Every September, we celebrate National Yoga Month, a time to highlight the benefits of one of the world’s oldest healing practices. At Living Health Integrative Medicine, we see yoga as more than exercise — it’s a powerful way to strengthen the body, calm the mind, and support long-term health in Annapolis MD.

Why Yoga Matters

Yoga is a practice that dates back thousands of years, blending movement, breath, and mindfulness. Unlike high-intensity workouts that strain the body, yoga creates balance — gently strengthening muscles, improving circulation, and calming the nervous system.
For many of our patients, yoga becomes an essential tool for:

• Reducing stress & tension — Deep breathing activates the body’s relaxation response.
• Improving posture — Gentle poses counteract long hours of sitting or looking at screens.
• Supporting spinal health — Flexibility in the muscles surrounding the spine reduces pressure on joints.
• Enhancing balance & stability — Critical for healthy aging and injury prevention.

Yoga + Chiropractic: A Perfect Pair in Annapolis MD

When combined with chiropractic care, yoga helps extend the benefits of your adjustments. Chiropractic restores proper alignment, while yoga builds the flexibility and strength to maintain it. Together, they:

• Keep joints moving smoothly
• Improve range of motion
• Encourage better body awareness
• Reduce the likelihood of recurring pain or injury

Think of it this way: chiropractic care resets your foundation, and yoga helps you maintain it.

Simple Poses to Try This Month

Not sure where to begin? Here are three beginner-friendly yoga poses that support spinal health and relaxation:

Child's Pose

How to do it:

1. Start on your hands and knees in a tabletop position.
2. Bring your big toes to touch and gently sit your hips back toward your heels.
3. Stretch your arms forward on the mat, palms facing down, or rest them alongside your body with palms facing up.
4. Allow your forehead to rest on the mat.
5. Breathe deeply and relax your entire body, especially the lower back, shoulders, and neck.

Cat-Cow Stretch

How to do it:

1. Begin in a tabletop position: shoulders over wrists, hips over knees.
2. Inhale into Cow Pose: drop your belly towards the mat, lift your chest and chin, and gaze slightly upward.
3. Exhale into Cat Pose: round your spine toward the ceiling, tuck your chin to your chest, and draw your belly in.
4. Continue to flow between Cow (inhale) and Cat (exhale) for several breaths

Supine Spinal Twist

How to do it:

1. Lie flat on your back on a yoga mat, legs extended and arms resting by your sides.
2. Bend your right knee and draw it in toward your chest.
3. Gently guide the right knee across your body to the left side, letting it rest on or near the floor.
4. Extend your right arm out to the side (shoulder height) and turn your head to the right, gazing over your hand.
5. Keep your left hand on the right knee to help deepen the twist, if comfortable.
6. Try to keep both shoulders grounded on the mat.
7. Hold for 5–10 breaths, then slowly return to center and switch sides.

Just a few minutes a day can make a noticeable difference in how your body feels.

Your Invitation

This National Yoga Month, we encourage you to explore yoga in a way that works for your body. Whether you try a short online video, join a beginner’s class, or practice a few stretches at home, yoga is for every age and every stage.

Your spine, your joints, and your nervous system will thank you.