I’m not sure why it does this, but my sternum always cracks when I practice. It makes me nervous and I am hesitant to finish because I’m not sure what’s going on, or if it’s okay. Is a continually cracking sternum something to be worried about, or am I doing something wrong?
Namaste Sarah,
And welcome to the forum. 
Cracking of joints is fairly common in a lot of people. The question usually with joint cracking is: Does it casue you any pain or discomfort?
If not, then it is most probably like flexing your fingers and your hear snap, crackle and pop, but without any pain accosiated with that action. If fact sometimes it can feel so good after you have done it.
However, if pain and discomfort follows your cracking and popping then I would recommend that you visit your doctor for an check-up.
Hello Sarah,
there are various theories and perceptions behind the “cracking” you mention.
I tend not to follow an “if it doesn’t hurt then don’t fret” paradigm. Instead my preference is as follows.
First consult the person from who you are taking yoga. That teacher should either be able to respond to you unequivocally or tell you they do not know BUT will find out.
Second, if the cracking noise is constant, all the time, the opposite of periodic, then there may be something more to unearth. I’d not fathom a guess as to what that is but I’d consult your health care provider of choice. Mine would be my yoga teacher and/or a chiro for such things.
If it is periodic then it is fine. The joints of the body are adjusting constantly - during the movements of the day and the movements of the sleep phase, and all points in between.
In this way some adjustment is perfectly fine while other adjustment may be an indicator of laxity (or tension), diet, or imbalance that could be addressed through ones practice.
OK – when I hear ‘sternum’ I think of the bone running down the front of the rib cage that anchors the ribs in place. My CPR instructor definitely said that in giving CPR to really old folks their ribs pop out of the sternum.
What gets to crack there without it being bad? I mean, I guess where a rib connects with the sternum it has to be a joint of some sort, but I’ve never experienced mine being that mobile.
To find the mobility of the ribs one need only inhale deeply and exhale fully. If the ribs were static then respiration itself could fracture them. Which is why they are attached with fiberous material. If you still can’t feel them - more pranayama in your practice
The ribcage and the thoracic spine are really a closed complex. Lenghtening and straightening the thoracic spine is often indicated because vata people, especially women lack the muscular tonus of the back and abdomen to keep it in a natural position. When I say straightening I mean, getting it to it’s natural C shape, because inwardly, that is what we percieve as straight.
I’d say, if the cracking is perceived as “healthy”, I mean, if it happens as part of the “straightening of the back”, drawing the shoulders backwards, perhaps togheter with a full inhalation, than it is allright. There is a certain feeling of aproprriateness, that now you are in a correct position.
If there is any pain or uneasiness related to the cracking though, than there might be other things involved. Often, after meals increasing mucus, or inflammation of connecting tissues, these adjustments of joints can be perceived as painful. In fact, I often measure my general level of vitality by these little signs. It’s about awarness I guess.
I’ll see if my teacher thinks I’m ready for more pranayama next time we meet. It could be my old singing breath training gave me an immobility habit.
Thanks!