Yoga Injury and Prevention
That is right read slowly yoga and injury in the same title. This is no myth but a reality today. With bursts of yoga information flooding the internet and era of quick fixes, we all are facing this dilemma.
Here are some tips that will come in handy for any yoga teacher or student to prevent yoga-related injuries. Yoga always advocates “Prevention is better than cure!”
Prevention is Better than Cure!
• Is Yoga a safe choice? Yes, but caution to exercise is learning from a qualified yoga teacher. Ensure you check the credentials before you start. An experienced yoga teacher will be careful enough to give you correct method of doing asana, pranayama, meditation details etc.
• Watching You-tube yoga videos, copying Whatsapp, Instagram’s poses or watching TV and doing yoga is a big “No-No.” This makes you lose focus and increases the chances of injury.
• Every student comes in with different expectations out of yoga and yoga teacher. A competent yoga teacher will assess the biomechanics and body patterns to give correct guidance. Yoga teacher is vital especially when you have just started out practising yoga. This is a crucial time and chances of injuries are higher without proper knowledge of self and implications of yoga practice in the beginning.
• Yoga teaches mindfulness but that will come with practice and patience. Yoga is not a hurried science. It takes effort and attention. A good student who learns to be mindful and attentive will surely reduce his/ her chances of yoga related injury.
• Unrealistic expectations; yes joining yoga with certain goals in mind is a good thing. But students need to realise no yoga teacher has a magic wand to cure all your health ailments and get you to your holistic health goal all by himself/herself. Success mantra of holistic health through yoga is practise and self-perseverance on part of the students.
• Learn self-reliance. Listen to your body signals and try to understand what it is trying to convey. No injury or illness starts all of a sudden; it takes time for discomfort to turn to disease. Do not over exert yourself. Do not compare your body and yoga exercise patterns with someone else. Each one’s body capacity and the requirements are different. Remain constantly aware of the changes happening with your own body. When body sends signals ‘enough for the day’ listen and take the required rest.
• Yoga essentially means slow, rhythmic movements with correct Yogendra breathing techniques. Remember this mantra and you will not go wrong with yoga practice. When you practise slowly chances of injury are reduced.
So be it yoga class, yoga at home or yoga as a way of life; learn to listen to your body. Yoga is a journey of knowing yourself. So go easy on yourself and enjoy the journey.