Beginner Yoga Questions

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello!

I have just started learning/practicing yoga over the past week and I just wanted to check and make sure everything I am feeling is normal.

I am 17 and I am fairly active (I ride horses) and I have chronic lower/mid back pain. I was hoping yoga would help stretch and build muscle in my core and would help with the back pain. So far it has though I still often have to spend time on the heating pad.

I am very active but I am not flexible at all (can’t touch my toes w/o bending my legs) and I am not as fit as I’d like to be. I also am very thin and I have to be careful not to burn off too many calories so I don’t become underweight.

I have started using the video [I]Element: Am and PM Yoga for Beginners[/I]. And so far I like it and it hasn’t asked to much or put a whole lot of strain on my back.

I was just wondering if it is normal to feel popping and some pain when stretching? In general how long does it take to improve flexibility?

I hope to eventually join a class but since everything is 45 minutes away from me (I live in the hicks) I am just going to wait on that.

Thanks so much!

#2

Hi Roux,

Have you ever had a thorough evaluation of your back by a doctor, chiropractor, or other experienced practitioner?

#3

I am planning to talk to my doctor about it at my next physical but I pretty sure that it is due to my riding (I ride between 1 - 3 horses per day) that is stressing my back. I am hoping that strengthening and stretching my back and core is all I need.

#4

Hello Roux,

Can you tell me what sort of riding are you doing?

Typically the femurs are abducted, externally rotated, and in flexion when riding. A yoga practice to counter (or complement) this would have to be very specific in nature. That specificity would involve working the other hip actions to bring balance to the joint and to stabilize the pelvis thus taking strain off of the lower back.

While I am not familiar with the particular dvd you reference it is safe to presume it is "one size fits all) and a general practice. That will be fine for learning yoga (though it’s not my preference for new students to learn yoga through that medium). However it will not do much to rectify or remedy the therapeutic issue you are having.

As David points out, an assessment (for some) is quite necessary. I personally do not find western medical practitioners to be very skilled nor very thorough in such an area. But that is me. Others may feel differently. A very skilled P/T, a chiro who is familiar with muscle testing, and perhaps a massage therapist (in combination) might be very helpful. Likewise a therapeutically trained yoga teacher would be a big help.

In order to respond to your question about popping and pain I’d need more information. Stretching muscle (within a safe range of motion for your body) can be accompanied by discomfort in the muscle tissue. Pain is a level beyond that discomfort and is ill advised. Popping I do not understand unless you are referring to the spine. More info would help me.

Do keep in mind that yoga is not about flexibility. It is about moving some things and stabilizing others.

#5

Think about some weight training and deadlifts for the back as well as yoga. Or get a yoga/back DVD. Desiree Rumbaugh make a a good one.

My joints pop like hell but I'm an old guy in my mid 50's... so have an excuse. .Salt is bad for joints so watch out.

Horses should supply lots of exercise benefits. Trampolines do anyway.

Glad you are starting young. Wish I did. Good luck.

#6

You should definitely stop a stretch if you feel any sharp pain. Sometimes after doing yoga I feel a welcoming ache the next day, that just let me knows that my body got a good workout and some much needed stretching.

#7

Do you do myofascial release before stretching?