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Saturday, March 9, 2013

Yoga Asana Safety for Students with Ailments

500 hour yoga certification intensive course
By Kimaya Singh


Yoga asana is one of the safest forms of exercise known to man. Yogic exercises are generally less risky in comparison to any other exercise, but there is still some risk involved. The low intensity nature of yoga makes it a safe fitness choice for millions of people. Individuals of all ages and health conditions can practice yoga without fear of pain or injury. Yet, students are largely dependent on the yoga school, style and teacher who guides them.

Variety and Choices

Asana practice can be therapeutic or taught in a hot room by someone who has been trained to show students no mercy. At the same time, asanas are visually inspiring. Watching these poses performed motivates many people to attempt to copy the poses that they have seen. While asanas seem simple, beneath the surface a great deal is going on. Although yoga training can be practiced alone, it is advisable to learn the asanas from an experienced teacher before attempting them in private.

Since there are many forms of yoga, some forms are more suitable for specific individuals than others. In order to completely eliminate the risk of injury when practicing yogic exercise, a suitable yogic style should be chosen. Based on the capability and limitations of the user, various yogic asanas can be chosen.

The quality of flexibility from yoga practice stems from the asanas, or yogic positions. There are hundreds of unique asanas. Each of these positions has various modifications and intensity levels. While some asanas may be harder to perform than others, any yogic posture can be altered so that it can be performed more easily.

Students with Ailments

For older individuals and people with existing health problems, it is advisable to choose a therapeutic style with a certified hatha yoga teacher who completely understands modifications, anatomy, biomechanics, contraindications and student safety. In this modified practice, the kinds of asanas, which are performed, are of a low stress and low intensity in their variety. During this restorative or therapeutic workout, more emphasis is placed on positions, which can be performed regardless of one's health conditions.

Although yogic postures are generally safe for all, people with pre-existing medical conditions should be particularly careful when practicing asanas. Individuals with heart problems, or conditions like high blood pressure, should be sure to seek out a competent yoga teacher to develop their routines. These people should avoid holding strenuous poses, stay out of hot rooms, and skip poses where the body is inverted for long periods of time. For the best results, people with pre-existing medical conditions should consult with their doctor before practicing asanas.

Purpose of Asana

Each yogic posture has its own specific purpose and intended use. While it is possible to receive benefits from performing asanas individually, the real power of the asanas comes from performing them as a part of their intended sequence. In order to learn these sequences properly, it is advisable to study the asanas and their proper alignments as taught by a skilled teacher, who completely understands asana safety and how to teach students with ailments.

© Copyright 2013 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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