Habits Change Our Spine
Habitual Asymmetries
Have you ever noticed how you tend to sit at your desk? Maybe you lean to one side, rest an elbow on your desk, or cross your legs in the same way every time. Perhaps you often sit with one foot tucked under you. These habits may feel comfortable in the moment, but over time, they create subtle imbalances in your body. For desk workers especially, these unconscious postures can contribute to what’s called functional scoliosis - a slight, often reversible, curve in the spine caused by muscular imbalances.
When you lean to one side, cross your legs habitually, or sit with one foot tucked under, the muscles on one side of your body may tighten while the opposite side becomes weaker or overstretched. Over time, this can affect your hips, spine, and shoulders, leading to discomfort, reduced mobility, or even chronic pain. Awareness of these patterns is the first step towards addressing them, and yoga provides a powerful tool for creating balance.
Asymmetrical yoga poses help you recognise and address these imbalances. By working one side of the body at a time, you can tune in to subtle differences in strength, flexibility, and alignment. These poses aren’t about achieving perfection on both sides; they’re about creating awareness and gradually restoring balance.
Take Lizard Pose (Utthan Pristhasana) as an example. This deep hip opener targets areas often affected by prolonged sitting and leaning.
By incorporating poses like Lizard into your practice, you’ll not only improve mobility but also retrain your body to move more evenly. When balanced movement becomes a habit, you’ll reduce the risk of pain and improve overall posture. Remember, this is also why yoga poses include counterposes - to ensure balance and prevent overworking any one area.
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