| On March 22, 2001, the New England Journal of | | | | in supervised gym classes and on front lawns. |
| Medicine published a study about the connection | | | | Unfortunately, I have worked with "retired" gymnasts |
| between specific Yoga postures (asanas) and a | | | | who were diagnosed with arthritis in their early 20's. In |
| particular type of stroke called, "arterial dissection." It | | | | their cases, arthritis occurred because of repetitive |
| seems that sudden neck movements, or any Yoga | | | | torque and motion. Do not avoid a doctor's consultation |
| posture that places extreme pressure on your neck, | | | | because of your ego. |
| can put you at risk. | | | | Speaking of ego, we often hear an asana referred to |
| Am I trying to scare you about the dangers involved in | | | | as advanced. Everyone wants to be promoted to the |
| practicing a posture, such as: Shirshasana? No, but you | | | | head of the class. If we can perform Shirshasana, with |
| should be aware of the potential for injuries in any | | | | a heavy chair on our feet, and sip a coffee through a |
| posture. The chances of experiencing arterial | | | | straw at the same time, are we advanced Yogis? |
| dissection, as a result of Shirshasana practice, are | | | | Consider this: To perform any asana, with complete |
| quite rare; but this is only the tip of the iceberg, when | | | | presence, is Hatha Yoga; but to perform a posture |
| we consider developing a safe Yoga practice. | | | | without a clear intention, and full awareness, is a |
| For example, your cervical vertebrae are quite thin, in | | | | mindless form of exercise. Hatha Yoga is not a |
| comparison to your lumbar vertebrae, for a reason: | | | | physical exercise alone, and it requires that you be |
| Your lumbar vertebrae are large in comparison to | | | | mentally present for practice. |
| cervical vertebrae. The surrounding muscular tissue in | | | | If you are a student, please seek out a competent |
| your back, shoulders, and neck, were designed to | | | | Yoga teacher, and learn foundational techniques, |
| support your spine and the weight of your skull. | | | | before practicing challenging postures or under taking |
| When you turn everything upside down, you put | | | | risky techniques. Get your doctor's blessing. Warm up |
| pressure on the thin and delicate cervical vertebrae. | | | | and perform preparatory Yoga postures before |
| Additionally, do you know for sure that you do not | | | | practicing advanced techniques. |
| have arthritis or osteoporosis? Unless you are | | | | If you are a Yoga teacher, there is no room for ego or |
| thoroughly warmed up, have practiced preparatory | | | | arrogance. No matter what style you were certified in, |
| postures, and have your doctor's consent, why would | | | | putting your ego "in the back seat" should have been |
| you take unnecessary risks with your health? | | | | addressed in your foundational Yoga teacher training. |
| Maybe you think you are too young to have "bone | | | | Never take chances with your student's livelihood. |
| problems." Children are injured performing headstands | | | | |