Yoga conjures up images of peaceful meditation, relaxing stretches and trips to the emergency room. Wait, emergency room? Just as with any other activity people can suffer injuries from yoga. Yoga injuries are most commonly mild muscle strains, but torn tendons and severe back injuries have been known to occur. Teachers need to think about yoga student safety when preparing for classes and during classes.
Too much too soon
Students who attempt moves they aren't ready for are more likely to suffer injury. Simply advertising a class as "intermediate" or "advanced" rarely provides enough detail for students to be able to select classes of the appropriate skill level. Requiring students to complete a beginner class under each program or teacher is the safest approach because it allows the teacher to be sure of the student's skill level before advancing. Teachers also need to remind themselves to teach the students in the room, not to try to teach to a set curriculum. All students advance at different rates. Students who aren't advancing as fast as other students shouldn't be encouraged to try to keep up but should instead be encouraged to work at their own level.
A common cause of injury is competitiveness. Students in group class may try to out-do each other or show off for the teacher or another student and go too far. The teacher should try to promote a non-competitive environment by emphasizing the non-violent, self-honest meditative nature of yoga. Students should be instructed to listen to their bodies and to not push beyond their limits- if it hurts don't do it cannot be emphasized enough. Teachers can remind students that striving for excessive flexibility is neither necessary nor healthy. Excessively flexible joints are unstable joints and unstable joints are injuries waiting to happen.
Teacher education
Some yoga poses will aggravate prior injuries. Teachers should ask students about bad backs, rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, and arthritic joints. Poses may need to be modified or skipped by some people. When it comes to prior injuries, however, the basic mantra if it hurts don't do it isn't enough to ensure yoga student safety. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure should avoid all inverted poses - strokes have been triggered by the sudden elevation of pressure in the head caused by inverted poses. If the teacher is unsure about how a particular injury might respond to yoga poses, referral of the student to a physical therapist or to a different teacher or even a different style of yoga might be best. Some organizations that certify yoga instructors have begun educational programs about the impact of yoga on various injuries. Teachers may want to look into such programs if they haven't already.
Using incorrect technique can of course stress the body and cause injury. The teacher can easily intervene here by emphasizing the correct technique and helping students to learn it. Students should be reminded of the correct technique for moving into and out of poses- collapsing suddenly out of poses, or aggressively springing into a pose, are common causes of injury. Of course it helps if the teacher knows the correct techniques. Even if a teacher has been practicing and teaching yoga for some time it is a good idea to attend a certification program.
An area of particular concern on the topic of injuries and teacher education is the use of hands-on adjustments. If the teacher is moving the student's body the teacher isn't privy to warning signs of imminent injury such as discomfort. Teachers should only offer hands-on adjustments after studying and practicing adjustments under the the direct guidance of a mentor teacher.
Most of all, teachers should remember to teach. The students are going to go home and practice poses there. If the teacher has successfully taught correct techniques and the student has learned how to be mindful and listen to the body yoga injuries both in and out of class won't happen.
Too much too soon
Students who attempt moves they aren't ready for are more likely to suffer injury. Simply advertising a class as "intermediate" or "advanced" rarely provides enough detail for students to be able to select classes of the appropriate skill level. Requiring students to complete a beginner class under each program or teacher is the safest approach because it allows the teacher to be sure of the student's skill level before advancing. Teachers also need to remind themselves to teach the students in the room, not to try to teach to a set curriculum. All students advance at different rates. Students who aren't advancing as fast as other students shouldn't be encouraged to try to keep up but should instead be encouraged to work at their own level.
A common cause of injury is competitiveness. Students in group class may try to out-do each other or show off for the teacher or another student and go too far. The teacher should try to promote a non-competitive environment by emphasizing the non-violent, self-honest meditative nature of yoga. Students should be instructed to listen to their bodies and to not push beyond their limits- if it hurts don't do it cannot be emphasized enough. Teachers can remind students that striving for excessive flexibility is neither necessary nor healthy. Excessively flexible joints are unstable joints and unstable joints are injuries waiting to happen.
Teacher education
Some yoga poses will aggravate prior injuries. Teachers should ask students about bad backs, rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, and arthritic joints. Poses may need to be modified or skipped by some people. When it comes to prior injuries, however, the basic mantra if it hurts don't do it isn't enough to ensure yoga student safety. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure should avoid all inverted poses - strokes have been triggered by the sudden elevation of pressure in the head caused by inverted poses. If the teacher is unsure about how a particular injury might respond to yoga poses, referral of the student to a physical therapist or to a different teacher or even a different style of yoga might be best. Some organizations that certify yoga instructors have begun educational programs about the impact of yoga on various injuries. Teachers may want to look into such programs if they haven't already.
Using incorrect technique can of course stress the body and cause injury. The teacher can easily intervene here by emphasizing the correct technique and helping students to learn it. Students should be reminded of the correct technique for moving into and out of poses- collapsing suddenly out of poses, or aggressively springing into a pose, are common causes of injury. Of course it helps if the teacher knows the correct techniques. Even if a teacher has been practicing and teaching yoga for some time it is a good idea to attend a certification program.
An area of particular concern on the topic of injuries and teacher education is the use of hands-on adjustments. If the teacher is moving the student's body the teacher isn't privy to warning signs of imminent injury such as discomfort. Teachers should only offer hands-on adjustments after studying and practicing adjustments under the the direct guidance of a mentor teacher.
Most of all, teachers should remember to teach. The students are going to go home and practice poses there. If the teacher has successfully taught correct techniques and the student has learned how to be mindful and listen to the body yoga injuries both in and out of class won't happen.
Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA.
© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
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5 comments:
Competitiveness is a common cause of injury so as a good teacher one's should try to promote a non-competitive environment by self-honest meditative nature of yoga. Thanks for sharing this great thought.
Correct techniques is most important part for safety yoga. If the teacher has successfully taught correct techniques for the student so yoga injury will be not happen.
Thanks for this good article.
Safety is the most priority of a Yoga instructor. They must first explain to their students that there is no competition but they should encourage themselves to improve with their friends beside them.
Putting students at risk of injury is counterproductive to common sense. We want our students to feel better when they leave our classes.
Great article.. Been learning from your articles. Thanks.
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