In the past decade, yoga has gained massive popularity. More and more people have started doing yoga and most of them say that it is the best thing that happened to them. However, there are those who curse the day they started doing yoga; reason behind this is the injuries they acquired while practicing yoga.
It is possible to injure yourself while doing yoga, yet one should know that even before he starts exercising. Also, there are ways to avoid and prevent these injuries, and in order to get ahead of them, one should learn more about them before his first yoga class. Here are some of the ways you can avoid the most common yoga injuries.
1. Do Not Overstretch
The biggest number of injuries happens while performing an exercise, usually while stretching your body way too much. This is called overstretching and it is the cause of 90% yoga injuries. It is one of the reasons why people do yoga today, and never come back.
By overstretching your body, you end up being in a lot of pain and the chances are that you will break one of your tendons, flex your muscles or injure your elbows, hips or shoulders. Yoga is supposed to teach us how to understand our body, find out its limits, yet sometimes reaching these limits can be repaid with pain and suffering.
It is highly advised to learn more about yoga and possible injuries before your first yoga class in order to come prepared; otherwise you might be going home with a lot more pain that you knew you can handle.
2. Do The Exercises Properly
From folds to bending, every exercise has its own way in which it should be performed. Remember to carefully observe your yoga instructor and, especially if you are a greenhorn, ask the instructor for help. You need to be sure you are doing your exercises properly, bending your knees where needed and using your hips and shoulders. All of this is done in order to prevent any potential injuries that might occur while performing an exercise incorrectly.
With yoga, you do not get a second chance; once the injury kicks in, rejuvenation period can be long and painful, which is why you should learn to avoid it before it even happens. You can also consult with someone who has a recognized diploma of disability in order to get more information about potential injuries and how to prevent them.
3. Warm Up Properly
Before you start exercising, whether it is running, swimming or doing yoga, you have to warm up your body and muscles. It is very important that you take this part seriously, and spend at least 10 to 15 minutes warming up and stretching your muscles slowly.
Do some basic stretching, starting from your neck and shoulders, down towards the hips and knees. Warm up your ankles, elbows and hands, and make sure you breathe normally. Once you are all warm and sweaty, you are ready to start doing yoga or any other physical activity.
4. Leave The Postures Slowly
Finally, you should know that when doing yoga, every posture exiting should be done as slowly as possible. This part is especially important if you are new in yoga, for leaving a posture can cause injuries as well as doing them in a wrong way. Always hold the pose for several minutes, and leave it by moving slowly back to your starting position. A good rule of thumb is to work out of pose as gradually as you moved into it.
Learning more about yoga will help you to better understand all the potential threats it holds if done incorrectly. Yoga is a great way to get to know your body and its limits, yet it can also get you in a whole lot of pain. Perform exercises correctly, do not bring your ego with you and push yourself to the limits, and you should be just fine.
