Practicing Yoga Poses Safely
Yoga is a great, low-impact way to exercise, bringing both strength and flexibility to the body. However, while considered a very safe way to exercise, just as with all things, it is possible to injure yourself. By understanding how to properly avoid some of the most common mistakes when performing your yoga poses we can help you to avoid these potential injuries. Let’s look at a few of these tips for yoga poses:
Breathe Properly
Proper breathing is key to the performance of yoga poses and for preventing injury, and is one of the cornerstones of yoga, just as important as the yoga poses themselves. One common mistake that those new to yoga make is to hold their breath while making the transition between yoga poses. Just as you want to breathe in and out while lifting weights, you want to continue breathing as you go through the motions of yoga, only holding your breath when you’ve reached your final posture.
Avoid Overreaching
Most of the yoga poses that get shown on television depict people that are bent into painful-looking shapes. However, yoga poses are intended to be done with little strain on the body. Don’t fall into the temptation to stretch your body any extra just to try to get a little extra stretching. If you feel any pain while doing your yoga poses, stop; the pain is a warning that you’re in danger of injuring yourself.
Go Slow
Just as there is danger in straining too hard to do your yoga poses, there is danger in doing them too fast, as well. Yoga is intended to be done at a slow pace so that motions stay fluid and to help your muscles stay relaxed. Make sure that you’re practicing your yoga poses smoothly and slowly enough that you’re not getting any extra muscle tension.
Learn From An Instructor
Though there are plenty of how-to books and videos about performing yoga postures, the best way to learn to do yoga properly and without injury is to have an instructor, whether you go to a class at the local gym or have private tutoring. A good yoga instructor can help you to learn the yoga poses that are safest for you to do at your level of ability, can teach you how to breathe properly, and can offer the guidance you need to avoid injury. So, with these tips in mind, find yourself an instructor and start on your way to enjoying yoga.