Turn Your Fitness Upside Down

Turn Your Fitness Upside Down

It’s a well-known fact that over 80% of adults suffer from back pain at some point in their life.  The spine endures immense pressure from gravity and poor posture.  Plus the habits of modern living tend to weaken the muscles that support the spine (sitting, driving, computer-work).  Poor posture, being over-weight, high impact activity or lack of activity, can all negatively affect spinal health, resulting in muscle spasms, spinal malformations, chronic pain and debilitating discomfort.

There are volumes of research on how to best treat chronic back pain.  The bottom line seems to be that best remedies depend on the nature of the injury and are as individual as the individual.  Massage, physiotherapy, exercise, weight loss, acupuncture, yoga and Pilates are all valid and recommended.  A new form of exercise however, is quickly gaining momentum as a viable option of effective treatment: Suspension Fitness.

Suspension Fitness takes gravity out of the equation, allowing the spine to fully extend and align without the forces of body weight and/or gravity.  A new form of yoga called Anti-Gravity Yoga (AGY) is quickly gaining popularity both for its unique fitness challenge and for its ability to potentially alleviate chronic back pain.   One suspends 3ft above the floor in a 9ft hammock.  In the hammock one can achieve what is called “zero-compression inversions” by hanging upside down while suspended in mid-air .  The effect is increase of the space between each vertebrae, allowing for enhanced inter-vertebral oxygenation and hydration, deep release and alignment.

AGY is offered in group or private classes exclusively at the Steve Nash Sports Club at 610 Granville Street.  For more information visit their website (www.stevenashfitnessclubs.com) or contact Rebecca at rebecca@stevenashsportsclub.com.