A Seemingly Safe Yoga Practice Can Turn Dangerous If You Don't Pay Attention To These Things

Yoga is the oldest form of exercise and traces its roots back to ancient India. The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word "yuj," which means "to yoke" or "to bind." Interestingly, yoga incorporates physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation together. While spirituality lists various benefits of yoga, scientific research into it is still at a preliminary stage. On the contrary, there are some studies which show that it actually exacerbates pain.

A study in 2017, conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney found that yoga practice, if done on a regular basis, causes musculoskeletal pain and worsens injuries you already have. Researchers conducted a study involving 354 individuals who had attended at least one yoga class at two yoga studios in New York. The participants, 95% of whom were women with an average age of 45, completed questionnaires at the start of the study to document any pre-existing musculoskeletal pain.

A year later, the researchers followed up to evaluate the effects of yoga on pain related to muscles, bones, and joints. Nearly 87% of participants reported experiencing pain within the year, with over 10% attributing new pain in areas such as the hand, wrist, shoulder, or elbow to yoga practice. Yoga also worsened existing injuries in 21% of cases.

Not Entirely Negative Results

However, the findings weren’t entirely negative. Researchers noted that seventy-four per cent of participants reported that yoga improved their pre-existing pain, showcasing the intricate relationship between yoga and musculoskeletal pain.

The ancient, 5,000-year-old practice of yoga has experienced a surge in popularity in the United States in recent years. A 2016 study by the Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal revealed that more than 36 million people in the U.S. practised yoga that year, with 28% of Americans having participated in a yoga class at some point in their lives.

Here are some measures you can follow to better your experience of yoga:

• Begin yoga with private classes if you intend to practice for medical or musculoskeletal reasons to ensure exercises are properly modified to suit your needs.
• Health experts consider yoga safe when approached with caution and proper guidance.
• Experts advise against pushing beyond physical limitations and emphasize the importance of requesting modifications for challenging poses.
• Communicate any physical concerns or limitations with your instructor before class to ensure adjustments are made.
• Stop immediately if a pose does not feel right and switch to a comfortable resting position to breathe and reset.
• Experts recommend verifying the training of yoga teachers and ensuring the style of yoga aligns with your physical condition.