Inversion tables bring Batman to mind, right away. It's almost an immediate response to seeing a photo of someone hanging upsidedown by his ankles in the middle of a room. I had an experience with an inversion table once. It was at a neighbor's house, a neighbor I was dating who also happened to be an underwear model and who's roommate had an inversion table. It stood in their all-wood, all-Zen living room with gigantic glass picture windows five or so stories high in downtown Seattle. Being 6' tall and living with a high sense of gravity, a few car wrecks under my belt; I have my share of kinky back days. The inversion table was of particular interest to me, as I recalled a recent therapy I endured in Germany for an entire year after landing on my head mid-back fip in kung fu class. Fistfuls of painkillers, muscle relaxers and once a month- a large leather belt strapped under my chin by which, I would hang from my head on a wooden board, tilted at a 45 degree angle. Hanging by your ankles is far more pleasant! N'est ce pas?

Inversion tables stretch your back using only gravity to relieve pressure and strain in the spine. The deeply satisfying effects of easing spinal pain, root nerve pressure and compression, as well as, cervical tension which can lead to headaches and pinched nerves, are some of the great benefits.

Yogis and martial artists also believe in the health benefits of upsidedown postures. Increasing circulation, relieving the pressure of your organs and bowels, counter-acting the effects of gravity in your face and on your spine. Inversion tables are great because not everyone can do a handstand or downward dog comfortably or at all. Particulary, women who tend to have weaker upper arms and have never been able to do a pull up once in their entire life. Take note! This is a safe and comfortable way to hang upsidedown without physical exhertion.

Think of all those load bearing chores we do in life. Hauling tons of groceries around, laundry, firewood, couches, people, dogs, suitcases, crates of wine, Christmas trees, shopping bags in bad shoes that cause blisters with every step down peopled city blocks. All of this can be erased with just a few minutes a day on your very own inversion table. Its like turning back the clock of bodily pain.

Athletic and hardworking men will also really enjoy the stretching effect on their muscles and the relief they will feel in their backs. For anyone who is a heavy weight lifter or runner or physical laborer- the cost of this table will pay itself back in the savings you'll keep in lieu of chiropractor's bills. While inversion therapy is great for old injuries or existing back conditions, think of it as preventative too. Keeping your body limber and in alignment affects your entire body's well being.

Remember to keep your core and abdomen strong for good back health and stretch daily. An inversion table is definitely on my Christmas list this year and luckily, there are a wide variety to choose from.