Generic Yoga Posts :(

#yoga #traditionalyoga #yogatherapeutics #ayurveda #ayurvedaandyoga #asanasafety

This is just one of the many challenges with the yoga world: How does anyone, especially those without a yoga and Ayurveda background, know what is quality yoga information and what is not? Is what is posted and recommended good? Or not beneficial for what they have going on? It is so frustrating because there is so much information out there that isn't correct. For this particular post I'm focusing on this image I just saw posted on facebook by a yoga teacher.

Let's break this down a little:

1a) "TCM and Ayurveda informed Sequence"

I just want to make sure everyone understands the "informed" part. We can incorporate TCM components into any yoga practice, but yin yoga is not a part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine tradition. It has adopted some TCM principles, but is not TCM. It's so important to be clear and not muddle these lines - so many think that yin is TCM. It is not. An individual blended some TCM concepts with yoga concepts to create yin yoga.

There's also the Paulie Zink Yin Yoga and Paul Grilley Yin Yoga...and that's a whole other topic.

1b) "TCM and Ayurveda informed Sequence"

Coming from the background of an Ayurvedic Practitioner several of these asanas are actually not ideal for someone with anxiety, and most definitely not if held for longer which is a large component of yin practices. I'm wondering where the Ayurvedically informed comes from? Before I continue I want to really emphasize that we are all different and need different things. Anxiety is a Vata vyaddhi, so the last thing we want to do is further aggravate Vata or its subdoshas. Regarding an Ayurvedic example specifically, half camel increases udana vata/dosha and vyana vata/vayu. This is not what we want for someone who struggles with anxiety. The dragonfly pictured here also increases vyana vata/vayu which is also not desireable. We want to be careful with half saddle, twisted root, and sphynx regarding increasing prana and vyana vatas/vayus. So, within this small poster there are already several things to be concerned with Ayurvedically that can create more imbalance in the body rather than balance, thus aggravating anxiety rather than helping it.

2) "Yin Yoga for Anxiety"

First off, holding things for a long period of time can be beneficial or actually increase anxiety for some. Yes, holding is in essence a huge part of yoga asana practice, but we must remember we are all different. Yoga is not the same as asana. Much of what helps anxiety from the yogic philosophy is the essence of yoga (the breathwork, the kriya, mantra, meditation). In order for these asanas to be truly helpful for anxiety specific breathwork must be incorporated while doing the asana, in addition to the application of bandha. Without these components they are just holding stretches, and that doesn't necessarily help anxiety. Can it? Maybe, but to call it "Yoga for Anxiety" is a misnomer. Yes, caterpillar, childs pose, butterfly, and shoelace asanas can be great for anxiety - with the appropriate balanced yoga practice.

3) Asana application

If we look at the general physical asanas that are shown here, several of them are fine. However, especially to someone with little to no yoga experience, these actually can be dangerous. In any type of lunge situation we generally want the knee 90 degrees over the ankle. If the knee goes past and is held for a longer length of time there it can actually cause pain and injury in some with knee and hip challenges. Open wings is tricky to do correctly, and if not done correctly there is too much anterior rotation in the back shoulder that can cause pain and injury. I don't know one yoga student who has done it correctly without specific guidance. The squat asana pictured is not accessible by many and either can be painful or awkard and/or they need props to help feel comfortable in this position. Half camel is extraordinarily vulnerable for the low back and can cause pain and injury if not guided correctly, and if the yogi doesn't have the awareness to know what they should or should not be feeling. Many individuals should not do this asana regardless. Regarding all of the forward folds - some individuals don't have the flexibility to come forward more than a couple inches, some shouldn't be rounding their backs, etc. These general guidelines, particularly through posts and pictures can give people the wrong, or incomplete, information that potentially can make things worse.

Too often people associate with yin as therapeutic and gentle. This is not the case. Some asanas might be for some people, some asanas may not be for others. I've worked with students whose hips and lumbar/sacroiliac area were completely messed up because of yin yoga. Generalizations are really tricky. It's why it is important, and ideal, to study with a teacher who can guide you with what your body truly needs.

I specialize in yoga for anxiety and love helping individuals with their anxiety, but it is a whole mind, body, and spirit process. It is not as simpl as this poster. Much of this poster I don't agree with and have the yogic and Ayurvedic information to back it up.

Thanks for listening!