Danger from this pose

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stephen.c.francis
Participant

June 28, 2011 at 5:27 pm

Post count: 5

#2152

Speaking to a surgeon about Yoga he was concerned at the backward bending of the neck in this pose. Using a model of the spine he indicated that the vertebrae in the neck are very thin and become more so and less pliable as we get older. He said that this could be a very dangerous pose especially for the elderly to attempt.

This was a bit alarming so I would appreciate your thoughts on the topic.

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

July 1, 2011 at 9:49 am

Post count: 3048

#8696

Hi Stephen

It’s a bit of a double edge sword! If you don’t use them, then they’ll degenerate faster, develop anomalies etc. Your surgeon is correct to a point of course. And that point: If the elderly person he is talking about is frail or has osteoporosis then this could be dangerous. It is important to know what one is dealing with. So start’em young(er) and get people using a fuller range of movement, hydrate and nourish well with all the right stuff and voila! 😉 Recipe for success. And yes, be curious and careful too… You wouldn’t start an 80 year old with these exercises. But there are plenty of 80 year olds who have been practising for years who are doing just fine!

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

LightbyGrace
Participant

February 27, 2012 at 3:42 am

Post count: 70

#9384

I like to combine pranayama with a couple of other breathing exercises as my warm up to go easier on my neck. So I do a set of five pranayamas and then do a few sets of two Qi Gong Silken Movements – one called ‘upholding heaven’ and one called ‘looking backward’ which has you turning your head first to the left then to the right as you inhale your arms out to the sides. Here’s a link with some photos:

http://balanceflow.com/QigongP1ex1to2.htm…

As corny as it sounds, I actually learned them from Dixie Carter’s ‘Unworkout II’ video. LOL! She does a lot of Hot Yoga Postures or variants thereof in that one.
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