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Ready to see the world a little differently? Try the view from upside-down on an inversion table. Many people are buckling in their feet and taking the plunge to not only get a new perspective on life (literally), but to also reduce lower back pain, stimulate circulation and lymphatic fluids, ease stress, improve joint health and increase flexibility.

Used as part of a holistic approach to natural healing, inversion therapy could be your next wellness trend obsession.

Youve probably heard about the benefits of inverted poses in

your last yoga class, but maybe it turned out doing handstands

isnt as easy as your instructor previously claimed. Enter the

inversion table. A gentler way to angle your heart above your

head, inversion tables are an easy-to-use tool for stress-relieving

decompression therapy.

Ever wonder why you feel shorter at night than in the morning?

Because you actually are! Throughout the day gravity and weight

bearing activities compress your spinal discs, causing them to

release moisture and decrease flexibility. This causes the average

person to lose half-an-inch to three-fourths-of-an-inch of height

over the course of a day. Not only does this shorten your body, it

also pinches the spinal nerves causing lower back pain.

Inversion therapy slowly releases the pressure on your spinal discs

(called applying traction), allowing them to rehydrate to full size,

thus reversing the effects of gravity on your height. This also

opens up the exit passageway for the nerves to the spinal column,

releasing those pesky pinched nerves. With hydrated discs comes

nourished cartilage, enhancing the natural shock absorption in

your joints. Additionally, going upside-down stretches your back,

increasing flexibility and ligament strength.

Adding movement to the gentle inversions can also stimulate the

lymphatic system, known for its defense function in the immune

system. Lymphatic fluids filter waste products from the blood but

uPSIDeDOWNthe upsides & Downsides of Inversion therapy

By Lauren Holiday

have no built-in pump for doing so. Adding

oscillations to your inversion therapy routine

creates a pumping action around the spinal

discs forcing waste out and drawing new

fluid in. What this means for your body is

better recovery from training and other

stressful actions your body endures.

Knowing the benefits of inversion therapy

is just the first step. Now you must begin a

routine by strapping into an inversion table

and angling yourself horizontal for one

minute, or until your blood flow is able to

adapt to the change. Push back no lower

than 45 degrees for the first week, breathing

deeply for one to two minutes. You can also

raise your hands above your head to create

deeper spinal traction. Raise back up to a

25 degree angle until you can rest there for

five minutes. Doing this twice a day will help

your body quickly grow accustomed to the

new perspective. After the first week, increase

your angle by 10 to 20 degrees per week until

you are comfortable with an angle between

60 and 90 degrees for one to five minutes.

Always remember to use gentle movement

when lowering down or pulling up.

Easing into seeing the world upside down

will help you to avoid the downsides and just

experience the upsides of inversion therapy.

Like most things in life, inversion therapy

is not universally beneficial to everyone.

Because your heartbeat slows and blood

pressure increases while inverted, it is not

recommended for people with heart disease,

high blood pressure, glaucoma, or acid

reflux. You should always consult a doctor

before beginning an inversion therapy

routine.

WItH HyDrateD DIScS comeS nourISHeD

cartIlage, enHancIng tHe natural SHock

aBSorPtIon In your joIntS.

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