I find this stunning – evolutionary wonder.
Women’s L3 (a lower back vertebrae) is a wedge shape, when men’s are not.
Designed for pregnancy weight. As the baby weight shifts the center of mass forward this causes a lot of shear on the back muscles so to help it allows a larger lower back curve, which also leads to upper back moving back, which balances the weight more efficiently under gravity.
However, I see many women ‘stuck’ in this posture. Post pregnancy or even without pregnancy. I include myself in this, despite much ‘western yoga’. (Another conversation I’m working up to).
The wedge shape pre-disposes us to certain postures and breathing.
Awareness and specific breath work is enough.
Abdominal workouts can help a bit, but for sustainable spinal health, pelvic floor and diaphragm health and lung capacity, it needs to be trained with breath work.
