The Spine

• The backbone of the body, supports skeletal framework
• Supports the muscles of the trunk, hence the organs of body
• Protects the spinal column
• Absorbs shocks like a spring – allows walking and running
• Inter-vertebral discs make spine flexible – it bends and twists
• On expansion, blood flow increases – brings oxygen, energy

The Bhagavad Gita refers to an upright spine:

With upright body, head and neck, which rest still and move not; with inner gaze which is not restless, but rests still between the eyebrows;
With soul in peace, and all fear gone, and strong in the vow of holiness, let him rest with mind in harmony, his soul on me, his God supreme.
6.13 & 14

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika instructs the yogi to 'sit straight' (1.19) and 'remain erect' (1.35) for the practice of pranayama, so that 'prana flows through the sushumna (the central nadi) and the mind becomes steady' (2.42).

In the Chakra system, the three major nadis (energy channels) run the length of the spine. These nadis intersect at six energy centres, called chakras. In yoga, pranayama and other practices are used to move prana in the nadis of the spine.

Vanda Scaravelli (1991) calls yoga 'Awakening the Spine'.

T K V Desikachar (1999) describes his whole approach to yoga as 'a program for the spine at every level – physical, mental and spiritual'. He advocates using the breath to create a link between the physical postures and the mind.