Yoga and physical therapy help scoliosis patients manage pain and shame
6 reported
A letter published in The Guardian on July 21, 2026, responds to a previous article about yoga and scoliosis, with multiple readers sharing their personal experiences. Louise Zamparutti of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, wrote that she has been ashamed of her scoliosis her entire life, diagnosed in her early 20s while she was a dancer and choreographer. She described her curvature as both thoracic and lumbar, running sideways and forward-backward, and noted that her dance teachers criticized her posture. Zamparutti said she coped with chronic pain through ashtanga yoga, which she taught for over 10 years, and now through lap swimming, but has not come to terms with the shame. Kirie Pedersen of Brinnon, Washington, wrote that at age 75 she has been pain-free for years after persisting with yoga and physical therapy exercises six out of seven days. Alice Devon of Metairie, Louisiana, wrote that after 56 years of practice, she experiences no pain, a normal life, and flexibility at age 70.
What’s reported
Louise Zamparutti’s scoliosis was not diagnosed until her early 20s.
Zamparutti’s curvature is both thoracic and lumbar, running sideways and forward-backward.
Zamparutti taught ashtanga yoga for over 10 years and now uses lap swimming for pain.
Kirie Pedersen is 75 years old and has been pain-free for years.
Pedersen practices her yoga/physical therapy routine six out of seven days.
Alice Devon is 70 years old and has practiced for 56 years with no pain.
Key figures
Louise Zamparutti, letter writer from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, US
Kirie Pedersen, letter writer from Brinnon, Washington, US
Alice Devon, letter writer from Metairie, Louisiana, US
Natasha Livingstone, author of the original article referenced
Sources: The Guardian
