Welcome, Whitney Etheridge!
Please extend a warm welcome to Spiral Spine Pilates’ newest teacher, Whitney Etheridge! Whitney has returned home to Nashville after teaching Pilates in New York for many years. She is a fully certified Pilates instructor who received her training from the Kane School of Core Integration in NYC (where I also received my training). In […]
Erin Myers’ monthly scoliosis care routine
Have you ever wondered how a trained Pilates instructor performs scoliosis care? Well I’m about to tell you all the ins and outs of my monthly routine. I have had scoliosis since I was a teen. I’m now in my late 30s now and have developed a tried-and-true way to care for my scoliosis. While […]
What are the side effects of scoliosis spinal fusion surgery?
New clients often ask what my thoughts are on scoliosis spinal fusion surgery and its side effects, because that is the only option they were given by their doctors to treat their scoliosis. I’m going to have the conversation I have with them with you. To summarize: Doctors usually don’t mention treatments besides bracing and […]
The 5 Best Exercises for Scoliosis
One of the most common questions I get asked at the end of a lesson with a scoli client, is “what are the best exercises for scoliosis?” After years of working with countless clients and reading through mounds of research, here’s what I’ve learned are the best exercises for scoliosis: Traction Side Shift Side Bend […]
Two Scoliosis Spinal Fusion Surgeries Approved by FDA
The FDA recently approved two more scoliosis spinal fusion surgeries: Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) and ApiFix. I’ve been reading about these two surgeries for years and am hopeful they will be good alternatives to the rod fusion surgeries that are currently done, but only time will tell. While I am not an advocate of spinal […]
A Christmas Ode to Pilates
Many people turn to Pilates for lower back pain relief. That was not my journey. This Christmas in particular, I am thankful for my unique Pilates journey because it brought me to a new career I love. I am thankful for Christmas because it launched me into my career as a Pilates instructor. More specifically, […]
Small scoliosis curves – are they painful?
It is easy to imagine how large scoli curves can wreak havoc on one’s body, but many people are unaware of how small scoliosis curves can be just as physically and emotionally painful. I wrote in The Beautiful Scoliotic Back that bodies like balance. So, any deviation, even a small one, (i.e. small scoli curves) […]
Scoliosis, Migraines and an Immobile Spine
The following passage is an excerpt from The Beautiful Scoliotic Back, detailing a client of mine who suffers from scoliosis, migraines and an immobile spine. “Nancy”* is a precious client of mine whom I’ve worked with for years. Nancy is about 60 years-old, but has taken such good care of herself that she looks and […]
Is back surgery my only option for helping my scoliosis?
Is back surgery my only option? This email question comes from 59 year-old woman from Kentucky. She’s lived with scoliosis her entire life, but after her latest doctor’s visit, she’s been told to prepare for back surgery. Panicked, she’s reaching out to Spiral Spine for advice. Scoliosis doesn’t go away. In fact, it usually progresses […]
Prevent Back Pain at Your Desk
Do you suffer from back pain? Millions of people do, and unfortunately, pain medication won’t help you in the long run. As you start to take control of your health and your body, let’s examine how you spend the majority of your day – most likely you’re sitting at a desk, for extended periods of time.
Now, let’s talk about where this back pain is stemming from. Picture the human skeleton in your head. Note the skull, the ribcage beneath it, below that is the lower spine or the lumbar vertebrae, and then below that is the pelvis.