Asanas to avoid w/glaucoma diagnosis

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Greetings to everyone, I have been lurking and reading the forum for a while now. Quite enjoyable and a good source of information. I have been practicing yoga for 6-7 years and have a pretty good home practice in addition to a few weekly classes.

My wife has started practicing asanas a bit, although she enjoys meditation and pranayama the best. She was recently diagnosed with glaucoma (actually the beginnings of it- with medication) She previously had a retina detachment that was repaired (different eye) I have read some postures are to be avoided if you have glaucoma, I think mostly inversions. Can anyone give me some more information on the best ways to practice w/glaucoma. We are both 53 and otherwise excellent health.
Thank you for any help
Jim

#2

Yogajim,
The most commonly practiced Yoga methods are asanas (poses), pranayamas (breathing exercises), mudras(hand gesture with normal breathing or gestures involving whole body with breath retetion), bandhas (locks) and Dhyanas (meditations). In case of Glucoma, an eye disorder with increased eye pressure, the following Yoga methods of each categories should be avoided:

  1. Asanas: Inverted Poses such Sirsasana (head Stand), Sarvangasana (Shoulder
    Stand), etc.
  2. Pranayamas: Bhastrika (Bellow Breath technique), Kapalbhathi (Active Exhalation),
    and also Suryabhedi and Ujjai pranayamas beyond 2 minutes and more than
    1:1:2.
  3. Mudras: (Hand Gestures) Linga Mudra and Surya Mudra.
  4. Bandha: All bandha in which breath is held more than 5 seconds.
  5. Meditation: Kundalini or chakra based meditation without guidance of an experienced
    Yoga teacher
#3

Thank you Vijay

#4

The most important caution is with inversions. Because glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye that damages the optic nerve leading to blindness, it’s best to avoid anything that may further increase that pressure. There are case reports of worsening glaucoma with inverted postures. Specifically, headstand, shoulder-stand, and halasana are to be avoided. Any posture where the head is below the heart has the potential to increase pressure in the eye. Each asana should be considered in this way and modified if necessary.

Bhastrika and kapalabhati will not increase eye pressure. In fact, in emergency medicine, we hyperventilate patients (a side effect of these pranayamas) to [I]decrease[/I] pressure within the head - for trauma and stroke victims and such.

As far as mudras, viparita karani as classically described is an inversion to be avoided. In modern times, this is usually described as a “legs up the wall pose” - that is okay as the head and heart are level with each other on the ground. No other mudras or bandhas should present a problem for glaucoma.

Very happy to hear that you and your wife are enjoying Yoga, particularly Raja Yoga. It will help you to remain in “otherwise excellent health” in the future!

#5

Theyogadr.
I appreciate your detailed note on inverted poses. I have special regards for a doctor of internal medicine as I found them as physicians of compelementary approach towards all therapeutic systems. But I disagree with your view of Bhastrika and Kapalbhathi. I believe that the way you or a doctor of western medicine (allopathy) hyperventiliate the patients with pressure in head - for trauma and strokes does vary from hyperventilation as product of those praynayamas. Secondly, while doing these pranayamas there is a increase in metabolic rate, heat and changes in intestinal gas state that may also increase eye pressure directly or indirectly and not in short run or long run.
Do investigate other mudras as whether or not they may be really a triggering factors.
I feel the case may be re-investigated with a appropriate scientific methods not just by speculations.
I have special regards for a doctor of internal medicine as I found them to physicians of compelementary approach towards all therapeutic systems.

[QUOTE=theYogadr.;78232]The most important caution is with inversions. Because glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye that damages the optic nerve leading to blindness, it’s best to avoid anything that may further increase that pressure. There are case reports of worsening glaucoma with inverted postures. Specifically, headstand, shoulder-stand, and halasana are to be avoided. Any posture where the head is below the heart has the potential to increase pressure in the eye. Each asana should be considered in this way and modified if necessary.

Bhastrika and kapalabhati will not increase eye pressure. In fact, in emergency medicine, we hyperventilate patients (a side effect of these pranayamas) to [I]decrease[/I] pressure within the head - for trauma and stroke victims and such.

As far as mudras, viparita karani as classically described is an inversion to be avoided. In modern times, this is usually described as a “legs up the wall pose” - that is okay as the head and heart are level with each other on the ground. No other mudras or bandhas should present a problem for glaucoma.

Very happy to hear that you and your wife are enjoying Yoga, particularly Raja Yoga. It will help you to remain in “otherwise excellent health” in the future![/QUOTE]

#6

Vijay,
We can kindly agree to disagree about the pranayama. I appreciate your input, and believe you are right that we need to investigate all of these aspects of Yoga in a more scientific manner rather relying on theory and speculation. Best of luck with your work and studies. Yoga and natural medicine are great healers. The more sharp minds that come to these fields, the more definitive answers we will discover.

#7

Hi Jim,

Do the above answers satisfy your inquiry?

gordon

#8

[QUOTE=theYogadr.;78232]pranayamas) to [I]decrease[/I] pressure within the head - for trauma and stroke victims and such.

As far as mudras, viparita karani as classically described is an inversion to be avoided. In modern times, this is usually described as a “legs up the wall pose” - that is okay as the head and heart are level with each other on the ground. No other mudras or bandhas should present a problem for glaucoma.
[/QUOTE]

hehe:)) that what i was going to ask if VK will be kinda sub for inversions:)

#9

Thanks to everyone for the excellent information it is quite helpful.
Yes Inner Athlete, I have enough to go forward with. Also, I will err on the side of caution.
Thank you
Jim