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Home > Archive > Yoga > May 2005 > A couple of questions from a complete newbie
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A couple of questions from a complete newbie
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| Hello All,
I have been thinking about Yoga for some time now. In my particular case
I have been "putting up" with mild low back pain for 5 years now.
Despite xrays, mri's and every other test known to man my doctor was
unable to identify the problem. I shrugged it off as getting older (I am
a 43 yr old male) and decided I would do my exercises and minimize the
issue.
As time went on though, my painful episodes became more frequent and
lasted longer. Like most people when my back is feeling good I dont do
my exercises and - well you know the rest.
Anyway, I have noticed in recent months that the occasional stiffness I
have has become almost permanent and I believe its time to put a stop to
this. Considering that medically nobody has been able to pinpoint my
problem, do you think Yoga is a practice that could help someone like
me? Do you think I could get my mobility back and finally be able to get
up in the morning without stiffness? What should I expect from joining a
local yoga class?
Thank You for any pointers
Mike
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| On 2005-05-10 17:23:29 -0700, mgb <mgb@shampy.com> said:
> Hello All,
>
> I have been thinking about Yoga for some time now. In my particular
> case I have been "putting up" with mild low back pain for 5 years now.
> Despite xrays, mri's and every other test known to man my doctor was
> unable to identify the problem. I shrugged it off as getting older (I
> am a 43 yr old male) and decided I would do my exercises and minimize
> the issue.
I have had congenital chronic back issues. This culminated when I was
hit by a car as a pedestrian back in '91. I was the poster child for
stiff middle age men.
>
> As time went on though, my painful episodes became more frequent and
> lasted longer. Like most people when my back is feeling good I dont do
> my exercises and - well you know the rest.
>
> Anyway, I have noticed in recent months that the occasional stiffness I
> have has become almost permanent and I believe its time to put a stop
> to this. Considering that medically nobody has been able to pinpoint my
> problem, do you think Yoga is a practice that could help someone like
> me?
Absolutely. I was very fortunate to find a yoga therapist shortly
after my accident. In the matter of a year I went from being a
candidate for back surgery to slight occasional back pain. The x-rays
stunned my orthopedic surgeon. He had never seen a reversal like that.
> Do you think I could get my mobility back and finally be able to get up
> in the morning without stiffness?
Yes but you need to take at least 15 minutes out of each day to make a
difference. Yoga only works if you do it regularly. The more time you
devote to it the better your recovery will be. Time is directly
proportional to benefits.
Also, be prepared for a slow recovery. Yoga is not an instant fix. It
does take time.
> What should I expect from joining a local yoga class?
At first you should make sure you see an Iyengar* certified teacher.
These teachers are well trained in pathologies. Many yoga teachers do
not get any training in medical challenges. An Iyengar trained teacher
will first ask you about your aches and pains, then they will modify
your practice to best suit your body. If you see a yoga teacher get up
in front of a class and use a "one size fits all" approach, be very
leery. In my yoga classes, for example, it is very likely you will see
10 students all doing slightly different variations for their own
progress.
The other benefit of Iyengar trained teachers is that they understand
anatomy. In fact it is helpful to get an anatomy book so that you can
begin understanding your own body. What muscles do what, the alignment
of the bones, the mechanics of movement. A good yoga teacher will
teach these lessons along with the asanas.
>
> Thank You for any pointers
>
> Mike
* Mr. Iyengar was one of a number of Yoga teachers that brought Yoga to
the west in the 50's and 60's. He has written numerous books on the
practice of yoga. His book "Light on Yoga" has become a "bible" to a
number of schools of yoga. His latest book "Yoga the Path to Holistic
Health" is really a must read for the practicing yogi.
His students have set up institutes throughout the world and a system
of rigourous training to insure that Iyengar taught teachers have a
consistent method of teaching. This includes training in physiology
and understanding of physical ailments and how to tailor the practice
to the student.
