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.
