When this pain subsided, Saskia resumed the full JFS series. About eight weeks later, shoulder flexion became normal. After three and a half months of yoga therapy, neck mobility became close to or beyond normal.
Whiplash occurs when the soft tissue in the spine is stretched and strained after the body is thrown in a sudden, forceful jerk. The injury most commonly occurs in car crashes involving sudden deceleration, but the injury can also occur in other strenuous physical activities such as diving.
In yoga therapy, you use a set of posture designed specifically for your individual problems (whiplash) and imbalances to heal your body. Often many pain and misalignment issues will clear up in unison once your muscles are balanced and properly aligned.
After a terrible car accident left her with chronic pain in her neck, (whiplash) shoulders and back, Melissa discovered yoga as a way to help alleviate some of her symptoms and prevent some of her migraines. As she began to delve more deeply into the yogic way of life, Melissa discovered that what made her unique in the yoga community was her age. Whereas most people in the yoga community are older adults, Melissa became a certified teacher at the age of 25. Her youth and vibrancy lend nicely to her teaching and her own practice.
Visualize your body as being similar to a three story building. If one of the supporting beams is shifted and pulled downward, over time even the top floor of the building will start to sag downward, too. If you leg muscles are tight, they can cause a perpetual pull on your upper body. Over time, this constant downward pull can cause a variety of chronic pain conditions and made worse with whiplash.
Four-limbed staff pose (chaturanga dandasana) requires a significant amount of strength from the entire shoulder girdle. Some styles of yoga do this pose repeatedly and, if you begin to feel some shoulder pain, it's important to drop your knees to the floor as you lower down, easing the burden on the shoulder. Downward facing dog, handstand preparation and easy dolphin keep the shoulders working without taxing them. Over time whiplash will ease.
Upper extremity weight bearing of Downward Facing Dog Pose is a fundamental provocative pose for neck and shoulder issues (whiplash). With care, one can learn to bear their weight through their arms with slightly back bending upper thoracic/ lower cervical spine, stable shoulder blades, and seated humeral heads. It is actually easier to actively increase elevation with the closed kinetic chain activity of Dog pose then the open kinetic chain activity of arm elevation in standing. It is more difficult to facilitate the extending upper spine, scapular stabilization, and downward glide of humerus while standing. In standing the spine is stabilized with the inner action of lengthening. The entire body has to work well to lift the spine.
Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher, dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain.
