I saw these foxgloves gently swaying in the wind whilst on a walk this summer. They were past their best, the flowers had started to fall and the stem was beginning to dry out. Their silhouette reminded me of the shape of bony spines and it made me think about the way our spines change through our lives.

The word spine comes to us via the Old French espine from the Latin spina meaning thorn or backbone. The spine is a vital part of our structure as it holds up all the upper body, the head, neck, arms, chest and abdomen. It is also involved in walking as the pelvis tilts, causing the spine to bend to the side. Flexibility, strength and correct alignment of the spine are all important in maintaining the structure of the rest of the body and facilitating ease of movement.

The spinal discs don’t have a blood supply of their own, but are part of a self-contained fluid system. They are hydrated by diffusion from surrounding tissues and this occurs when they move. The best way to keep the spine healthy is to keep the discs moving through a range of movements on a daily basis. These movements actually nourish the disc joint.

As we age, the spine is affected by gravity and a decline in muscle strength and tone. These effects increase all the curvatures of the spine which in turn affects the circulation of blood and energy in the body. There is an overall drying and stiffening of the body – the process that was visibly starting to affect the foxgloves.

This process isn’t inevitable however and yoga texts talk about nurturing a feeling of lightness in the body and fostering the body’s ability to withstand change. Yoga postures were developed to help the body remain balanced through the different stages of life and they help to maintain the uprightness of the spine. Yoga can help to sustain the spine’s strength and flexibility and directly works against the effects of ageing, bringing benefits to the circulation, digestion and respiration.

I teach a method of yoga which links our awareness to the spine through the use of the breath. We strengthen the core muscles and learn to work with posture in a way which can be carried through into daily life, not just in a yoga class or one-to-one session. This tradition stresses the importance of influencing the spine and this sometimes comes as a surprise when people who have practiced yoga for years, realize that they haven’t really been doing that at all.

The aim of working in this way is to prevent the deterioration of the spine by supporting it with a strong core and keeping the discs well-nourished and mobile. Maintaining the spine in good working order is central to good posture and standing tall and it also affects how energetic and well you feel. Good motivation to get the yoga mat out!