Do You Do Yoga So Much? Here's How to Tell (and Why It Is Harmful)
One yoga class can leave you feeling energized, energized, and calm, all at once.
"After practicing yoga, most of us realize that our minds are clear and calm and we seem to have a lot of energy," says Baxter Bell, MD, a yoga instructor based in the San Francisco Bay Area, a personal yoga practitioner. from the International Association of Yoga Therapists (C-IAYT) and is a trained yoga teacher with detailed 500-hour teacher training from the Yoga Alliance (RYT 500).
He says: “It can be a wonderful tool to manage stress in our lives.
But, depending on the type of yoga you practice and how often you do, experts say that you can skip it.
There are many types of yoga, from “energy” classes to yoga nidra - the closest you can get to taking a nap while practicing yoga (sometimes referred to as “yogic sleep”). If you are in good health, it is probably safe to do a moderate amount of yoga every day, especially if you are practicing a variety of different styles, says Dr. Bell.
But because so many styles of yoga involve a part of the body, you can go overboard when it comes to the needs you place on your body if you engage in a practice that is highly developed or strenuous (without enough rest), he says. "It's about balance - if we do too much, we can get into problems like injury, and if we do too little, we may not get the benefits we want," Bell said.
So how can you go to extremes when it comes to yoga? And how do you know when you are pushing your yoga practice so hard?
How to Do It With Yoga
Here are a few signs of an extremely useless yoga practice.
Yoga Involves Your Sleep, Public Health, Or Other Things That Keep You Healthy
“You rarely hear someone say: 'Well, I've been thinking a lot lately,'” says Judi Bar (C-IAYT, RYT 500), director of the yoga program at Cleveland Clinic Wellness and Preventive Medicine. "The truth is, we do not do that part of our job always enough."
Although rare, according to Bell, you can skip the meditation aspect of yoga if the habit interferes with your sleep, your public health, your job, or your other responsibilities.
He pushes himself too hard and skips over the holidays
Bell understands the tendency to push oneself. “When I first met yoga, back in the 1990's, I was a rock rider, a cyclist, a third runner, and a doctor. I did not have much time to rest, so I was as busy as possible with the little time I had and often left myself exhausted. ”
Excessive physical stress can come in the form of severe stress that you do for a few days in a row without rest, says Bell. Or maybe you (like Bell in the past) have a very strong yoga routine when it comes to all the other physical activity you get. Excessive physical use can charge the body and cause pain and fatigue to the various muscles and joints you use, which increases the risk of complications such as overuse, he says.
You Take Classes That Are More Advanced or Stronger
Classes that are above your level or those that are too strong can cause you to overdo it and be at risk of injury, Bell said.
If you are a student of yoga, find an entry level class for any style you wish to do, suggests Bell. "Most classes have meanings such as 'core power yoga' or 'power vinyasa' in the middle or advanced level," he said. "Vinyasa" means a movement that accompanies breathing, and is usually taught at a fast pace.
"If you are young and in good health, you will probably be much easier to adapt and enjoy some of the most demanding yoga styles, but it is still a good idea to start with a basic level class," she says. he says.
Also consider your level of fitness. If you have a low level of stamina or if your age or health problem limits your physical abilities, look for a class that you feel is appropriate and not overworked, says Bell.
Signs That You Are Pushing Hard on Your Yoga Work
The best way to find out if you are pushing your body beyond your limits during class is to pay attention to your mood, says Carol Krucoff (C-IAYT, RYT 500), author of Yoga Sparks: 108 Easy Practices for Stress Reliefs Minutes Or Slowly. You should not be so dizzy and arrogant or so depressed that you cannot concentrate on breathing, he says. That doesn’t mean you can’t physically push yourself into yoga or work your muscles, but you don’t want to lose breath, he says.
By definition, yoga is about focusing on breathing, he says. "If you're shivering and if your spirit is very active, that's not yoga," Krucoff said.
If you find yourself running out of breath during yoga, it could be a sign that you are doing things you are not ready for, or that the class is not well suited, he adds.
Pain and excruciating pain is another red flag that you may be overcoming with yoga. Even well-meaning yogis may feel like a day or two after a yoga class, especially if they are just beginning, says Bell. He says: “I tell my new students to notice how they feel after a few hours after class, just before bed, and the next day.
If you have (but do not sell) energy that is less commonly used muscle that lasts within a day or two, that is probably a normal and healthy response to your challenged body, says Bell. "If you actually feel a pain that does not go away after a few days, you may have really gone away," he adds, and you should seek medical attention.