Yoga injuries: Here's how you can prevent them
When it comes to fitness, the risk of injuries is always there which can tarnish your progress. Even in a workout like yoga, there are chances that you may overstretch your muscles or wrongly attempt an asana, leading to mild or severe complications. Steer clear of that with these five easy and effective tips on how you can prevent injuries during a yoga session.
Don't overdo it. Know your limitations always
During yoga, it is quite normal to compare yourself with fellow practitioners. And as you do that, you may end up hurting yourself by performing asanas beyond your expertise. Avoid that by knowing your limitations and respecting your body's comfort level. Overstretching can lead to massive injuries or even flare up any existing ones. The key here is to take things slowly and steadily.
Use props more often
There are many yoga props that you can put to use during a session. These not only help you perform yoga poses with ease but also significantly reduce the chances of injuries. Not just beginners, even those who are experts at this ancient workout can use mats, blocks, straps, bolsters, wedges, wheels, and meditation pillows for an injury-free practice.
Allow yourself to rest during and after sessions
Just like any other form of workout, taking breaks in between and sipping on a little water is important. Even when you are practicing yoga, allow your body to rest after certain asanas so that it can regain some strength and rebuild stamina. This can keep injuries at bay. Post-session, one should rest enough to relax their muscles and relieve body stress.
Ask your yoga teacher to assist you
Certain yoga asanas are complex and can be difficult to attempt. Most of us may get them wrong, paving a straight road to injuries and performance issues. Always seek guidance from your yoga teacher as they are qualified and can help you correct your body postures during the session. They can even scale down the poses, depending on your ability to perform them.
Take care of your alignment and breath
Breathwork is an extremely important part of yoga, which you may forget to properly attempt while performing asanas. Ensure that you are breathing properly during your performance to avoid breathlessness, fatigue, or dizziness. Even aligning your body the right way is equally important as it can prevent you from falling. For this, reach out to your yoga teacher so that they can guide you.