Many of us practice yoga because it offers relief from a number of stress-related and physical complaints. Another advantage is its ability to calm the mind.
But, if we are not careful, (just like in any sport or activity) we can hurt ourselves – especially in places like the knees, lower back, hamstrings, shoulders, and wrists.
Fortunately, most of these yoga injuries are preventable. Want to know how? Simply take heed of the following suggestions:
1. Warm up before every class
Before each yoga session, make sure you take the time to center yourself.
Start off by establishing awareness of the breath. Once this is complete, find your rhythm and link your breath to simple movements like gentle stretches. This will get you nice and warmed up for the deeper postures that lay ahead.
2. Keep your body aligned
Imagine what would happen to a building if its foundation was shaky. It wouldn’t be expected to last very long, would it?
The same can be said for your body while doing yoga. If your alignment is out of whack, you risk injury and also miss out on a lot of the benefits that each pose has to offer. Hence, it’s important to have a good instructor who can help you find the right alignment in each posture.
3. Pick the right poses
A lot of yoga injuries happen when we push ourselves too far or try advanced poses – like the headstand or backbends like cobra, camel, up-dog, etc.
If you feel that you are ready to try these poses, make sure that you stretch properly before class. You may also want to take advantage of props like straps and bolsters. These tools provide the support you need to take your practice to the next level.
You must pay attention to your body as well. For instance, just because you were able to do a pose one day, doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to do it the next. If something feels wrong (your breath becomes more erratic, or it hurts), back off and try something different.
4. Avoid slippage
It can be tough to find your footing when doing downward dog and some of the harder standing poses. But, this is easily remedied with the right yoga mat.
What’s your preferred thickness, size, material, type of yoga practice, etc? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you choose the mat that’s right for you.
5. Wear appropriate clothing
When practicing yoga, the last thing on your mind should be the discomfort caused by your clothing bunching up in all the wrong places. To keep this from happening, choose snug and comfortable yoga wear that allows for proper movement. This ensures that your practice is a lot more relaxing and enjoyable.
6. Everything goes back to the breath
Pay attention to your breath throughout your practice – this is a key indicator of your physical and mental state. Is your breath erratic and shallow, or long and rhythmic? Observe as you inhale and make any needed changes when you exhale.
In conclusion, yoga does have its advantages, but yoga injuries can happen when we push ourselves too soon and too far. To avoid this, you must remember to be honest with yourself and respect your boundaries. Doing so will ensure that your practice is the best for you.
~Namaste~
About the Author
Emily Adams is a marketing specialist at YogiWear having a main focus on development and implementation of marketing ideas. Her primary talking points are yoga life, benefits of yoga, yogi lifestyle and yoga wear.
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This article (6 Things To Do To Escape Possible Yoga Injuries) is copyrighted by Awareness Junkie, 2017. You may not copy, reproduce, publish or distribute any content therein without written permission. You may contact us here.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Moreover, views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Awareness Junkie or its staff.
