I used to love yoga. Did it all the time…almost everyday. Now I do bodywork, and believe me, my body needs it. Why? Because I used to do yoga.
Bad Back
A few years ago, I developed a twinge in my back. The twinge turned into a sharp pain deep in my left side that radiated down my left leg. It felt like I had a basketball with a knife blade lodged into it sitting next to my hipbone. Then my left foot went numb. I knew this was a bad sign. I went to my gynecologist thinking I was a goner. My gyno, Dean is a friend, and I always go to him first if I think I’m dying. I wouldn’t want a stranger delivering the bad news. Anyway, Dean sent me straight to the hospital for a whole shebang of tests (MRI’s, CAT scans, blood tests etc.) I wasn’t going to die. Whew. Instead, I was going to be in the worst pain of my life. I had a herniated disk sitting on a nerve in my back…!@#$}(%^&*){
I could not walk, lie down, sleep or live. But I was determined not to have back surgery. I heard too many horror stories about back surgeries gone wrong. Nightmarish dreams invaded the little sleep I managed to get. So, I downed the drugs the doc prescribed. I don’t like drugs and these were bad drugs. Really bad drugs. Finally, the only thing that helped was a spinal injection that alleviated the inflammation. I know, TMI. But I wanted to give you a context of why I don’t do yoga anymore.
Yoga Done Wrong
I was reminded of this dreadful health experience when I read the New York Times article last week, How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body. Like the Times author, William J. Broad, I believed, “yoga was a source only of healing and never harm.” The yoga teacher Broad interviewed for the article, Glenn Black claims that “the vast majority of people should give up yoga altogether. It’s simply too likely to cause harm.”
According to Black, those of us who sit in chairs all day strain ourselves when we try to be like the yoga Indian practitioners who typically squat and sit cross-legged in their daily lives. The yoga poses, or asanas, are an outgrowth of these types of sitting postures. Not the sitting in chairs in front of the computer type of postures.
When yoga teachers come to Black for bodywork after suffering major traumas, he tells them, “Don’t do yoga.”
The article is truly fascinating. It includes supporting medical evidence and bad, bad stories like mine.
Yoga Done Right
This was just my little story of why I don’t take yoga classes anymore. I do a few yoga postures with the guidance of a highly trained bodywork teacher.
So, let me be clear, I’m not advocating not doing yoga if it makes your body and heart sing, especially if you can do this…
Credits: Thank you, Liza Donnelly for the cartoon from When Do They Serve The Wine?, Elaine Colandrea for Moving For Health, and Jordyn Cormier for the video inspiration.
Karen // Jan 9, 2012 at 7:24 am
Interesting. Love the cartoon!
Barbara // Jan 9, 2012 at 3:05 pm
I also read the NY Times article and found it to be one sided and sensational. I would encourage everyone who read the Times piece to also read this more moderate and balanced view on yoga.
http://blog.beliefnet.com/omsweetom/
Ronnie // Jan 9, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Barbara, I can definitely see how the NYTimes article could be considered one-sided. It does dwell on the negative.
It struck a chord with me because when my back when haywire, a few doctors and the physical therapist said I was doing a few yoga postures wrong. The repetition added to the disk problem. At the time, I had a private yoga teacher that come to the house once a week and I took yoga classes in between. Of course, I may have been predisposed to disk issues, and I do sit at the computer most days. But the coincidence concerned me.
That said, I take a bodyworks class that integrates yoga, Pilates and a few other exercise disciplines. That seems to keep my back issues at bay and I always feel good after.
Someone unsubscribed from Econesting today. I assume they think I hate yoga. I don’t. This was just my cautionary tale.
Thanks, Barbara for sharing the Beliefnet post.
Phillippa Ewing // Jan 10, 2012 at 9:33 am
Hi Ronnie, This is fascinating. Over the years, I’ve done yoga, Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais. All have had their uses to me and helped get me to where I am. I think the key is to find a teacher who takes your body into consideration first and foremost. You and I do the same bodywork class and for me the key is at the beginning when our teacher asks “how is your body?” Each class is different and modified slightly for an individual’s pains and needs. Any sort of class that is religiously the same at the expense of the person taking it makes me nervous.
Ronnie // Jan 10, 2012 at 9:42 am
Could not agree with you more, Phillippa! Each time I walk into a class, my body is in a different place. Sometimes I’ve been sitting all day in front of the computer (many days) and other days I’ve been skiing for hours (not so much this winter). So being asked how my body is at that particular moment is a reassurance for me that I will get the benefit of exercise that is tailored to me.
See you on the mat!
Lori Popkewitz Alper // Jan 10, 2012 at 1:24 pm
I love the cartoon-thanks for the laugh. I also chuckled when you mentioned your GYN that you go to when you think you are dying-everyone needs a friend/physician like that!
I also read the NY Times article. I have been practicing yoga for many years. I will say that it has been a lifesaver for me in many ways.
I applaud you for sharing your story. I agree that Yoga isn’t for everyone-much like running, cycling, karate and really any form of physical activity.
I agree with Phillipa-much of the practice of yoga depends upon the instructor. It’s sort of like finding a good therapist. There are some good ones and some not so good.
One thing that has always been stressed in the yoga classes I end up going back to is NEVER do anything that doesn’t feel good.
I’m glad you found something that works for you.
Ronnie // Jan 10, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Thanks, Lori. Maybe our motto should be: If it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it.
Judith Ross // Jan 11, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Hi Ronnie,
In the few yoga classes I’ve taken the instructor always emphasized that you shouldn’t force anything. If something feels bad, then stop.
Phillipa, both of my sons have used the Alexander technique. It is especially helpful to musicians (Ronnie, your son may want to take note).
Ronnie // Jan 11, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Judith, sounds like you had the right kind of yoga teacher.
Funny you should mention the Alexander technique because Jordyn, my son’s girlfriend is a modern dancer and she studied the Alexander technique and loved it. She’s also the one that sent me that amazing video above. I don’t think my body could have done that at any age!
Ronnie // Jan 11, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Hey folks, here’s a post from the other side of the coin. This one, from a yoga teacher who discusses how yoga can heal your body. Thoughts?
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-3821/How-Yoga-Can-Heal-Your-Body.html