YOGA INJURIES

Advice from Metro Vancouver yoga instructors and physiotherapists aimed at keeping you on your mat and out of the clinic: • Build your base slowly. If you’re new to yoga, start with a beginner’s class and master basic breathing and postures before moving on. • Don’t be afraid to use props. Sit up on a block if your hamstrings are tight or use a strap to help get into a bend if you’re not very bendy. • Yoga postures aren’t always comfortable, but they should never be painful. Back off if you can’t breathe or sustain the pose. Choose a variation that doesn’t hurt. • Check your alignment and follow instructions. Ask your instructor for advice after the class if you’re hurting. • Learn the difference between a stretching sensation and over- stretching. Sharp pain or numbness mean you’ve gone way too far. • The best way to challenge yourself is to work at your edge, where pushing farther would be overzealous and backing off would make you a slacker. • Hot yoga ( classes held in a room heated to the point where everyone’s sweating heavily) can be great for some people, but can lead others to push warm muscles to the point of injury. • Yoga is not a competitive sport. Concentrate on what you’re doing, not the guy next to you. • Check out different instructors and studios. What’s their training? Are you comfortable with their methods? • The choices are endless: hatha, anusara, vinyasa, yin, restorative, power. Find something suitable for you. Word of mouth is a good place to start