Two Web sites about Iyengar Method Yoga can be found at:
http://www.iyengar-yoga.com/ (this site has a directory of teachers for
the world)
http://www.bksiyengar.com/
Good luck, and enjoy the journey.
--
~Stu
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| Stu wrote:
> On 2005-05-10 17:23:29 -0700, mgb <mgb@shampy.com> said:
>
>
>
> I have had congenital chronic back issues. This culminated when I was
> hit by a car as a pedestrian back in '91. I was the poster child for
> stiff middle age men.
>
>
>
> Absolutely. I was very fortunate to find a yoga therapist shortly after
> my accident. In the matter of a year I went from being a candidate for
> back surgery to slight occasional back pain. The x-rays stunned my
> orthopedic surgeon. He had never seen a reversal like that.
>
>
>
> Yes but you need to take at least 15 minutes out of each day to make a
> difference. Yoga only works if you do it regularly. The more time you
> devote to it the better your recovery will be. Time is directly
> proportional to benefits.
>
> Also, be prepared for a slow recovery. Yoga is not an instant fix. It
> does take time.
>
>
>
> At first you should make sure you see an Iyengar* certified teacher.
> These teachers are well trained in pathologies. Many yoga teachers do
> not get any training in medical challenges. An Iyengar trained teacher
> will first ask you about your aches and pains, then they will modify
> your practice to best suit your body. If you see a yoga teacher get up
> in front of a class and use a "one size fits all" approach, be very
> leery. In my yoga classes, for example, it is very likely you will see
> 10 students all doing slightly different variations for their own progress.
>
> The other benefit of Iyengar trained teachers is that they understand
> anatomy. In fact it is helpful to get an anatomy book so that you can
> begin understanding your own body. What muscles do what, the alignment
> of the bones, the mechanics of movement. A good yoga teacher will teach
> these lessons along with the asanas.
>
>
>
>
> * Mr. Iyengar was one of a number of Yoga teachers that brought Yoga to
> the west in the 50's and 60's. He has written numerous books on the
> practice of yoga. His book "Light on Yoga" has become a "bible" to a
> number of schools of yoga. His latest book "Yoga the Path to Holistic
> Health" is really a must read for the practicing yogi.
>
> His students have set up institutes throughout the world and a system of
> rigourous training to insure that Iyengar taught teachers have a
> consistent method of teaching. This includes training in physiology and
> understanding of physical ailments and how to tailor the practice to the
> student.
>
> Two Web sites about Iyengar Method Yoga can be found at:
>
> http://www.iyengar-yoga.com/ (this site has a directory of teachers for
> the world)
>
> http://www.bksiyengar.com/
>
> Good luck, and enjoy the journey.
Thanks for the encouragement. I look forward to seeing where this takes me.
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| shy dolphin 2005-05-18, 11:40 am |
| MGB,
I have RSI (repetitive strain injury, gotten from a wrong sitting
posture in front of my pc during years ). I have been meditating for a
while, discontinued it and then picked it up again. One day I read a
book about yoga and basically what I learned is this. YOga can only be
felt if you do it. Books tell you how to do it, but the feeling of
being totally relaxed (spirutally as well) after a session is just
amazing and you feel like you are dreaming really..floating on wide
open sea. So, try to do it bit by bit. Strat with 15 one week, get to
25 after 3 weeks..... It is funny, sometimes around 20:00 I feel like I
should do yoga. I can't live without it, cause I know it helps me and
gets me into a happy mood. So do yoga man! If your back hurts, you have
tons of books out there for beginners and for peopel with lots of pain.
Breathing is the key. Don't quit yoga after 2 weeks. Try at least to
do it every day for 30 minutes and do a meditation session lying down
for 5 minutes to still the mind and continue to still your pain. YOu
can do it. Readf more books about it once you get confortable and try
to profound your relaxed state of being. THen start to feel happy
during the whole day. Bring your relaxed breathing to other activities,
like watching tv, going outside or watch a movie. Be aware of your
breathing and let the pain flow away with it. 
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