Hi! It’s my first day as a member. Glad to be here. Can’t wait to start exploring this forum.
I’ve been practicing yoga for 3 years - but only consistently 2x weekly since January this year when a studio opened nearby. I started with Power 1, then progressed to Power 2 easily as I am quite flexible and strong, my teachers say. For the past two weeks, I’ve started doing Mysore, 3x weekly. I’m also hypertensive, and take medication in the morning and afternoon to regulate my blood pressure. I’m in my early 40’s, normal non-veggie diet, and bordering overweight. Hypertension runs in my dad’s side of the family.
My question is that every yoga literature I’ve read (not that much:rolleyes:) contraindicates headstand for hypertension. I’ve mentioned this to all the yoga instructors I’ve encountered, plus the fact that I take meds, and they still don’t stop me from doing inversions (shoulderstand, and I’m beginning to work on my headstands for the last two weeks already). I’m slowly learning how to do headstands when I noticed I get broken red blood vessels in my face a few hours afterwards.
I’ve mentioned this too to my cardiologist but because he’s not familiar with yoga, he conservatively told me to not do inversions. Now, do I listen to my doctor and all the literature and stop doing headstands or do I continue because I’m on medication and also because I’m being closely monitored (and not discouraged) by my teacher during my mysore practice?
Any of your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
