Practicing with injuries
Yoga’s enhancement of balance and flexibility helps decrease the chance of
various injuries. And there is good evidence that yoga strengthens the immune
system, helping to protect us from disease. But every active person is occasionally
bound to strain, break or wear-out something or fall victim to minor or serious
illness. And we do so to a degree that makes us first think that our yoga practice
is out of reach or provides some mental excuse for neglecting our daily yoga
routines.
But maybe we should consider such infirmities as opportunities for deeper
practice. From this perspective, injury and illness can be a blessing in disguise,
allowing the increased awareness of your body gained through yoga to be used to
send relaxation and metabolic balance to all affected areas and to allow full and
free functioning of the powerful healing functions that the body is constantly
generating. Until you die, so many more things are going right in your body than
are going wrong and that regenerative energy, enhanced by asana and breathing
routines, can assist and accelerate both physical and mental recovery.
The secret is just first to make it to your mat and then approach everything slowly
and mindfully. More than ever, this kind of practice is not a competition, with
others or yourself. Use asanas and your breath to cautiously (and perhaps
repeatedly) examine the problem areas and investigate how your yoga motions
and bodily attention might assist the natural healing functions. You might be
surprised by what you find!
If you let them know you have an issue, the Inside/Out instructors are always glad
to suggest alternatives to your normal routines. And remember, no matter what
the issue, 10 minutes of vinyasa, alone or in a class, is always a good thing!
Kerry Wilson 6.21.22