Guest guest Posted May 3, 2002 Report Share Posted May 3, 2002 >"Ashwini Kumar" >Yoga >Fri, 03 May 2002 20:00:47 -0400 > > > >Caution Advised When Doing Yoga >Source: >http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54763-2002Apr15.html >WASHINGTON, U.S.A., April 15, 2002: With an increase of 30% in >participation >from 1998 to 2000, 7.4 million people now do yoga in America. Along >with its >increased popularity, is a reported increase of injuries. Tyler >Cymet, an >osteopathic physician and assistant professor of medicine at the >John >Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore says, "We're >seeing a lot >more people experiencing sprains and strains and overuse of >muscles....after >doing yoga." The article attributes the injuries to a variety of >factors. >People may approach yoga as a form of vigorous exercise when in fact >it >should be done in a relaxation mode from beginning to end. Baby >boomers, who >already may have back or knee problems are trying yoga. These same >boomers >in the 40+ crowd may not be aware that certain parts of the spine >degenerate >with age. Some gyms offer athletic hybrids such as hot yoga, power >yoga, or >Ashtanga Yoga. Because these forms are more vigorous, the risk of >injury may >increase. Trisha Lamb Feuerstein, director of research at the Yoga >Research >and Education Center attributes the injuries to unqualified >teachers. She >says, "There are people teaching yoga who have little or no >knowledge of >anatomy or physiology. There are lots of asanas (poses) that are >contraindicated based on conditions people may have (such as prior >hip >problems or sciatica) -- you don't learn that in a week-end." >Timothy >McCall, a Boston area internist who has practiced yoga for seven >years and >recommends it to patients for arthritis says, "Ideally, yoga should >be >personalized....what's safe for a 20-year-old may not be for a >50-year-old >with a history of arthritis or other injuries." Jill Abelson, a yoga >instructor of 12 years further adds, "It's important for people to >understand their own bodies. If people use some general sense and >pace >themselves, they can reduce their risk of injury." > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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