Whiplash sequence: safety for the instructor

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I am a power yoga instructor and have been humbled by a recent rear-end car accident. I am suffering mild whiplash (thank you yoga for the “mild”) but, I am planning on teaching. My style is not modeling-dependent, meaning: I can teach without modeling and am very good at having students model. but, I am nervous about the vinyasa sequence, as my students expect a certain level of athleticism. And while I believe most know my cuing and sequencing, I am trying to come up with some good standing poses that do not put too much pressure on the neck and shoulders, since arm extensions are uncomfortable for me.

Has anyone had to modify their yoga for whiplash, what did you do? What helped? Does anyone have a gentle standing sequence, that has flow and is loving to the cervical spine? Also, what seated sequences are beneficial? My class is very open to whatever I choose for the restorative section class, as any yoga is good yoga.

Thanks for sharing your ideas! In light and healing, :sunglasses:

#2

I’m sorry to hear about your accident…

If you are looking for more gentle flow check out Moon salutation, that would be a more gentle sequence

#3

How fortunate that your students get to see behavior modeled for them as to what to do and not do when on the path of yoga and working with a challenge or injury. Unfortunately the “working through” in a vinyasa style is all too often muscling, gripping, toughing it out, and plowing through it. The practice itself does not provide much room for the injured. And yet this is where you are and this is the path of your current choosing.

You mention the expectations of the students and clearly the teacher has a role in the fostering or tolerance of that expectation. Regardless, in this situation it is absolutely imperative that the expectation(s) of your class be secondary to your well being.

Thankfully, your class is not dependent on your doing the class with the students (if I understand your reference to “modeling”). And of course teaching while practicing is nearly impossible, for seeing a student’s safety issue in Setu Bandha while you yourself are in Setu Bandha is folly.

So please [B]do not do the class with your students[/B]. This is incredibly dangerous in both short and long term for your neck and we are supposed to be champions of the spine, safety, and ahimsa. If you cannot find ways to teach without risking your well being at all, then consider a sub until you can. A yoga teacher with an empty cup has nothing to give the student.

#4

As always, you give such great advice inner athlete… I tired to find a sub but could not. So, I stuck with vira 1&3 modifications so that I was not extending my arms as in vira 2 and cut out chataranga vinyasa and went to high push-ups. This seemed to work fine. (much like a moon salutation). And then cervical and lumber spine love for restorative series. I have read that 5 days post soft tissue injury, you can begin strengthen exercises. My students were wonderful! The hardest part was actually focusing my concentration. but it is so hard to practice ahimsa on the self, especially when you have an inner athlete mentality. I had acupuncture and an adjustment after class, I think that flared things up more then the yoga. I so enjoy discovering the depth of benefits yoga offers. Always learning. Oif someone reads this and would like to have more in-depth info one my recovery and healing sequences, my mistakes and epiphanies, let me know and I will gladly share.

Thanks inner athlete and city monk - blessing

#5

Well then it sounds like you moved mindfully. So many times we get caught up in the concept that yoga means we make perfect choices; choices to avoid meat, to do when we should not and sit when we should move. But really it is about the deep consideration of the choice in front of us, an evaluation of the consequence(s), and a full responsibility assumed once we have chosen.

As for strengthening, I do not teach strengthening before alignment, otherwise the strengthening lacks integrity, fosters imbalance in the physical body, and further ingrains samskara of old patterns into the consciousness. I am however curious what sort of strengthening you have in mind as part of a whiplash recovery protocol? Why do you classify this as a soft tissue injury?

#6

Hi there, it sounds like you’ve gotten some good advice and are modifying well enough. I would also recommend looking into Forrest Yoga. She has two videos out and while only a portion of her classes are vinyasa, she is hardcore about relaxing the neck in every pose and not doing the normal dristi points. It might give you some ideas about how to modify things. I have also made a youtube video that details the relaxing the neck part from Forrest Yoga while doing a sun salutation. While it doesn’t address your issue specifically, maybe some of it will help: