Invictus Blog

Spinal Segmentation – Key to a Healthy Spine
Video by Nick Hawkes

You are only as healthy as your spine is so a lot of effort should be put into making sure it is properly functioning. Spinal segmentation plays a huge role in whether or not yours is healthy. Did you know that each of your vertebrae should move independently of one another? Well they should, but for most, this is probably not the case.

In this video, Invictus Master Coach, Nick Hawkes, takes you through a version of Cat-Cow that will allow you to not only practice spinal segmentation (you do get better with practice), but also use it as a diagnostic tool to see where you might either be jammed up or have some motor control issues in your spine.

It’s also a great way to create awareness about where you are making up for the lack of segmentation in one area. For example, many of you might find that the lack of segmentation in the thoracic region can be felt as pinching, stiffness or pain in the lumbar region.

Once you identify your problem area(s), use Coach Nick’s tip to create some space in between those vertebrae and then retest your Segmented Cat-Cow. You should see at least some improvement right away. To hold onto that gain, make sure to complete at least 3-5 more reps of the Segmented Cat-Cow so your body knows that’s it’s new range of motion.