Common Yoga Injuries

Yoga is an excellent traditional discipline which enhances your physical strength, stimulates your mind, and cures your health problems. But beware; any wrong moves on your part and you will fall prey to painful yoga injuries. These common yoga injuries can easily be avoided, however, so invest a little time and effort and learn how to do it right!

Yoga Injuries: Yoga Gone Wrong!

More and more people have adopted the ancient discipline of yoga and made it a regular feature of their lifestyle. This emerging trend should not be surprising since yoga promises to enhance the core stability, physical strength, mental clarity, and emotional tranquility of dedicated practitioners. Moreover, it also holds natural therapeutic benefits for numerous health complications such as sciatica, insomnia, infertility, menopausal symptoms and asthma to name just a few. However, all of these benefits can only be obtained if yoga followers practice yoga in the correct fashion. Yoga injuries are the inevitable result of not following the pertinent instructions, and ignoring signs of bodily discomfort or pain. Most of the cases of yoga injuries are reported by enthusiasts who take to practicing yoga using yoga DVDs, or by beginners who tag along to yoga classes that may be a tad bit too advanced for their flexibility and fitness level. The following common yoga injuries can easily be avoided by practicing yoga under the supervision of a qualified yoga teacher, or by purchasing yoga DVDs that have clearly and comprehensively defined guidelines for each yoga asana.

Common Yoga Injuries # 1

Knee Joints

Start your yoga journey by practicing mild poses that are similar to positions you may assume in your daily life too (such as the baddha konasana and pigeon pose). Subjecting your knees to the pressure and strain of performing complex poses that require a certain level of bodily flexibility and elasticity will result in torn knee ligaments and damaged knee joints.

Common Yoga Injuries # 2

 Rotator Cuff Injuries

As is the case with most yoga injuries, ignoring the signs of an impending injury is one of the prominent reasons for damaged rotator cuffs. Overstretching your shoulders and brushing signs of strain or discomfort to the side lead to rotator cuff injuries. You must take special care while performing the plank and crocodile poses since most practitioners suffer from rotator cuff pain or injuries while attempting these two postures.

Common Yoga Injuries # 3

Lower Back Injuries

It is only natural to want to progress on to challenging yoga poses that appear to be exciting and fun. However, poses that fall under the category of forward bends and twists should always be performed with caution since any incorrect bodily postures can lead to back problems.

Common Yoga Injuries # 4

Wrist Injuries

Stressing the same muscles repeatedly and maintaining an incorrect form while doing it is a sure shot way to suffer from chronic injuries. Tendonitis is a painful wrist condition that develops over time due to excessive stress and poor technique.

Common Yoga Injuries # 5

 Neck Injuries

Yoga poses such as the plow pose and the shoulder stand do not have any solid head and neck support. People who perform these postures without professional supervision are highly likely to sustain neck injuries. As a yoga newbie your body will take time to develop the flexibility and mobility required to perform such demanding poses with ease. It would be best to sign up for yoga classes so that you can obtain guidance from a qualified teacher.

Common Yoga Injuries # 6

 Pelvis and Gluteus Injuries

Focusing excessively on seated yoga asanas can lead to the development of inflammation of the soft tissue in the hips.