Unwinding Scoliosis from the Inside Out introduces a unique YogAlign® and FitAlign® approach using breath-based neuromuscular repatterning, functional movement and focused muscle engagement to help restore the body's original primal blueprint for aligned spinal curves.
Scoliosis is often described as idiopathic, meaning there is no single known cause. Common medical treatments include bracing and, in more serious cases, spinal surgery. Michaelle Edwards approaches imbalances in spinal curves from a different perspective, exploring muscular tension and movement patterns that may be linked to stress responses held in the nervous system.
Michaelle hypothesizes that unwinding scoliosis involves resetting nervous-system and muscular patterns that may be expressed through the psoas muscle group. The most common type of scoliosis develops during adolescence and often becomes apparent during the rapid growth years around puberty.
Rather than simply forcing the spine toward a particular position, this program looks at the relationship between the nervous system, breathing and deep postural muscles. The two psoas muscles function like guy wires, connecting the lumbar spine and pelvis with the diaphragm through important fascial and anatomical relationships.
Because humans are naturally side dominant—right- or left-handed—habitual asymmetrical patterns can develop. When one side becomes chronically shortened or over-recruited, it can contribute to a domino effect of muscular imbalance and compensatory movement throughout the body.
To address scoliosis from this perspective, Michaelle focuses particularly on breathing habits, psoas balance and whole-body neuromuscular organization. This video engages the whole person—the nervous system, breathing patterns, psoas and other muscle relationships, fascia, habitual movement and the body's natural asymmetries—to encourage new patterns of balance and alignment from the inside out.
With more than 30 years of hands-on experience working with thousands of people, Michaelle Edwards, a licensed massage therapist and creator of YogAlign and FitAlign, has developed breath-based methods designed to help people recognize and repattern muscular and movement habits associated with postural conditions such as scoliosis.
In this program, you'll explore how to:
Use safe, functional body positions based on movements used in everyday life
Develop stability and mobility without forcing the spine or aggressively stretching the body
Use breath-based neuromuscular repatterning to increase awareness of habitual posture and movement patterns
Explore the relationship among the psoas, diaphragm, pelvis, spine and breathing
Recognize side dominance and asymmetrical movement patterns
Use breathing and focused muscle engagement to develop greater support throughout the torso
Explore side-to-side differences in psoas tension and muscular recruitment
Use proprioception and sensory awareness to develop more organized movement
Encourage muscular balance rather than trying to force the body straight
You cannot simply “stretch your way out of scoliosis.” This program takes a stability-focused approach and avoids relying on aggressive twists, deep backbends, abdominal stretching and other extreme positions to change spinal curves. Instead, the emphasis is on breathing, balanced muscular engagement, proprioception and functional movement.
Breathing Affects Your Whole Body
Breathing is much more than an exchange of oxygen. The way we breathe influences the entire body, including posture and movement, nervous-system regulation, circulation, lymphatic movement, digestion, mood, energy and overall well-being.
Breathing habits can also influence how we hold and move our bodies, affecting comfort, posture, mobility and the forces placed on our joints.
A Different Approach to Scoliosis
The goal of this practice is not to force the body into an externally imposed shape. It is to use breathing, functional movement, proprioception and neuromuscular awareness to explore more balanced patterns from the inside out.
Suitable for a wide range of ages and fitness levels. Children and anyone with diagnosed, progressing or significant abnormal spinal curves should be evaluated by an appropriate medical professional. These techniques are designed to be gentle and do not require extreme positions or force.