Samamkaya Yoga Back Care & Scoliosis Collective

01/30/2026

01/22/2026

For the general population and for the anatomists, the plumb line of the body is usually understood as a straight line from the crown of the head to the perineum moving in a linear verticality through the sagittal curves of the spine. For the yogis, it is described as a lining up of the chakras between these same two points.

People with scoliosis likely have a different experience. The twists of the spine may shift the head and the pelvis off center, and the sagittal curves of the spine may be not present and/or they may be exaggerated.

The spinal cord affected by scoliosis also follows the curves and twists, and as a result, the feeling of center may be distorted.

Many of us with scoliosis have had alternative ‘centers’ imposed on us. Medical interventions such as bracing, surgeries, and various forms of physical therapy manipulate our bodies with someone else’s idea of where they believe our center is, rather than taking into account where the muscle, fascia, bones and nervous system might function in a more balanced way for that individual. Yoga practice works with the individual to strengthen, realign and create resiliency in the body to allow the practitioner to find their own center place from where to move, rest and be.

Through anatomy, asana, and pranayama, Deborah will define common ideas of the midline and the plumb line as well as explore Eastern ideas of an energetic center. By repatterning brain circuits, the occulo-motor system and improving movement patterns, students will learn how to better balance their personal feeling of center, leading to more efficient breath and energy.

01/15/2026

Back Care Series
with Debby Green

Sundays, 12:15-1:45pm
Series: January 25, February 1, 15, 22
One Class: $30*
Sign up today!
*Or drop in on your class card
We are thrilled to welcome back our witty and brilliant Back Care Yoga teacher, Debby Green for a new Back Care series! This series addresses all types of back problems, pain, and postural issues, including scoliosis. Come lengthen your spine and move out of the habitual behaviors that are making your back hurt! All levels are welcome, including beginners.

Debby Green has been studying yoga since 1984. Her first teacher was Genny Kapuler. Her subsequent teachers were Mary Dunn, Kevin Gardiner and James Murphy. In 2008, Debby travelled to Pune to study with the Iyengar family. She has been a member of the Samamakaya faculty and cooperative since the studio’s inception in 2014. Debby is also a gifted practitioner of Rolfing Structural Integration.

11/25/2025

You won’t want to miss this two-day workshop with the legendary

Register on our website for the whole weekend or individual sessions! May also be purchased as a package with the Friday beginners offering. Available in-studio and online.
ELISE BROWNING MILLER, M.A. in Therapeutic Recreation from UNC-CH, is a Certified Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher who has been teaching yoga
throughout the US and internationally for over 30 years. A founding director of California Yoga Center in Mountain View, CA, Elise has successfully used
yoga to minimize the effects of her own scoliosis. She has published numerous articles on scoliosis and other yoga related subjects in Yoga Journal and
other national magazines. Elise has studied on numerous occasions with the Iyengars in India and specializes in Scoliosis, lower/upper back problems and
sports related injuries. She recently launched her new book “Yoga for Scoliosis – A Path for Students & Teachers”, and has produced her own DVD and
booklets, “Yoga for Scoliosis”, “Yoga for Back Care” and her “Yoga: Anytime, Anywhere book”. Her joyous personality and ease of communication endear
her to students with a teaching style that is down-to-earth, precise and nurturing.

11/25/2025

Join us in-studio or online!

ELISE BROWNING MILLER, M.A. in Therapeutic Recreation from UNC-CH, is a Certified Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher who has been teaching yoga
throughout the US and internationally for over 30 years. A founding director of California Yoga Center in Mountain View, CA, Elise has successfully used
yoga to minimize the effects of her own scoliosis. She has published numerous articles on scoliosis and other yoga related subjects in Yoga Journal and
other national magazines. Elise has studied on numerous occasions with the Iyengars in India and specializes in Scoliosis, lower/upper back problems and
sports related injuries. She recently launched her new book “Yoga for Scoliosis – A Path for Students & Teachers”, and has produced her own DVD and
booklets, “Yoga for Scoliosis”, “Yoga for Back Care” and her “Yoga: Anytime, Anywhere book”. Her joyous personality and ease of communication endear
her to students with a teaching style that is down-to-earth, precise and nurturing.

11/21/2025

This series will cover the basic skills you need to participate in the Back Care and Back Care Basics classes. With other new beginners to Back Care Classes at Samamkaya Yoga Back Care & Scoliosis Collective, instructor Ede Thurrell will teach you many of the basic actions, help you find your alignment and learn prop adjustments appropriate for your scoliosis, herniated disc(s), kyphosis, lordosis, spondylolisthesis, lumbar or neck pain… or any other back problem. Learning these skills through a series will help you make a commitment to your yoga practice and help you integrate smoothly into the Back Care classes.

