Why you’re only as young as your spine is flexible

NEVER mind the laughter lines around your eyes or the greys that peek through your hair. The real indicator of youth, as far as I’m concerned, is your spine.

Indeed, a major yoga teaching I swear by is: ‘You are as young as your spine is flexible.’ There’s so much truth in it.

As you’ll see from the diagram below, the spinal chord is so influential in every aspect of our health. The spine is made up of 33 vertebrae, which are categorised into five groups:

The cervical spine, or the neck region, which has seven individual vertebrae known under the abbreviations C1 to C7.

The thoracic spine, or upper back region, which has 12 individual vertebrae known under abbreviations T1 to T12.

The lumbar spine, or lower back region, which has five individual vertebrae known under the abbreviations L1 to L5.

The sacrum, which is located behind the pelvis, and is made up of five fused vertebrae.

The coccyx, or tailbone, which is made up of four fused vertebrae. The spinal chord is the main pathway for information connecting the brain and peripheral nervous system. All information is transmitted via the spinal nerves.

As you can see in the diagram, 31 pairs of spinal nerves exit the spinal chord. Chiropractors believe that if there is tension around these nerves, it could weaken the area they supply, increasing the chance of the resulting problems and illnesses indicated.

The spine has six directions of move- ment: forwards, backwards, side to side and twisting in both directions.

In our normal waking state, more than 90 per cent of our time is spent bending forwards. This can easily lead to the dreaded stoop. For perfect spinal health and flexibility, the spine needs exercising daily in all six ways.

Some of the best yoga moves for back problems and joint flexibility can be found in the eight simple moves workout on the previous pages. Of course, if you are really stiff and aching, it is best to see your doctor in the first instance.

UPPER NECK

THE upper neck is made up of the vertebrae known as C1-C3. These first three vertebrae are hugely important, as they are linked to the brain, the all-powerful pituitary gland, which controls many of our body’s hormonal functions, blood supply to the head, eyes, ears, sinuses and more. If there is significant tension in these vertebrae, it can lead to debilitating problems such as headaches, insomnia, nervousness, high blood pressure, amnesia, allergies, deafness and chronic tiredness.

UPPER BACK

HERE we find the vertebrae T1-T6, the upper area of the thoracic spine, which is built for stability because it holds the body upright and provides protection for the vital organs in the chest. The vertebrae in the upper back are linked to the wrist, hands, fingers, heart, lungs, coronary arteries, liver and stomach, among others. If tension sets in, potential problems include asthma, coughs, shortness of breath, pain in our lower arms and hands, stomach problems, blood pressure issues, arthritis and heartburn.

LOWER BACK

MOST women over a certain age will tell you of being bothered by lower back pain in this area, where the L1-L5 vertebrae are found. Incredibly common, it can be caused by poor posture or twisting while lifting a heavy object. And when you hear of the areas linked to the lower back, you’ll be far more likely to bend your knees before lifting something — from the large intestine to the womb, the prostate to the lower legs and knees. The problems associated with tension here, then, can be similarly diverse, including menstrual problems, constipation, impotence, knee ache, sciatica and weak ankles.

LOWER NECK

THIS is the home of the vertebrae known as C -C7, which are linked to many varied areas of the body, including the lips, nose, mouth, glands, neck, shoulders, thyroid and elbows. It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, to learn that if there is tension in the lower neck, it can be linked to problems such as a runny nose, hay fever, coughs and colds, tonsillitis, a stiff neck and thyroid conditions. In my experience, the neck is the most likely area for people to have significant tension. I have seen more tense and sore necks in my classes in the past four years than in the preceding 0! Much of this is down to our increasing use of iPads, laptops and computers and smartphones, which often means that we place our neck in an unnaturally dipped position.

MID BACK

NEXT come the vertebrae T7-T12. If you’re stiff and sore in the morning, it’s most likely to be down to tension in this area. It’s important to bend carefully when lifting objects if you want to avoid mid back pain. The vertebrae here are linked to areas from the pancreas to the kidneys, as well as being associated with the lymphatic system. If tension does set in here, you might be susceptible to issues such as gastritis, ulcers, kidney problems and rheumatism.

SACRUM

THE sacrum is wider and shorter in women than in men, making it particularly likely that women will be affected by pain here. Sitting down for long periods can aggravate the sacrum — which is linked to the hip bones and buttocks. Tension in the sacrum can therefore cause aches and pains in these areas.

COCCYX

NO DOUBT you won’t give your coccyx, or tailbone, a moment’s thought — until it starts to ache. Falls and other trauma can cause damage and pain here. If tension sets in, it can affect your bottom area — which could explain why you suffer from haemorrhoids.