Any posture has some degree of risk. The picture of Virasana brings to mind the contraindications regarding knees and pre-existing knee conditions. What does this have to do with hip replacements? Just getting to the floor after a hip replacement presents some degree of risk and physicians may differ regarding postures they approve.
During the times when you have your students, as a teacher, it's your job to care for them in a way that supports their physical health. Many students attend yoga for benefits far beyond the physical. However, the physical benefits can't be denied. If you have a student who has dealt with a hip replacement surgery, it's important to handle them with care. Remember the following points when a student walks into your studio with a hip replacement.
Length of Time
When a yoga student comes in and tells you that they've had a hip replacement, one of the first questions, you need to find out how long ago the hip replacement surgery was. The difference in length of time is major. If they had hip replacement surgery two months prior, they'll have a different experience than they would if the surgery happened six months prior. Typically, it's not the greatest idea to begin a yoga practice within six months of surgery. It also depends on the type of hip replacement surgery they had. Once you gain clarity on how long it's bee since they had the surgery, you'll be able to get a better assessment of how to move forward.
Doctor's Orders
When a student has walked into your studio and tells you they've had a hip replacement surgery, it's also important to find out if they've received their doctor's permission. You have to think about it from a business perspective as well. You don't want to be held liable for an injury you could've helped to prevent. If you're not familiar with the details of hip replacement surgeries, it's also a good idea to establish a certain precedent.
If a student wants to practice and they've had surgery, they need to bring a doctor's note that gives them clearance to go ahead and participate in the class. If they don't have clearance, they can't join in. When it comes to insurance and liabilities, you don't want to get yourself in trouble. It's wise to lean more on the safe side and see a note from a doctor's office. Even when you get the doctor's note, it's still important to be careful throughout the practice.
Pose Modifications
One of the best ways to be careful involves pose modifications. Some of the poses a student might've loved doing are impossible shortly after a hip surgery. This isn't to say that those poses will remain impossible. It's just important to remember that it'll take some time and practice to find a new normal within the body. A simple pose like Child's Pose is very comforting for most. However, someone with a hip replacement can dislocate their hip with this move. For child's pose, a student sits on their knees and feet. They lean their body forward toward the floor.
That process of moving the upper body to the floor can be catastrophic. In this case, the proper modification involves sitting upright and staying there. Eagle Pose is another popular pose in a yoga practice. With this pose, a student stands up and wraps one leg around the other while the knees are slightly bent. After a hip replacement surgery, this move can be quite challenging and painful to execute. Instead, provide a modification where the student doesn't rotate their leg around at the usual angle. They can still do the move, but not at the full rotation.
Educational Research
Since you're a yoga teacher, it's very important to educate yourself on the types of injuries your students can potentially deal with. When you're knowledgeable, you can confidently help your students experience the restoration they desire as they ease back into their beloved yoga practice. Read books, attend seminars and keep a few medical professionals on speed dial for those times when you have questions. The more you know, the more powerful you'll be in the studio.
© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
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