What is osteochondrosis and how do I ease it?

Osteochondrosis is a term used widely in Eastern Europe for age-related changes in the spine and discs - stiffness, aching, less freedom of movement, usually in the neck or lower back. But it is not the spine literally wearing away. It is the body that got used to one position and one load, year after year, until it went still.

What went still can be woken up. Decompression of the body creates space and takes the pressure off: in the hang the spine lengthens, the space between the vertebrae opens, and the discs - those sponges full of moisture - get to soak up and breathe again. Slow, supported movement with calm breathing keeps the area alive instead of locked, and we work with the whole body, so the whole body gets lighter.

Start gently, a few seconds at a time, and be regular - regularity matters more than intensity. The body restores itself when it is worked with softly and consistently.