"Is yoga good for me?"
I hear this question asked all the time by patients. And my answer is always, "It depends."
This article in today's New York Times Week in Review section got me thinking about that frequent question.
I may not agree with the author's somewhat declarative title that women's flexibility is a liability when it comes to yoga. Everyone is different, and I wouldn't want women (or men) to be scared off from such a beneficial form of exercise based on this article alone. But I do agree with the all-important message in the final two paragraphs. You must listen to your body.
When answering my patients' queries regarding this or any other form of exercise, I always provide them with the caveat that they should not push through pain. That is my main concern with group yoga, where an overzealous instructor coupled with a competitive and prideful student may result in injury. If you are experiencing real pain during exercise, STOP! Your body is telling you something.
When pain is present, it's usually (but not always) a sign that some bodily tissue is damaged or on its way to being damaged. Barging ahead by "toughing it out" is not wise. For one, you will likely stress that already "angry" tissue. And two, your body may develop aberrant movement patterns to fight through the task. It is very important to recognize that ANY given exercise may be either PROGRESSED or REGRESSED. So rather than battling through pain, find an alternative method that will provide you with a similar benefit without injuring yourself.
I'm not sure who coined the phrase, "No pain, no gain!" But if your goal is to become stronger, more flexible, better balanced, more relaxed, and to move better, yoga is a great way to do it. Just be sure to also exercise some common sense along the way.
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