Osteoporosis – are there yoga postures you should NOT do with osteoporosis of the spine?

Thanks for the prompt reply, Gabrielle! The osteoporosis clinics are very cautious (liability issues likely factor into that) and advise against twisting the spine, bending the spine without supporting ones upper body weight, no high impact activity (ironically, the activity that most increases bone density), no reaching overhead especially at any angle, no bending and lifting (like removing groceries from the trunk of a car), etc. When I query them further, they tell me although my spinal osteo is rated as severe (3.5 standard deviations below average), because of my age (58), I’m not at the stage that I have a high liklihood of fracture with things like coughing or sneezing (only elderly have that apparently). I have never had a fracture or compression fracture. I do have CFS and fibromyalgia, but am recovering, and am looking for a gentle way to get back in shape. I walk, stretch and do limited strength training and core strength training. I never did a lot of yoga in the past but loved it! Would your Master Class 304 page book be good for someone like me? Thanks, Donna

Thank you! Interesting! Makes good sense to me! I’m curious to know if your doctors gave you the ok to do this? or no? or no comment? If you don’t mind me asking, how did your compression fractures occur (or were they no incident) and your age? I am unable to tolerate the meds for osteo, but had a 4% improvement on my last bone scan with Estrogel, Prometrium, NOW Calcium Hydroxyapatite and NOW Multiminerals (2 / day each), Vit K2-MK7, Biosil (6 drops daily) and ipriflavones x2 with minerals.

I have heard of Forteo – don’t believe it is in Canada yet. Thanks for the advice! Good luck!

Was just reading in Healing Yoga by Stella Weller that the Rocking Horse and Plough postures are to be avoided by individuals with osteoporosis. Those are the only 2 highlighted in her book.

Hi Dana. Yes, it’s scarey to find out you have severe osteoporosis at such a young age. I have become less fearly as time passes and I have come to trust my body a little more. I read a lot re naturopathic medicine and you might want to see a Naturopathic Doctor (ND). I do not find the conventional osteoporosis clinic very helpful beyond ‘take calcium and vit D, walk every day and do some light strength training (no more than 8 [eight] lbs especially above shoulder level I was told). I went to a talk by Lorne Vanderhaeghe who is a specialist in women’s health issues and she is the one who pointed me towards Ostivone (ipriflavones) and Biosil (also Jarrosil) – both available on Vitacost. Also I have read vitamin K 2 MK7 is useful (I take it daily) as well as making sure you are on a diet that is not making your system acidic (you can read a lot about that on the internet). I also just purchased an OsteoBall (a devise evidently used by astronauts in space where the lack of gravity quickly demineralizes their bones) and a Wellness Belt (look on internet about it – a weighted, balanced belt to wear just below the waist). I am hopeful that with all of the above, I will have normal bone density by about age 65! (now almost 59). I’ll see how my next bone density scan (March 14) turns out!! So far, with the above measures, I increased 4% in the spine and 6% in the hip in a one year period. My conventional MDs had said I would not be able to reverse the condition without medication which I cannot tolerate, so I hope to prove them wrong! Good luck! Donna