Yoga Exercises Can Go Wrong

Most physicians and health care workers will encourage yoga exercises for their patients, as it is an easy way to maintain health and also improve muscle strength and flexibility, plus reduce stress. However, as with any exercise program, your physician must be consulted and you need to learn the yoga basics from a qualified instructor. Injuries can occur even in yoga and making sure that you are not stressing your body more than it can handle is very important to remember.

When starting yoga exercises in a basic beginner's class, it is extremely important to not only consult your physician first, but also to inform your instructor of any physical conditions you have. Whether it is past injuries, a chronic muscle condition, or even issues with your heart and lungs, they need to know before you begin. Some of the yoga positions are difficult, and if you've had a previous injury to one of your limbs, then it may be difficult for you to perform the position. The instructor will not push you to go beyond the limits of your flexibility.

Probably the biggest problem that occurs from practicing yoga is when you do the exercises without warming up properly. All yoga classes should have a warm-up session at the beginning of the class, and different stretching exercises to get your joints loose and limber. The important thing is that you don't overdo the stretches. A yoga posture that was easy one day might be next to impossible the next, and so it is important to have realistic expectations of what your body can accomplish. Never look at yoga as a competition, either with yourself or with someone else.

The other main problem in yoga is performing exercises incorrectly. Yoga postures that are done improperly will not provide the correct stretch, and instead could be causing too much strain on the body. You likely won't realize that you are doing the poses incorrectly until a lot of time has passed, at which point a lot of the damage that has been done is irreversible. Make sure you have an experienced instructor who can check to ensure you are doing the poses correctly. Even if you generally do yoga at home, it is worth going to a class once a week just to confirm that you are doing the exercises properly and they won't lead to injuries down the road.

This information is important to remember if you are ready to embark upon a program of yoga exercises. Knowing the benefits and the risks for any program of exercise needs to be taken seriously. Carefully learning the yoga basics, informing your physician of your plans to practice yoga and telling your instructor of any pre-existing conditions will benefit you in the long run. While another person may be younger and more flexible, it is necessary to go at your own pace and use the instructor to make sure that you are holding the positions correctly in order to prevent injury. It may take you time to do the exercises correctly but you will benefit more if you don't develop any sloppy habits from the onset.