Is the knee in danger in a figure-4 position?

Is the knee in danger in a figure-4 position?

As yoga teachers, it is our job to assist people in moving their body in mindful ways that will bring overall physical and mental well-being. A big part of this responsibility entails preventing injury whenever possible. To this aim, yoga teachers use a myriad of alignment cues designed to protect the body from injury. Some of these cues are good advice. Others seem to make little sense. For example, why should one flex the ankle to protect the knee in a hip opening pose? In order to understand whether this is a useful alignment cue, we must explore the effect that hip opening poses have on the knee, and how movement at the ankle may or may not mediate this effect.

Betrayed by my body Part 2: How I healed my herniated disc practicing yoga

I herniated a disc in the lumbar region of my spine practicing yoga. It was excruciating. I cried, not from the pain, but from the frustration and helplessness I felt. I have an active yoga practice and movement is important to me. To be injured so acutely that I could barely move was a physical, mental and emotional shock. I also felt betrayed by the practice that I had invested so much time and energy in. I eventually came to realize that it was not yoga, but my own misuse of the practice that was to blame.

Betrayed by my body Part 1: How I herniated a disc practicing yoga

On September 7, 2014, I herniated a disc in my lumbar region while practicing yoga. As a yoga student and teacher, it has been hard to come to terms with that fact. I believe that yoga heals all kinds of ills - physical, mental and emotional. I believe that yoga is safe. I believe that yoga can be practiced by anyone. This injury was a shock and a heartbreak. My physical practice is important to me. Movement is important to me. And this injury temporarily took movement and my physical practice away from me.

Is savasana dangerous for your pregnant yoga students?

Yoga teachers often caution their pregnant students not to lie on their back or on their right side, believing that it may be harmful to both mom and baby. Is this kind of fear warranted? We’ll break down the science and anatomy behind this advice so that you can have the knowledge to empower your students. And hopefully this will help change the culture of fear around pregnancy, especially around pregnancy and yoga. Yoga should give pregnant women the tools to manage their stress, not create additional anxiety.