My second yoga injury :(

As happy as my advanced bikram class made me, it did give me an injury. My advice, take it slow. I know you got all the bends, the flexibility but still look at your instructor's posture, listen to all the cues instructions properly and then execute the flow.

Its been 2 weeks of my lower back paying the price for my over excitement of showing off. When my class ended, it didn't hurt for 2 more days which just says I should have rested at least 2 days before I resumed my usual yoga. My enthusiasm killed my back. Since then, all the efforts to heal it have been vain. My dreams of getting 2 more perfect classes before I head for 3 weeks vacation are over. Hmm its not that sad. Its healing but timing couldn't be more wrong. This is straight 6 weeks of weak yoga. On top of that, all people who practice with me are going to be far ahead by the time I come back. This sucks.

Its my own doing of course. When you do some pose you have never done, please be careful. Listen to your body, your teacher. Take it in slow perfect motions. It might take 2 classes but at least you will not hurt yourself and loose more practice time. My back can't even take a camel pose now, I know I know. After an advanced class, take a break for at least 2 days. Ohh I wish someone told me this.

Lead with your chest. Don't use lower back in poses when it is not supposed to be. The green side of all this is now when I am in class, my back pain is helping me figure out which poses I was doing wrong. Also, you can't just sit at home. If you stop moving, it will get weaker. So get back in motion swiftly.

My yoga teacher suggested getting epsom salts which were great help too. Soak in them for 15 minutes in around 100 degrees. Be ready to doze off.  She pointed out my posture is wrong most of the time. Use your core archi. Suck it in other wise your lower back will suffer.

 If you get hurt, let it heal, let your body do its work. Just go with the flow. Thats all we can do anyways ;)

NAMASTE

There's a thing called "yoga injury"

Yep my first yoga injury is here, it stares and pokes whenever I lean in for those lunges. It feels like a betrayal my body has been put through. I mean come on yoga the slow moving careful relaxing practice why why. They call it runners knee sadly enveloping 2 weeks of my power yoga.

The point here is don't underestimate the risk of pain in yoga practice. Now your instructor might not be able to pay attention all the time. So how do you avoid it?

First of all, while doing lunges warriors, don't over extend, the weight of body should not be just on the forward knee. That is what gave me left knee inflammation. Even when you are in warrior 3, the base should be firm, again not your body weight. Your energy is distributed to hands legs all around so instead of putting pressure on the single leg, feel like you are bound like an aerial performer and feel strength everywhere. There is a whole pdf on where to put pressure in which asan.

Secondly, take breaks frequently. We are all competitive we all want to do it from start to end but rest rest when you do need it. It would be better if you do 4 poses with ease and strength rather than dying fish face.

Thirdly, use foam roller. My husband uses it to get rid of knots in back and thighs. Its super useful. My knee healed a lot faster because of this. Its available on amazon.

Fourthly, switch classes. If you feel like your knee is sore or you feel low on energy, go for bikram yoga. I have been doing it for 2 weeks thanks to my knee pain. Its less intense and uses more basic poses instead of all the power yoga craziness.

Listen to your instructor when she tells you which body part is working here. In bikram for example when you do supta vajrasana your chest is lifted. So sometimes, why not see instructor doing it or perhaps an expert in class. Observe and then follow. Our version of doing it fully and actuality might be far off.

Last one would be unplug for a while. Give your body the rest. We don't feel but our knees our back our balance is all being tested, our rusty body is getting a makeover so take it slow.

Good night yogi :) NAMASTE