Anxious anticipation is what most of us feel when signing up for the next yoga class. Often, however, excitement can lead to impulsiveness and injury. Staying safe means you can enjoy yoga for many sessions to come.
Some people tend to be more prone to injury than the rest of the population and need a little extra instruction. If you’ve had a muscle injury, strain, or sprain, you know that it can sometimes take months to heal. Pain and discomfort, no matter how debilitating, can last for several months, preventing you from attending your favorite class.
Here are 5 tips to prevent unnecessary injuries in your yoga practice.
- Listen to Your Yoga Instructor’s Directions Your instructor may give you directions such as: In the equestrian (stride) stance, make sure your front knee is straight above your ankle. – Raise the kneecaps by contracting the upper front thighs (quadriceps) – Keep the knees directly over the ankles, hips over knees, shoulders over hips, etc. in posture, to be aware of the normal position of the muscles and to keep you safe from injury that could keep you ‘out’ for months.
- Listen to your body: – Be aware of the strength or weakness of your muscles when you are working at your limit. Some people like to work on the edge, working towards the limits of the body and expanding them. Expanding your limits takes constant practice and time. Injuries take much longer and can cause you to lose much of the strength and flexibility you’ve gained over time. You can also take your time and get continuous, measurable results, and then bring your dreams to a screeching halt indefinitely.
- Clear away anything you might fall on: how romantic… do yoga by the fireplace, by candlelight, in the dark, balancing on one leg. Yes I do. Maybe not the best idea. A little more light, a little less brick, moving to a central location where if you fall, you won’t burn your hair or break a limb. Taking a look and cleaning your yoga space before practice should prevent unnecessary injuries.
- DO NOT take intoxicants before practicing yoga: Part of the beauty of yoga is being able to feel your body, notice how it works and experience a true meditation. While doing yoga poses (stretching, strengthening, holding, twisting, balancing, and moving in meditation), how easy would it be to lose your balance, fall, throw something out of alignment? Suddenly, you are in agony and headed for the living room. hospital emergency room. Intoxicants are dangerous when doing yoga. Don’t do it.
- Practice with a sticky yoga mat: During yoga, depending on the type of class or how much you overheat, there may be sweating and slipping. It is easy to lose your grip (hands or feet) on a slippery surface. A yoga mat has a non-slip surface on the top and bottom, so it won’t slide across the floor either. Before I started my first yoga class, I thought it would be more economical to buy a bath mat with a non-slip underside. Big! Planting your face on the ground is the result of a slip, or worse. Buy a good quality sticky yoga mat.
During your yoga practice, it is important to follow your instructor’s guidance, clear your immediate environment of clutter, and tune in to the body’s messages.
* Let the instructor know before class if there are changes in your medical history or if you have any new injuries, so they can continue to keep you safe in practice.