Yoga is an easy fitness regimen with numerous health advantages, from improving physical flexibility and strengthening muscles, to positively impacting mental well-being and helping unify mind and body. Like any exercise or fitness activity, however, when engaging in Yoga it’s crucial that precaution is exercised when engaging in poses; otherwise unwary practitioners could sustain serious injuries, including these four most-common reported problems that result from reckless practice of Yoga poses.
Slip discs or back pain

Keep yourself relaxed when practicing yoga – being too fast or impatient could result in back discomfort that is particularly prominent among beginners or those pushing their bodies beyond limits. Too fast or impatient movements could even result in disc issues slipping, while yoga poses such as Bharadvajasana Asana, Bitilasana asana and Marjaryasana should only ever be performed carefully to avoid creating additional back issues.
Ankle sprain

Asanas such as Ardha Chandrasana Malasana and Supta Virasana exert tremendous strain on ankle muscles, potentially increasing your risk for an ankle sprain. Be especially wary when placing feet down onto the ground to maintain grasp; those already struggling with knee issues or suffering ankle injuries should opt for easier poses instead.
Stiff neck

Yoga poses can be extremely risky to neck injuries if not executed with proper form. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana Matsyasana as well as Kapotasana are particularly hazardous if practiced incorrectly; their instability makes the body unaccustomed to performing these postures; without adequate attention when practising these forms or practicing too rapidly could result in neck injuries that will take months of rehabilitation for full recovery.
Muscle pull

