Bow Pose makes me nauseous?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi everyone, I’m new here. I’ve been practicing yoga for about 5 months now and am really enjoying it. One thing though is that whenever I do bow pose I tend to start to feel nauseous and experience acid reflux. I recently have been having stomach problems - probably GERD - for the first time, but when I first started yoga I wasn’t having any digestive problems at all, and still felt uncomfortable in that position.

Now I’ve been reading that bow pose is supposed to help with acid reflux: I even read one site that said that it’s GOOD to get acid reflux with that pose since that’s a sign that it is being effective. What does everyone here think? Should I continue doing it, is it beneficial?

One other thing - i never eat before class. I wait 3-4 hours.

My instructor told me to just ease up on the pose but if it can actually help my problem then I don’t mind doing it. Plus it’s fun :slight_smile:

As for GERD my doctor has put me on Zantac twice a day for 3 wks.

Thanks!

#2

Your problem is nutrition related.
Thats the avenue you should investigate fully.

Bow pose wont help much of anything until the Nutritional issues are sorted out.

That will be 10 dollars.
:slight_smile:

#3

Though abrupt , fee-based, and not my style, I basically agree with the chap above.

I personally would not be doing Dhanurasana for acid reflux issues. I would want a syptomology from the student and a complete disclosure of the diet then I would decide how to therapeutically work. And the pharmaceuticals do not help in my particular field. They obstruct.

#4

ioet,

Be careful with that posture, because if your head is tilted back too far, it can become easy to cut off the supply of blood to the brain. I have passed out unconscious several times because of this, and in fact there was a point when I started to experience spontaneous head convulsions because there was too much pressure that was exerted upon the brain.

It is also absolutely irresponsible to be practicing the methods of yoga without understanding what it is that you are doing, and the “teachers” in the West who are transmitting yoga have been doing a great disservice to the science. Our whole system is interconnected, with all of the parts influencing other parts. Any small change triggers a change in so many other areas of one’s being. If one is not careful, it is possible to create more damage than good. Every technique has a specific effect on one’s system, and even the sequence of the techniques has a particular effect. Yoga can create imbalances, not just in one’s body, but in one’s personality depending on how you are using the methods.

#5

[quote=AmirMourad;49949]

… the “teachers” in the West who are transmitting yoga have been doing a great disservice to the science…[/quote]

I would only add that it is some teachers and only those NOT transmitting yoga who fall into such a category. The teachers who are actually transmitting Yoga are the only ones doing it service.

#6

InnerAthelete,

You are right, there are some exceptions. But generally, the majority of teachers in the West are doing a great disservice.

#7

Thanks for the replies everyone, I really appreciate it.

I am going to work to change my diet to the bland foods, no caffeine, no juice, etc etc that they recommend for GERD, but I have to admit the awful college lifestyle I’ve fallen into is going to make this a really tough change for me. I think one of the hardest things is going to be learning to have snacks. (I have a bad habit of going hours without food and then eating huge meals).

I am still doing yoga three times a week though. Is there anything I should be specifically careful about with stomach problems? I don’t really have heartburn, it’s mostly the burping and a constant “unsettled” feeling in my stomach. I’ve been hearing things like: I shouldn’t bend down, I shouldn’t put pressure on my stomach, etc etc, but is this really true? Most poses don’t bother me. Or is it possible that I’m aggravating the problem by working too hard at yoga…?

Note: I attend a very calming hatha yoga class at my university twice a week and a power yoga class once a week.

#8

I don’t think it is fair to dismiss all teachers in the “west” as irresponsible. I trained in India with wonderful teachers who had been studying yoga all their lives. THey were still learning more about it. Its too deep a subject to think that you will ever understand every pose completely. That is why it is important for someone to listen to their own body. Discomfort is a sign that something else may be going on and that they should explore their health more completely. I’ve even heard stories of people who could detect early signs of cancer in their bodies due to the greater awareness yoga builds - you wouldn’t tell someone to stop practicing for that reason would you?

#9

@ioet,
I highly recommend eating plenty of raw foods, anything you can get your hands on. With the advent of the Raw Food Diet becoming more popular, there should be no shortage of delicious recipes you can try. Raw foods provide the necessary enzymes needed to help digest your food.
I know sometimes raw foods will give people gas who aren’t used to eating them, but I’m sure there are suggestions out there (I don’t have a problem as I love raw fruits and veggies even though I eat a largely cooked diet!) to help you adjust.
If nothing else, ask a chiropractor or other naturopathic style doctor that you trust what enzymes would be good to take. Mine has me on some liquid vitamins that contain enzymes, and while I began taking these for the vitamins only, I have realized that I’ve not had a stomach pain since I started them a week ago, which is unusual for me! I’m planning to go shopping this week so I can start eating a predominantly raw diet soon.

I don’t know if the Prilosec might inhibit the action of the enzymes, but do start them anyway, you may not see the full benefit until after you are done with the Prilosec I’m thinking. :slight_smile:

#10

Good point to bring up here, Joanna! Enzymes are necessary for digestion. However, few of us are aware of how our diets regularly inhibit our enzymes. Even healthy foods eaten improperly will prevent proper enzyme performance.

For example, nuts and seeds need to be soaked in water for hours in order to remove naturally occurring enzyme inhibitors necessary for their propagation. Otherwise, when we eat them unsoaked, their enzyme inhibitors lock on to our digestive enzymes and prevent our absorption of minerals and other nutrients. But when soaked, they nourish our bodies well and do not interfere with our bodies’ receiving minerals in other foods.

Since we’ve been soaking our nuts and seeds, I have noticed a drastic reduction in hair loss during shampooing and combing. My skin is clearer and my bowel movements are healthier. Plus, the nuts and seeds are tastier and lighter.

You can find plenty of info on the Internet about soaking nuts/seeds as well as enzyme inhibitors. BTW many drugs are enzyme inhibitors.

#11

Sparky, I am going to read up and get some nuts and seeds to soak!
Since I started taking these vitamins with enzymes and no more stomach pain (I am astounded) I am more encouraged to look for enzyme providing foods, and to start cutting out those that are detrimental. I don’t like the idea of having to spend so much on liquid vitamins each month. :frowning:

Thank you for that information!

#12

You are welcome, Joanna! :smiley:

#13

Thanks all, I am going to look into these tips. I don’t know if a raw foods diet is the solution for me but I know I definitely need to work on revamping my diet.

So for now I will continue with yoga but will hold off on trying hard at poses like bow pose which seem to be upsetting my stomach. Class tomorrow…:rolleyes:

#14

[QUOTE=AmirMourad;49960]InnerAthelete,

You are right, there are some exceptions. But generally, the majority of teachers in the West are doing a great disservice.[/QUOTE]

I disagree with this wholeheartedly. I will post more on this on a new thread later, but I will point out that, from personal observation, entry into yoga is dependant on cultural environment. It doesn’t matter from which door one enters as they lead to the same room.

#15

[QUOTE=ioet;50645]Thanks all, I am going to look into these tips. I don’t know if a raw foods diet is the solution for me but I know I definitely need to work on revamping my diet.

So for now I will continue with yoga but will hold off on trying hard at poses like bow pose which seem to be upsetting my stomach. Class tomorrow…:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

Could it possibly be that you’re simply just not drinking enough water? Is your power class heated?

I know that sometimes if I don’t have enough water or don’t drink my electrolytes, I can feel nauseous during my hot yoga class. It could be the same for you, but you feel it particularly with that certain pose.

Just a thought…

~Summer~