With so much buzz surrounding the benefits of yoga, it was only a matter of time before people stopped getting carried away by all the hype and looked at some of its potential pitfalls too. After all, yoga is all about common sense.
“Yoga allows you to rediscover a sense of wholeness in your life, where you do not feel like you are constantly trying to fix broken pieces together.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
So, before you rush off to seek your dream yoga guru in India, it’s important that you learn about some precautionary measures that can steer you clear from any injuries, and help you enjoy yoga safely for the rest of your life!
Don’t have unrealistic expectations
Please note, unless you’re a trained gymnast or dancer, it’d be impossible for you to take your leg behind your head after attending only a few yoga classes! No, won’t happen even if you’re athletic and in the best shape of your life!
These are some very advanced yoga poses that require plenty of balance, flexibility, strength and years of practice.
Learn only from a well-qualified teacher
Until some time ago yoga teachers would become eligible to teach only after years of intensive study and training under some accomplished yoga guru. Although it served as a wonderful model, it wasn’t realistic for everyone to be trained that way. That’s why certifications from bodies like Yoga Alliance and others came into being.
You must ensure that the person you learn yoga from has at least a certain minimum amount of training and is certified by a recognized body. This in itself would greatly reduce the chances of injuries because the teacher won’t push you to do something your body isn’t ready for.
In addition, if the idea of your body being adjusted makes you feel uncomfortable, feel free to tell the teacher about it. He/she would undoubtedly respect your concerns.
Avoid competition
One of the best aspects of yoga is that it encourages you to understand your body well and make decisions that are right for it. Most yoga injuries happen because the student attempts doing poses that his/her body isn’t ready for, just because he/she sees someone else doing it in the classroom.
So if a teacher tells you that your shoulder is under your knee, don’t go any further if your heel is down, your hip is touching the floor etc. you must listen to him/her. Avoid progressing to the next variation if you haven’t mastered the previous one yet. Not paying heed to the teacher’s instructions is the first step towards getting injured.
Avoid competing with yourself too
The spirit of non competition must be extended to yourself too. Every day is different. You must listen to your body first. Although it can be fun to try out different and difficult yoga poses, why risk an injury if you’re not up to it on that day. Have a long-term view.
If you still get injured…?!
In the event that you get injured accidentally, despite great care, it’s important that you take it seriously and go see a qualified doctor. You should return to yoga practice only after getting completely healed.
Furthermore, ensure that you inform your teacher about any past injury so he/she can take special care during body adjustments. He/she would also help you with adaptations on certain poses, so as to avoid any aggravation of your condition.
AyurYoga Eco-Ashram in Mysore, India has highly qualified and experienced teachers who can help you learn yoga free from any injury concerns.