THE TWISTING POSES
Twisting poses relieve a feeling of stiffness in the back. Gently twisting the torso massages the muscles along the spine and may help realign the vertebrae. Rotating the spine stimulates the nerves along the spinal column. With consistent practice, these postures may increase the ability of the spine to revolve.
Twisting poses also stretch the muscles of the neck, chest, back, and outer hips. Stretching these areas by twisting creates a feeling of freedom in the upper body. Releasing tight muscles may help alleviate back pain and reduce neck tension.
The depth of the inhalation of the breath depends on the ability of the rib cage to expand. Twisting poses also stretch the muscles of the rib cage and shoulder area. Stretching these muscles allows for greater expansion of the chest. This makes deeper breathing possible.