I have been doing Yoga for approximately two months and I really enjoy the challenge and the inner peace I receive from doing it. I am going in for abdominal surgery and yoga is out of the question for awhile because my core muscle will need to heal. Other than practice my breathing is there anything else that I can do that would not use my core muscles and would promote healing? Thanks.
Hi,
Yoga is a wonderful practice not only for the physical benefits but also for the mental and spiritual ones. With this in mind one great way to stay in tune with your yoga practice when you are less able to get on your mat is through visualization. Find a comfortable position sitting or lying down, take some time to connect to your breath. Slowly guide yourself through an asana practice. See yourself doing each posture with ease and conscious awareness, stay focused on your breath throughout. Begin with a shorter 20 minute practice, as you may be surprised by the effort this practice takes.
I’ve also added a bit more information on our website blog.
I hope this helps and wish you a speedy recovery from your surgery.
That sounds like a wonderful (safe) idea. I appreciate your suggestion and well wishes.
Laura
Exactly what proceedure are you going in for? I’m asking so I can get an idea about what will be cut and what will be stitched.
And I assume you are asing about Asana and not yoga. Is that correct?
Yoga is based on the yamas, niyamas, and the Kleshas. Without these there is no yoga. If you are looking for a way to practice YOGA outside of the asana realm you can find way to enhance the quality of Saucha in your life. Equally you can choose any of the other 9 yamas/niyamas and concentrate on those.
Depending on your reply to my initial question it is possible there are asanas you can do with your condition - this with the guidance of a teacher and some props too. That asana practice may not at all resemble your previous practice, depending on what you were doing and in what context you were doing it.
Well I am kinda embrassed to say. I am going in for abdominoplasty so there will be removal of extra skin and a tightening of the abdomen muscles.
Here is a little background; I am a real novice when it comes to yoga but what I have been learning is Kripalu Yoga. I also bought a Yoga book but other than that I have not done much research. I think why I was drawn to yoga was because of meditation and I also have had Reiki I & II training.
I have looked at my new book (plan on reading it fully during recovery)and it appears that I’m currently doing both. I don’t think I can do asanas at least not for awhile. Once I am recovered I probably could start with them. Cobra, sitting twist and tailor pose are all considered asana practice and asanas meaning is posture, correct?
I guess what I am really interested in during this recovery time is to continue to develp awareness of my physical self.
The term asana typically refers to pose, posture, seat…
I would not advise doing twists, either seated or supine, nor would I advsie poses done on the belly (prone) in the early days after your surgery. perhaps the first 40 days for sure.
You could do a variety of asanas but you should not engage in any asana practice directly after your surgery without approval of your doctor and instruction from a qualified yoga teacher.
I will just assure you there are poses you can do after that 40 day and perhaps a few that you can do earlier. It would not be appropriate for me to list those here however.
It has already been nine days since my surgery. I am listening to what my body tells me and I am not over doing it in the least. I go to my yoga class once a week and I sit in the back and I listen with my eyes closed and join in only for mediation. That alone has a very positive healing effect on me. I have very little feeling in the mid-section which I am sure will eventually go away but until then no twists, only arms and legs as instructed by my doctor. Thank you for responding.