Can you start yoga with existing injuries?
annepage
Posts: 585 Member
I'm beginning to think yoga might be a good choice for me. But, I've got previous "injuries" (oblique strain and pes anserine bursitis ) that I'm still undergoing rehab for. However, being so out of shape, I can't help wonder if the stretching that yoga would provide would be very beneficial and possibly help with the rehab.
Anyone have any opinions on doing yoga with injuries?
Also, is the way to start yoga simply to just choose a class and begin or is there more insight to it on that?
Anyone have any opinions on doing yoga with injuries?
Also, is the way to start yoga simply to just choose a class and begin or is there more insight to it on that?
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Replies
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Absolutely. That's actually how I got started.
The most important thing is to find a teacher that is willing and able to work with you. Find the most experienced teacher around - look for at least a 500 hour trained teacher. If you can find what is called a 500 E-YRT ("E" meaning experienced, over 1,500 hours of teaching) that would be best.
I do Iyengar yoga. In that system, it's easy to find out who is the most trained. Go to here: https://secure.iynaus.org/search
put in your state and certification level of at least Intermediate Junior 1.0 -
Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, I did not find any junior 1 instructors in my area but will continue searching for something feasible. Did you find that yoga helped you recover faster or at least improved your recovery process in some way? Did having an injury produce a lot of obstacles when you first started ?0
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Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, I did not find any junior 1 instructors in my area but will continue searching for something feasible. Did you find that yoga helped you recover faster or at least improved your recovery process in some way? Did having an injury produce a lot of obstacles when you first started ?
Everyone has a limitation of some sort. The super flexible usually aren't that strong. The strong usually aren't flexible. The athletic can't sit still; those that like to sit still, don't like to move, etc. Everyone has an obstacle. Yoga is for overcoming obstacles, most of them mental. But that's more philosophical, and not what you were asking.
Yes, yoga helped me with my elbow injury. I can now straighten my left arm completely. You should ask your PT/rehab person to give you some things you should and should not do. Any yoga teacher worth their salt should be able to figure out what poses you should/should not do.
Hope it works out for you.0 -
My personal experience is YES ..... I've suffered from back pain for decades ....... couldn't even lift my daughter when she was little ........ walking was the only exercise I could manage ........ but my doctor urged me to join a gym to do more cardio & start lifting weights ...... at the same time, I took up yoga ...... and wish I'd done it sooner !
Yoga can be as gentle or as extreme as you need or want .......I prefer gentle ....... when my class starts, the instructor asks us how we are doing & if we have any limitations that day ....... and she shows us how to adjust & adapt ......
I also do gentle stretchy yoga each morning at home ....... right now I'm liking the "Burnout to Bliss" online ...... this gets me moving & ready for the rest of my day ........ check it out ......
http://www.doyogawithme.com/content/burnout-bliss
I will say this ....... if I don't do it, I feel like crap ...... but as little as 10-15 minutes a day keeps me golden !
Best of luck to you !0 -
Everyone has a limitation of some sort. The super flexible usually aren't that strong. The strong usually aren't flexible. The athletic can't sit still; those that like to sit still, don't like to move, etc. Everyone has an obstacle. Yoga is for overcoming obstacles, most of them mental. But that's more philosophical, and not what you were asking.
Yes, yoga helped me with my elbow injury. I can now straighten my left arm completely. You should ask your PT/rehab person to give you some things you should and should not do. Any yoga teacher worth their salt should be able to figure out what poses you should/should not do.
Hope it works out for you.
This is very insightful. I never considered that could be the case. Thank you.
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My personal experience is YES ..... I've suffered from back pain for decades ....... couldn't even lift my daughter when she was little ........ walking was the only exercise I could manage ........ but my doctor urged me to join a gym to do more cardio & start lifting weights ...... at the same time, I took up yoga ...... and wish I'd done it sooner !
Yoga can be as gentle or as extreme as you need or want .......I prefer gentle ....... when my class starts, the instructor asks us how we are doing & if we have any limitations that day ....... and she shows us how to adjust & adapt ......
I also do gentle stretchy yoga each morning at home ....... right now I'm liking the "Burnout to Bliss" online ...... this gets me moving & ready for the rest of my day ........ check it out ......
http://www.doyogawithme.com/content/burnout-bliss
I will say this ....... if I don't do it, I feel like crap ...... but as little as 10-15 minutes a day keeps me golden !
Best of luck to you !
I've been putting off starting until I'm completely "pain free" but am not sure how long this would take. I've been under the impression that yoga involved poses that I might end up hurting myself with. I listened to about 10 minutes of the "Burnout to Bliss" video you suggested to get a sense of it and that alone was pretty relaxing and am going to give the rest of it a go. Thank you so much for posting the link and for the feedback. It has also been very helpful. 0 -
I've been putting off starting until I'm completely "pain free" but am not sure how long this would take. I've been under the impression that yoga involved poses that I might end up hurting myself with. I listened to about 10 minutes of the "Burnout to Bliss" video you suggested to get a sense of it and that alone was pretty relaxing and am going to give the rest of it a go. Thank you so much for posting the link and for the feedback. It has also been very helpful.
When I first joined MFP, I read this somewhere ......
"If we wait for the moment when everything is ready, we shall never begin."
Have a great day, honey :drinker:0 -
Hey folks! It's been a while since I've visited!
@OP: YES! You can modify any pose to suit your abilities. I had knee injuries, and started yoga after I was finished with PT. I really wish I started it years ago! I know it's made a huge difference in my leg strength, and has been nothing but great for my knees. When I first started practicing, I had to have blankets/extra cushion under my knees for any simple pose like table top, cat/cow, child's pose, etc. Now I am comfortable with these poses and no additional cushion, and my ROM has improved dramatically. I definitely think yoga has bolstered the rate of healing in my knees, so I'd recommend just starting somewhere and let your pain dictate your limits.
You may want to check your local studio for "restorative" or "gentle" classes, too, which are a bit less strenuous and often designed for people with some limitations and/or injuries.0 -
You guys are right. I keep putting off a lot of exercise due to pain/injury because I've always gone overboard in the past (or so I've been told/found out the hard way). Trying to learn the balance now and will start stretching and work my way up. Thanks for all of the comments/insight guys. 0
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My Yoga teacher broke his spine in four places and his collar bone - a snowboarding accident five years ago. He was told he would possibly not walk again. His story of recovery is here: http://www.loveyogaonline.co.uk/about-us/teachers/jock-orton/
He is a wonderful inspired teacher and better I am sure for walking the path he did to be where he is now.
I wish you all the best on your journey.0
