back problems/beginners

[Guest guest]

> Sat Nam,

> have you talked to your teacher about whether she can guide your

> friend and advise about appropriate teacher? My teacher teaches

> kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan and is also a chiropractor.

> When she is teaching a beginners class she is very clear about

which

> postures are contraindicated if a student has back problems and

almost

> always offers alternative versions of the posture. However I've

also

> been in many other classes where the teacher does not know or offer

> alternatives so you'd have to check in with your teacher to see if

> they are equipped to deal with your friend's needs. Anyone who has

> injuries or physical restrictions should inform the teacher before

> beginning. (Most yoga centres inquire about this to limit

liability,

> and most teachers will ask about this as a matter of proper

guidance

> of the student according to their needs.)

>

> I am not a kundalini yoga teacher or a doctor, however I can share

> what I learned from working as a body/mind facillitator and

therapist

> at a pain clinic in the hopes that it helps. In regards to your

> friend, it will depend on the nature of the back problem as to how

to

> proceed. Perhaps your friend could check with their chiropractor

as to

> what would be advisable? If it is only a matter of tight muscles

> rather than an injury to the spinal column (this would require

xrays

> or an MRI to diagnose) then any form of yoga, kundalini included,

> would be very helpful. As always, no matter what level of fitness

one

> happens to be at, your friend should listen to their body and not

push

> too hard. Improvement happens at our limits, not beyond them where

we

> are more likely to injure ourselves. Just because everyone else

in

> the class is holding a posture for 5 minutes doesn't mean that it's

> appropriate to do so if you're injuring yourself by doing so! Yoga

is

> not a competition Naturally your friend is responsible for her

own

> body and choices, and for asking for more information from the

teacher

> if she requires. As long as she understands this then kundalini

yoga

> could be very useful for her

> blessings

> ovasoul