Yoga: Cautions
Description
This article is from the Alternative
Medicine Therapies guide.
Yoga: Cautions
- Before starting
a yoga class, be sure to tell your teacher about any concerns
or physical limitations you may have.
- Always warm
up gradually and work at your own pace. While some stiffness may
occur after the first classes, you should not feel pain.
- Avoid upside-down
postures, such as shoulderstands or headstands, if you have high
blood pressure, glaucoma, or a hernia.
- If you are
pregnant, tell your instructor, so he or she can modify postures
for you. If you prefer, there are special yoga classes available
for expectant mothers. Avoid postures that put pressure on the
uterus.
- Avoid or
alter back-bending postures if you have disk or other back problems.
- If you're not in good athletic shape, think twice before you
enroll in currently popular Astanga or "power yoga" classes, which
can be physically challenging.
 
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