Muscle pull is an increasingly common issue among novice yoga practitioners, particularly among novice yogis doing easy poses. Your muscles may stretch due to being overstretched due to tight elastic fibres or stretching them beyond their limits – make small steps, be patient and concentrate on form instead of reps done!
Unveiling the Hidden Drawbacks of Yoga
Find out the unspoken drawbacks to yoga’s hidden drawbacks, and how Athlete’s Choice massage therapy can help overcome weaknesses and enhance overall health.
Hidden Drawbacks of Yoga
Yoga may offer many physical and psychological advantages that are often taken for granted by its practitioners, particularly among those integrating it into their workout regimen. Although widely recognized for its mental and physical benefits, its drawbacks should not be neglected either; such as straining too hard during classes with multiple participants or not getting individualized focus from teachers in group settings which could impede fitness levels, recovery times, and overall well-being.
Understanding these risks, specifically in Edmonton or Sherwood Park, is paramount in terms of maintaining physical fitness and well-being. Here we explore what aspects of yoga may pose potential dangers as well as how Athlete’s Choice Massage services will keep your muscles flexible, strong, and injury free.
Physical Strain and Injury Risk
Yoga can provide many health and wellbeing benefits; however, unintended exercise or exertion could result in muscle strains and injuries like sprains if done without due caution or awareness of oneself. A Guardian article highlighted instances in advanced yoga classes in which individuals experienced significant discomfort; therefore it underscores the necessity of proper guidance as well as self-awareness among instructors.
Lack of Personalized Attention
Group yoga classes often make it challenging for instructors to provide personalized guidance, leading to poor posture and increased risk of injury. A lack of individual focus may especially pose difficulty for individuals who have particular physical limitations or needs.
Limited Emphasis on Muscle Recovery
Yoga emphasizes flexibility and introspection over specific strategies designed to aid muscle recovery following intense physical exercise, making yoga insufficient as a remedy or aid for post-exercise muscle discomfort or recovery. Yoga alone cannot effectively alleviate muscle soreness or speed recovery for regular athletes who train often.
Potential for Overstretching
Doing stretches without proper planning or awareness could result in overstretching and cause joint instability and muscle injury; to avoid such issues it’s essential that stretching exercises be conducted carefully and mindfully.
Optimizing Your Fitness Routine through Athlete’s Massage
At Athlete’s Choice Massage we understand the challenges associated with yoga poses can present and have services designed specifically to supplement and remedy them, including massage services that complement yoga regimen. Our massage therapists can tailor services specifically tailored towards yoga poses to complement it while managing potential drawbacks that could occur; including:
- Targeted Muscle Recovery Services The deep tissue massage services at massage deep tissues specialize in relieving muscle stiffness and speeding recovery time so you’re prepared for every training session you undertake.
- Individualized attention: Our therapists tailor sessions specifically to you through one-on-one appointments, taking special care to address points of tension while guaranteeing maximum outcomes.
- Injury Prevention Methods such as Myofascial Massage offer both flexibility benefits as well as reduced strain to muscles by encouraging greater range of movement in these musculatures.
- Reflexology treatments focus on pressure points to promote wellbeing and relaxation while increasing mental health benefits from yoga practice.
Incorporating Massage Therapy your fitness regimen
Massage therapy is an excellent way to promote overall health and well-being. Increased range of motion and flexibility:
- Regular yoga practice can help maintain and increase flexibility, as well as boost any existing practices. Regular sessions also offer additional practice to add depth to yoga routines.
- Stress Reduction Massage therapy helps relax while simultaneously decreasing levels of tension, as well as improving mental concentration.
- Massage Therapy to Promote Athletic Performance By targeting muscle imbalances and aiding recuperation, massage therapy may play an instrumental role in increasing athletic performance.
Discover Our Convenient Locations
Athlete’s Choice Massage provides exceptional massage services in Edmonton and Sherwood Park communities, featuring personalized service tailored specifically to fit each client’s lifestyle. Visit their Sherwood Park location today for personalized assistance suited just for you!
Embrace a Balanced Approach to Wellness
Yoga provides numerous health and fitness advantages, but its limits should always be recognized and understood. With Athlete’s Choice Massage’s massage therapies you will alleviate these concerns by creating an efficient method to your fitness journey.
Can Yoga Be Dangerous?
Yoga may not be as safe as you initially assumed; regular practice could result in muscle discomfort or worsen existing injuries that you already suffer from. There are ways you can reduce these risks though.
The dangers of yoga
An investigation conducted in 2018 demonstrated that yoga may cause or worsen musculoskeletal pain for 10% of the population and intensify injury-related suffering in 21%.
Studies showed that most yoga-induced upper extremity pain was concentrated around Downward Dog and similar postures that put weight on upper limbs,” writes Evangelos Dr. Pappas PhD of University of Sydney Australia who led this research and lead researcher of this study as stated in its press announcement.
“More than one third of cases caused by yoga were severe enough to preclude its practice for more than three months and prevent its participation,” according to one researcher.
Yoga’s current state research
This study included 354 participants who attended at most one yoga course at two studios located in New York; most participants were female with an average age between 45-55.
All participants completed an assessment at the outset of this research project to document any musculoskeletal issues they were currently experiencing.
One year post yoga participation, researchers reached out to all participants in order to assess its effects on muscle, joint, and bone health.
Over 97% of yoga participants reported discomfort within one year; and over 10% stated their practice caused discomfort on their wrist, hand or shoulder.
“Yoga practice may help reduce pain for some participants; in fact, 74% reported feeling relief through regular yoga practice”, notes Pappas.
Since yoga first emerged in India more than five millennia ago, its practice has experienced steady growth here in America.
Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal released an annual report in 2016 showing that over 36 million Americans practice yoga. Furthermore, 28% reported having taken classes of some sort throughout their lives.
Like other exercises
Staffan Elgelid PhD is both a yoga therapist and assistant professor in physical therapy at Nazareth College Rochester New York. Yoga practice poses similar risks as any form of exercising.
“If we take an identical group of individuals and place them on an exercise program involving swimming, running lifting or any type of fitness plan – such as yoga which has long been promoted as being safe – I believe the injury rate would remain comparable or greater,” Elgelid tells Healthline.
“One reason more and more people are experiencing discomfort may be that more are turning to yoga for relief from issues of pain that have not been helped with allopathic medicines,” according to one physician.
One issue facing yoga teachers today is their clients failing to complete medical history forms for the teacher to know whether any students may have musculoskeletal conditions and tailor the practice appropriately.”
Making yoga safe
Elgelid recommends that anyone seeking yoga for reasons related to muscle health or medical ailments should begin by enrolling in private sessions for instruction on tailoring yoga to individual requirements.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) strongly support this opinion.
Yoga should only be practiced safely according to Dr. Jennifer M. Weiss, an orthopedic surgeon and representative for AAOS.
Weiss offers several steps people can take to practice yoga safely.
“If your limits are being tested, don’t push past them – instead request adjustments from your teacher in advance of class to ensure you understand any modifications. If something feels off, or something doesn’t feel quite right during a yoga pose session, stop. Yoga poses are designed for slowing down and relaxing,” explained she.
Rachel Krentzman of San Diego is both a physical practitioner and yoga instructor who has used it as both physical therapy and supplement for over 15 years. It is crucial, according to Rachel, to choose an experienced teacher when looking for one of these sessions.
“Students should carefully research their chosen yoga teachers’ qualifications before selecting one,” She advises.