Yoga is a great way to learn awareness and to increase strength and maintain flexibility.
However, as reported in today’s Vancouver Sun, many participants present to physicians’ offices with yoga related injuries, many from repetitive strain according to Dr. Awan, a Toronto sports medicine physician.
Dr Awan posits that one reason for these injuries is that people overdo it while trying to attain a specific pose.
It has been my experience that “less is more” while learning new movement sequences. This means taking the time to do a little bit, returning to the starting position and then repeating the movement slowly several times with attention to breathing and how the whole body participates is more effective than pushing through pain to attain a particular movement.
For example, in today’s Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® class students were lying on their backs with both knees bent and feet on the floor and both arms were alongside their bodies. They were asked to slide their shoulders to the left, keeping their face oriented to the ceiling so the back of their head also went to the left. This movement allows the ribs along the left side to fold and assists the left arm to lengthen toward the left foot. Initially this instruction was difficult for some even creating headache and neck pain.
We spent a few minutes reviewing the movement, exploring how to increase rib suppleness by taking a moment to breathe with our hands in the intercostal spaces on our chest and doing the movement in small increments. Within a few minutes all could reach their foot!
It is sometimes hard to get out of our own way and let go of our ego, another factor mentioned by Dr. Awan. Things become easier to learn when the goal of trying to get there is removed!
Many of my students have found that Awareness Through Movement classes help their yoga practice.
I invite you to try a class for yourself. Our schedule is posted on our website.
