Karen Watson Reeves demonstrates Supine Twist Pose. Photo Fred Padilla.
By Karen Watson Reeves
[Contributor’s note: 2025 is the year we celebrate 12 years as The Yoga Place, and this calendar year the setting for each month’s pose will be a business in our town that has exhibited “stay power.”]
There are several names for this yoga posture and a couple of pretty complicated Sanskrit names for this pose, but I tend to keep it simple and call it Supine Twist. It is a pose that is typically used to start or end a class and is one of my favorite poses. It is simple enough that any practitioner can, and should, practice it every day. It feels that good!
Golfers especially can benefit from this twist (but all the benefits listed are true for the general population, even if you never pick up a golf club or putter) as it improves spinal flexibility and mobility, which allows for a greater turn in the backswing, leading to a longer arc and potentially more power.
It also helps golfers dissociate the movement of their trunk from their hips, allowing for a smoother and more efficient swing. This twist engages core muscles, including the obliques, helping to stabilize the spine and pelvis during movement. A strong core (which is discussed frequently in this column) is important for generating power, maintaining balance, and preventing injuries during the swing.
Supine Twist can help relieve tension and stiffness in the lower back, shoulders, and hips. The increased blood flow to the spine during the twist can also nourish the spinal discs, promoting their health and reducing the risk of pain.
When spinal mobility and core strength are improved, so are better balance and posture. Twisting can help relieve stress and tension, making for better relaxation and mental clarity. Golf, like other sports including tennis and baseball, is an asymmetrical activity. When Supine Twist is practiced, the pose is done on both sides, helping to balance out the asymmetry in the body, whether or not you ever play any of these sports.
So, the next time you are scheduling a golf game, whether heading to the links or just putting around, incorporate a Supine Twist before or after (or both!). Your body will thank you, no matter what the scorecard says.
{Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf, open at 4612Central Avenue since 1995, has been managed by the Chris Henson family since 2010. 501-525-9311}
Karen Watson Reeves has called Hot Springs home since 2006. Owner of The Yoga Place, at 301 Whittington Avenue, she became a registered yoga/children’s yoga teacher in 2011. When not on the mat, Karen enjoys the beautiful outdoors of the National Park, especially from her bicycle. Please find more information about her studio and her schedule of classes at www.theyogaplacehs.com.