Ede Thurrell was first introduced to yoga as a teenager by a dance teacher. Her first training was with Cyndi Lee at Om Yoga, and years later with Alison West at Yoga Union. In between, she has learned from and taught for Baby Om, Unnata Aerial Yoga, MELT method, and currently from her teacher Deborah Wolk regarding Yoga for Back Care & Scoliosis. With a background as a professional dancer, she has been honored to share her fascination with the inherent wisdom of the body for over 15 years with all kinds of people—from dancers and athletes to older people to parents with small children. Ede hopes to offer her classes as tools for healing and self knowledge that meet the student where they are.

11/18/2025

This weekend! Register now on our website for the full weekend or individual workshop days.

11/14/2025

Restorative and Pranayama for Yoga for Scoliosis for Experienced Practitioners

Saturday - 9am – 12:30pm, 2-4:30 pm
Sunday - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Full Workshop: $225*
Saturday All Day: $165*
Saturday Morning Only: $105*
Saturday Afternoon Only: $75*
Sunday Morning Only: $90*
*Get 10% off by using the code EARLYBIRD by November 17

Elise will guide you in this workshop to bring breath consciousness with poses to lengthen the spine and to find strength in the limbs to free the spine to more symmetry. Emphasis then will be on finding symmetry and balance with inversions and supportive restorative and renewing poses followed by lying down and seated pranayama to bring more breath balance to your practice and in your life. This practice will promote well-being by lowering stress and quieting the nervous system, improving lung function and lowering heart rate.

For continuing students and teachers with a foundation of a yoga practice for scoliosis. A six-month yoga practice is recommended.

Elise Browning Miller, M.A. in Therapeutic Recreation from UNC-CH, is a Certified Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher who has been teaching yoga throughout the US and internationally for over 30 years. A founding director of California Yoga Center in Mountain View, CA, Elise has successfully used yoga to minimize the effects of her own scoliosis. She has published numerous articles on scoliosis and other yoga related subjects in Yoga Journal and other national magazines.
Elise has studied on numerous occasions with the Iyengars in India and specializes in Scoliosis, lower/upper back problems and sports related injuries. She recently launched her new book “Yoga for Scoliosis – A Path for Students & Teachers”, and has produced her own DVD and booklets, “Yoga for Scoliosis”, “Yoga for Back Care” and her “Yoga: Anytime, Anywhere book”. Her joyous personality and ease of communication endear her to students with a teaching style that is down-to-earth, precise and nurturing.

11/13/2025

Lower Back Therapeutics with Liz Owen
In-Studio and Online

November 22-23
Saturday 2:30-4:30pm
Sunday 2-4pm
Full Weekend: $95*
One Workshop: $55*

Saturday: LOWER BACK THERAPEUTICS – CARE FOR YOUR SACRUM

This session will combine some of the work from our previous workshops while also exploring new therapeutic movements for your sacrum. Its aim is to provide you with a toolbox of techniques to relieve your lower back pain due to sacroiliac joint and sacral band issues. Students of any skill level – including beginners – will benefit, attendance in prior workshops is not required.
During our time together you will learn:
Gentle, safe movements to soothe, balance and strengthen your sacroiliac joints and sacral band, while respecting your body’s particular conditions and limitations.
How to explore the messages that your sacroiliac joints present to you, in order to gain understanding of how to create sacral spine health.
Techniques to change your emotional responses to sacral pain.

Sunday: LOWER BACK THERAPEUTICS – CARE FOR YOUR LUMBAR SPINE

This session will combine some of the work from previous workshops while also exploring new therapeutic movements for your lumbar spine. Its aim is to provide you with a toolbox of techniques to relieve your lower back pain due to lumbar musculature issues, trauma, and vertebra and disk conditions. Students of any skill level – including beginners – will benefit, attendance in prior workshops is not required.

11/07/2025

Join Martha for an informative and embodied experience exploring your scoliosis and fusion through the lens of Hanna Somatics developed by philosopher and movement theorist, Thomas Hanna. Similar but different from yoga, the workshop will begin with sitting and moving in a chair with a focus on sensing and breathing into imbalances from the inside out.
The second part of the class will be laying on the floor to allow for new awareness of movement patterns to release tension, improve alignment, find strength and connection and in general, develop more ease in your mobility. The workshop will start and end with a short Q&A. Somatics exercises are easy to enjoy for all levels and abilities.

Martha Carter: From Vancouver Island, Canada, Martha Carter is the Director of the Twisted Outreach Project (TOPS). Certified in Yoga (YTT200), Yoga for Scoliosis (Elise Browning Miller) and Essential Somatics (ES), she also holds a BA in Music, and an MFA in Dance. Combining these techniques with her own experience living with a fused spine, Martha offers a unique and creative way to specifically address spinal fusion and how it affects the whole body, mind and soul.