I'm not a physician, nor to do play one here or in yoga class. That said, in order to make yoga safe and accessible for you, there are things about your physicality I must know.
For example, I have some damage to my shoulders, and a posture like Extended Puppy Pose, shown here, is incredibly painful to do no matter how much I practice it, even with modifications. So I don't anymore.
But during different yoga teacher trainings and workshops, instructors would insist on this pose—one even went so far as to put their foot between my shoulder blades and press down to encourage a "deeper release".
No. Just—no.
At first, I didn't speak up, believing this was an issue I would eventually work though. Yet after repeated tries, this pose still hurt. Some instructors listened when I explained my circumstances—but others didn't. I think they believed it to be more of a mental or emotional block, rather than a physical limitation. And, after more than 25 years of practice and more than half as many of those years teaching, I understand that point, and even subscribe to it a little bit.
However, my primary responsibility as a yoga teacher is to help keep you safe. I will always maintain this stance. I've even eliminated some common yoga postures from our current classes if there's a virtual component because I'm not there in person to assist you.
To do this effectively, it's crucial to tell me what you might have going on. This allows me to either suggest a suitable modification—or drop a pose entirely from your sequence. That's it. There's no gray area on this issue.
Arthritis in your neck? Well, then, I won't recommend Plow Pose, Shoulder Stand, or Headstand. Fused lower vertebrae? Forward bends and twists will be modified or not done at all. And so on. But unless you tell me exactly what's going on once we start working together, there's no way I can help, and you'll hurt, and there's no need for that.
Most yoga disciplines are wonderfully physical because basically, the core philosophies state that relieving the body of various complications frees the mind, soothes the spirit, and helps you attain enlightenment if that's your goal. And study after study reinforces how your yoga practice alleviates a lot of physical issues. This includes Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, and other seemingly "easy" yoga styles.
But believe me when I say that if you elect not to do Extended Puppy Pose or another that aggravates your body, your path to enlightenment won't be threatened in any way. So whether you're recovering from a recent injury, have a particular medical condition, or a certain pose always hurts and you don't know why, please tell me immediately. Trust that I'll maintain confidentiality and work with you to find solutions. There's always a way in yoga—we just have to find it together.
(Photo courtesy of Yoga Basics)
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