04/12/2025
The doctor told her to avoid backbends. That was in 2019, when Anne suffered from chronic hip pain. The pain was being referred from her lower back, caused by spinal stenosis.
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the space around the spinal chord, which can irritate or compress the spinal nerves. It is quite common in people over 50.
A regular yoga practitioner for over 40 years, Anne continued to attend hatha and Aerial yoga classes with me regularly, as well as practising at home. She is also an avid walker and photographer.
In the beginning, Anne was cautious about backbending, but as time passed, she began to practise gentle backbends without suffering any pain. In fact, her chronic pain has become very occasional.
I was absolutely amazed last week when I saw Anne easing her way into inverted bow pose in the Aerial hammock! She moves slowly and patiently, always listening to her body.
Backbends are more gentle on the spine when inverted because gravity and the weight of our head help create more space between our vertebrae, allowing them more space to move in relation to each other.
It was a beautiful moment that I couldn't resist photographing—for Anne and to inspire anyone suffering with pain to keep moving and doing the things you love.
