine, reduce compensatory patterns, and create the strength required to sustain a new pattern while improving overall posture.
Yoga for Scoliosis & Posture Advanced Basics
For students with spinal asymmetry who have attended at least 6 months of Yoga for Scoliosis Basics classes. This class is not suitable for brand new students. In this class you will build upon what you've learned in the scoliosis basics classes, and begin to transition into an intermediate practice. These classes help increase balance and proprioception, lengthen the spine, reduce compensatory patterns, and create the strength required to sustain a new pattern while improving overall posture.
Intermediate Yoga for Scoliosis & Posture
For students with mature yoga practice who have been taking the Yoga & Scoliosis or Backcare classes on a regular basis for a minimum of 1 year. This class will progress beyond the basics and therefore assumes the student understands his/her curves and how to work with them as taught in introductory classes. More advanced poses, including strengthening work and inversions, are taught. The Intermediate class is not for students new to Yoga for Scoliosis.
Yoga & Scoliosis for Students with Harrington Rods & Other Surgical Fusions
Because of the contraindications with Harrington Rods and other instrumentation, being in a general class—even one focused on scoliosis or back problems—can be frustrating. This class covers all the principles and poses of the Yoga & Scoliosis classes but without strong twists, convex forward bending, and backbending. The YU Fusions class helps strengthen muscles around the fusion in an aligned manner, bring stability to hypermobile joints, and open stiff areas while respecting the integrity of the instrumentation.
Yoga and Scoliosis for Teens & Tweens
This series offers an empowering approach to scoliosis for teens & tweens. It teaches what scoliosis is and how to use yoga to improve posture and reduce pain. Students will learn to lengthen the spine, develop better spatial awareness, support the spine with the limbs, laterally absorb and de-rotate the curves, and strengthen around a new pattern that discourages the progression of the scoliosis. Build self-esteem while working hard and having fun.
Yoga for Herniation & Posture Basics
This class offers a basic introduction to yoga for herniation and other disc issues. It teaches the fundamentals of safe movement, yoga, and prop use necessary for participating in the open levels herniation and backcare classes. Strongly recommended for students with disc issues who are new to alignment-based yoga.
Yoga for Herniation & Posture
All levels. This class teaches you how to move safely in daily life and yoga practice in the presence of disc problems, including bulging or herniated discs and disc degeneration. Learn to lengthen the spine to create space for your discs and safely strengthen the core while maintaining your natural curves.
Intermediate Yoga for Herniation & Posture
For students with mature yoga practice who have been taking Yoga for Herniation and backcare classes on a regular basis for a minimum of 1 year. This class progresses beyond the basics of safe movement, rope use, and yoga postures for herniation. Progress into pranayama and more challenging postures in a safe context.
Intermediate Yoga Backcare & Posture
For students with mature yoga practice who have been taking the Yoga & Scoliosis or Backcare classes on a regular basis for a minimum of 1 year. Appropriate for all types of back issues, pain, and postural problems including scoliosis. More advanced poses, strengthening, and inversions are taught.
Yoga for Stress Relief and Anxiety (Restorative Yoga)
All levels. Wonderful for back pain and associated stress. By supporting the body with props, poses are held longer and encourage deep release to rejuvenate the body and mind.
Prenatal/Women’s Class
Yoga Union offers women in all phases of their cycle a warm environment in which to develop their Yoga practice safely while nurturing their bodies. About 85% of pregnant women suffer some form of back discomfort or pain, so care is given to healthy alignment and good posture. If you have scoliosis, our teachers are able to help you with your asymmetries during this time of greater ligamentous elasticity to help stabilize your spine.
Chair Yoga
An all-levels class that supports good posture, alignment, gentle work when needed, and helps you to stay comfortable while at work (“office Yoga”). Build range of motion and strength in new ways while using a chair.
Gentle Yoga
Good for beginners and students desiring a moderately paced class with suitable modifications and prop use where needed. Includes a foundational and restorative poses as well as basic breathing exercises.