One critic points out the emergence of“ fitness yoga” or the blend of aerobics and yoga as potentially one of the many factors that may lead to injury. Do you agree with this?
Hartman: To a degree. Historically, true yoga was not taught in large classes as we do today. Yoga began to shift a hundred years ago when military and calisthenics were mixed with yoga. The“ one size fits all” approach is really the issue. One size does NOT fit all! Yogi masters of old taught worthy students one at a time in individual sessions, changing and adapting their practices uniquely to each person often. I think the branding and marketing of yoga as a business has more to do with the watered-down effect and the simplifying of this ancient educational system of increasing awareness and health. Radding: Absolutely! Yoga is yoga. It should be done as its own discipline. Yoga does blend well with Pilates, but it is a“ crime” in my estimation to lose the purity of having a mind / body discipline that, regardless of your belief system, you learn to quiet your mind, connect to your body, and find a sacred place of silence inside that is separate and distinct from the rest of your life. Without the mind / body focus, it’ s just exercise and that lack of mindfulness opens the door to injury.
How can ISPA and the spa industry in general ensure that correct information about yoga, its benefits and risks are propagated to the public and the media?
Hartman: Educate yourself and your staff about the study and practice of yoga. Partner with an educational institution like Kripalu, one that offers an in-depth and well-rounded education. Stay informed on the research regarding the benefits and risks of yoga by reading a variety of reputable media. Radding: Have integrity, choose good teachers, and emphasize safety first on all levels of spa life, including and especially in group exercise classes. Overall, yoga does much more good than harm and participants are advised to read carefully the description of classes to make sure they are in the class that suits their needs. Students should also tell a practitioner if they are nursing an injury or if it is their first time in yoga. The teacher can then help assess [ whether they are in the right class ]. ■
Highest Risks for Injury
FOR BACK – Standing Forward Fold, Seated Forward Fold, Standing Wide Angle, and Seated Wide Angle due to a student overdoing it or putting too much weight and undue pressure on the lumbar discs, possibly causing herniation. FOR NECK – Inverted balancing poses on the cervical spine: Shoulder Stand, Plow and Headstand. FOR LIMBS – Any and all movements that can torque, twist and / or contort, putting stress on joints, ligaments and tendons.
Reasons for Injuries
Ego / competition: Feeling like one has to do what the teacher or another student is doing, or even what one used to do but no longer can. Bad form: Perception of what the body is doing can be radically different from what the body is actually doing, and this may put muscles and joints at risk. Poorly trained or overzealous teachers: Injuries can sometimes occur due to poorly trained yogi masters or those who overzealously“ adjust” a student’ s posture. Radding suggests asking permission prior to doing any adjustments.
Does Bikram Yoga Pose More Risk?
In a New York Times article“ How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body( Jan. 5, 2012),” a report notes that health professionals found that the penetrating heat of Bikram yoga could raise the risk of overstretching, muscle damage and torn cartilage. One specialist noted that ligaments— the tough bands of fiber that connect bones or cartilage at a joint— failed to regain their shape once stretched out, raising the risk of strains, sprains and dislocations.
What Should the Right Yoga Training be?
“ The intensive, immersion-based teacher training at the Kripalu School of Yoga is led by two directors( with over 30 years of yoga practice, teaching and lifestyle), along with a variety of leaders, including outside educators for anatomy, physiology, philosophy and more. Most yoga teacher trainings feature one teacher, instructing them on their“ brand,”“ script” or“ rules.” Yoga is much more complex than that. Kripalu yoga— using classic asanas, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation techniques— is an inquiry-based practice, emphasizing not only the physical alignment, but also the mental, emotional and spiritual experiences occurring in every pose,” Hartman says.
March / April 2012 ■ PULSE 25