Pain in the Neck

Due to the power of marketing, Yoga is generally thought of as an enlightening, calming practice. The fact it can, and does, cause injuries is a hot button lately, thanks in part to the New York Times story that went viral this years. I’ve practiced for over 12 years and had never really dealt with much more than a strained muscle (or bruised ego), so when I read that story I was inflamed with the self-righteous indignation befitting my yoga-teacher-in-training self.

But you can guess where this post is leading by the context clues in the title… Yep, I got injured doing yoga.

Or at least I think I did, I still can’t be sure. All I can do is run down the series of events.

 

What Happened:

-I’m in the yoga teacher training program, going to 3+ classes 2 weeks a month, then 3 classes and 20 hour weekend intensives 1 week each month.

-I find myself constantly feeling self-conscious because I’m the chubby girl in the training. OK, the curvy girl, but definitely one of the weightier people.

-I begin to push myself more and more, to prove that I can hang and prove I’m worth it.

-This pushing includes finally really pushing myself into neck compromising poses like plow, shoulderstand, headstand, etc.

-At one point going back into plow I feel my spine do a series of pops, like the proverbial pops at the chiropractor.

-Two days later at work, I turn abruptly to talk to a co-worker and feel intense pain.

-I take a week off class, but still practice at home (just avoiding neck stuff).

-Just when I’m feeling a bit better, I go to our weekend intensive and do some pretty intense poses (like wheel, headstand) even when I shouldn’t.

-I wake on Monday in intense pain. So much that I can’t sleep. Still go to yoga class.

-By Tuesday I’m dying… pretty sure I’ve wrecked my body for life and all hope is lost…etc.

 

Ok, I don’t think anyone wants any more line items. The finish to this tale is that I finally went to a doctor who told me I either had a) a strained neck or b) a cervical impingement.  The latter of which scared me to death and finally made me wake up and realize that my ego had to take a backseat to my body. I took the two weeks vacation, asking my program director for leave (of which she graciously gave), filled my order for muscle relaxers and swore to take it easy. The benefit of which is that here it is 1.5 weeks later and I’m pretty much healed.

What I learned:

I don’t believe yoga injures people. I believe people improperly doing yoga, going beyond their “edge” into the zone of peril injure themselves. Yoga teachers that push people into their danger zone harm people. But the practice, itself, is not the culprit.

You have to give yourself the chance to heal when you injure yourself. While yoga can be a restorative art, it’s not wise to turn a blind eye to the good common sense of letting the body heal itself.

Fretting over ego and thus, pushing yourself into danger to be a “better” yogi/yogini, prove yourself or some other foolishness is…foolishness.

 

When all is said and done, I’m in a place of deep regret right now, but thankfulness for the lesson I’ve learned. By putting my body in peril, I got to learn the hard way (and hopefully without too much lasting damage) what a misdirected ego can do to the practice. I also found that not being able to practice took my yoga into a different space for the past few weeks- to the intellect, to study, to reviewing asana with my mind instead of always fleshing out the moves physically. And while I can’t say I’m happy I got injured, I’m thankful for the lessons. I just pray I’m done with any more “teachings” of this nature for a while 🙂

 

 

 

Hey, ladies

So, it finally happened. A scenario I had heard about, but thought only existed in fable…. I finally heard this conversation at yoga class tonight:

Scene: just before community vinyasa class. We’re all putting our stuff in cubbies. In walks two dudes, roughly in their early 30s.

Dude 1: wow, it’s mostly women…
Dude 2: oh yeah
Dude 1: yoga is a great place to meet chicks
Dude 2: I didn’t believe you, man..l but yep.

Ok, I admit that it wasn’t a totally nasty exchange. Yes, it could of been worse. But still, I couldn’t believe it was happening and so loudly that the gal stuffing her things in the cubby next to me and I both heard it (and exchanged a knowing look).

and then in class, I kid you not, they set themselves in back and were looking ahead (seeming at us ladies goodies) in downward dog. YUK YUK BARF YUK.

All ridiculousness aside, the incident disturbed me because it changed the environment for me from one of relaxation to one of awkwardness. While I’m not the hottest hottie that ever hotted, I definitely had an “oh crap” moment when I realized I’d left my wedding band at home (I don’t like wearing much jewelry to class). While I was thankfully spared any direct contact from them, just hearing their talk faked me out and made me feel off. Because yoga isn’t a meat market dammit…

Or is it?

Apparently yoga has the great potential to help you get your sexiness on or find that special someone. So much so that you can get steamy with yoga dating sites, find handy guides online about checking out chicks in class, and make sweet, sweet yoga love…Reclining bound angle pose, anyone?

I get it. Humans are sex obsessed. We need it to procreate, it’s fun, good exercise and stress relieving. But does it belong in yoga? With Anusaragate still fresh in my mind, it seems both oddly relevant and repulsive at once. Looking to a yoga class for a hookup completely negates the reason for being there in the first place…. To be present in your practice. You can’t be present in your practice I your checking out booty views in downward facing dog. And honestly, if you are scoping out tail, don’t be an ass about it and ruin the experience of others.

Let’s recap with a quiz!

Yoga classes are for:
A) checking out some sweet sweet ass
B) bringing your bro to get lucky
C) doing yoga
D) tantric Wiccan sex fest

What was your answer?