Practising asanas with a sprained ankle

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I sprained my ankle the other day and was told by the doctor not to do physical activity, including yoga, for two weeks. Although I respect a doctor’s opinion, I still want to practice my asanas; they help keep me sane!

It’s a good opportunity for me to practice my core strenth, which has never been that great (I have lots of flexibility but little strength), with some one legged flows, but I’m not sure if that will imbalance my body too much. It would be easy if I could do asanas on my knees instead of my feet but I can’t activate my foot properly to even to cat/cow with this sprain.

Are there any poses or variations you could suggest to keep me off my left foot?

#2

You know, I really respect your doctor too!

Now is the time to allow your sprained ankle to heal. Eat well, sleep well. You can do all the “yoga” that you like - gentle breathwork, relaxation in savasana, meditation.

Just stay away from those standing poses! And a lot of others too, as you have discovered.

What’s two to six weeks on a lifetime?

#3

Since you have chosen a western medical approach, since you have been examined and are “under the care of” a medical doctor, it would be a) appropriate to get clearance for whatever it is you wish to do and b) foolish of me to go against that advice.

There are, of course ways to practice asana when there is an ankle sprain but I’d not dare to engage it with a student over an internet connection. There’s simply too much liability.

If you prefer to pursue a holistic approach to your healing, and that approach would include yoga (or in this case asana) then it would be best to have contact hours with a well trained therapeutically oriented yoga teacher in your area.

#4

Thanks guys. It probably would be good for me to just chill and work on my pranayamas and meditation. I’m usually very active and am doing some sort of physical activity every day. Yoga is an almost daily thing for me, whether it’s a quick flow to energize or a full two hour session. I do it at home when I can’t get out of the house for some reason, it’s always there, available for me. No asanas is driving me crazy!

#5

That is likely to be due to your constitution which sounds pitta in nature. It is very difficult when the student lives in pitta and chooses a pitta practice. It actually stokes imbalance, though it feeds the addiction and therefore feels so darn good.

For such a student, who has interest in healing, a balancing pranayama, specifically certain forms of Ujjayi and Viloma would be very helpful.