Yoga Inversions for Seniors?! « Yoga Teacher Training Forum

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Yoga Inversions for Seniors?!

(9 posts) (9 voices)

Started 3 years ago by Tomako
Latest reply from vasana1

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Tomako
User

Namaskar,

To continue a conversation on this topic.

Here is a position related to inverted Yoga asanas for seniors.

Quote:
There are many reasons why people shouldn't practice inverted yogasanas. We mention high blood pressure, glaucoma or detached retina most often. Heart conditions of all kinds, previous strokes, spinal health, being in the high risk category for a stroke, any known weakness in the artery walls, and epilepsy should be mentioned too. There are many mild inversions for people without taking crazy risks.

Like it or not a person from a chair sitting culture that has been inactive for life shouldn't practice yoga without proper guidance from a teacher. There is no set age at which yoga students could be under the care of a geriatrician. Rather, this is determined by a profile of the typical problems that geriatrics focuses on. I was reading about a yoga teacher who prided herself in getting her senior students (over 60) to do Sirshasana. She was also teaching over 70 students how to do it. For the record, she should never have put this in writing as it is a written record of her negligence! Does she know her student’s medical record?

These are the actions of an incompetent ego maniac who needs to go back to anatomy class. Her students have probably been eating bacon fat for 60 years before coming to her class. One clot to the brain and it’s a stroke! Do you think these students have been taking flax seed oil all their lives??? The problem here is foolishness. Over 70 students should never take risks with inversions no matter how foolish they or their Yoga teachers are.

Please add your unique opinions below.

Namaste,

Posted 3 years ago #
rose
Member

Hi

I recognize that this quote came from Mukerjee and I agree. I would think there should be more conditions that put one at risk. It's just one of those things about Yoga for aging. It works but use your common sense. Who needs to get hurt while trying to improve their health?

Peace

Posted 3 years ago #
haresh
Member

Namaskar!

This is much to do about nothing. Seniors are grown ups and have a right to do headstands and shoulderstands if they wish. Inverted asanas provide innumerable benefits to your health. Inversion can reduce back pain, decompress the spine, stretch muscles, relieve stress, improve circulation, and help maintain a state of functional fitness. If one wants to stand on his head - who cares! Not everyone over 50. 60, or 70 is ready to call it quits.

Shanti

Posted 3 years ago #
Mukerjee
Member

Thank you for that Haresh,

You state, "Inversion can reduce back pain, decompress the spine." How would a student decompress the spine while practicing Sirsasana or Sarvangasana? These asanas are just two examples of severe compression in the cervical vertebrae. Depending on the student chronic cervical nerve root compression can occur at any age. Why go asking for trouble?

Chronic cervical nerve root compression refers to nerve irritation caused by damage to the disc between the cervical vertebrae, so that the disc presses on the nerve root as it leaves the bony spinal column. This occurs because of wear and tear or injury, or both and can lead to painful burning or tingling sensations in the arms.

The nerve roots that arise from the spinal cord in the neck can be affected by sudden stretching or compression, and pain and spasm in the muscles of the neck tend to occur as a result. Usually neck movements are painful and restricted, and the pain may radiate to the shoulder region.

Inverted yoga posture is not for everyone. If you have any of the following health conditions, please do not invert without the approval of your licensed physician. This is not a complete list. It is intended for your reference.

Osteoarthritis: The discs and the joints that stack the vertebrae (facet joints) are subject to wear and tear over time (degenerative changes). If we focus only on the cervical spine - Degeneration of the cervical discs is medically referred to as cervical spondylosis and can often be noted on X-rays or by MRI scanning as a narrowing of the normal disc space between the vertebrae. It would take a manual to list all of the potential spinal problems. There are many more spinal conditions and this is just one example.

Anti-Coagulants (Use of): Blood-thinning drugs such as coumadin or aspirin to reduce clotting of the arteries and blood vessels. The use of anti-coagulants signals people at risk for circulatory problems.

Bone weakness, recent fractures, skeletal implants: Inversion may exacerbate these conditions.

Conjunctivitis - (Pink eye): An inflammation of the transparent membrane that covers the front surface of the eyeball and the inner surface of the eyelids caused by bacterial or viral infection.

Glaucoma: A condition of elevated pressure within the eye because of an obstruction of the outflow of the clear, watery fluid circulating in the chambers of the eye. The resulting pressure (which is imperceptible without an eye exam) kills cells in the optic nerve, which can lead to a gradual loss of vision.

Heart / circulatory disorders: Any condition involving the circulatory system.

Hiatal hernia, ventral hernia: A hiatal hernia occurs when intra-abdominal pressure increases cause a portion of the stomach to move into the chest cavity through a weakness in the diaphragm. A ventral hernia develops at the site of previous surgery, usually along vertical incisions. It may also result from weakness in the abdominal wall.

High blood pressure, hypertension: A common disorder in which the heart is pumping blood through the circulatory system with a force greater than that required for normal blood flow. An elevated blood pressure which exceeds 140/90.

Middle ear infection: The middle ear helps equalize air pressure in the ear. A person may feel discomfort or disorientation during inversion.

Obesity (extreme): In some people obesity can be associated with the undetected onset of many of the circulatory and eye problems mentioned above. The weight capacity of each of the inversion products should not be exceeded.

Pregnancy: Pregnant women should exercise caution when inverting.

Retinal detachment: A separation of the retina, the thin, delicate membrane covering the rear portion of the eye, from the optic nerve. Usually results from a hole in the retina that allows the vitreous humor fluid to leak. Treatment is almost always surgical. A retinal hemorrhage, in most cases, can heal by itself.

Spinal injury: Any severe spinal cord trauma requires a person to consult their physician before inverting.

Stroke: Occurs when a blood vessel in the neck or brain becomes blocked or when a vessel in the brain bursts open. Symptoms include paralysis, difficulty speaking, memory loss, and impaired thought processes.

Transient ischemic Attack: Often called a "ministroke," a TIA occurs when the blood supply is temporarily interrupted to a part of the brain due to a blockage. Often precedes the onset of a full stroke, and requires immediate action.

Hari Om Tat Sat

Posted 3 years ago #
healing
Member

Okay! Your point is taken, but you have to admit you're as old as your health profile. Some lucky seniors don't have any of these problems and can practice Yoga with a seasoned teacher and some common sense as a guide. Medical profiles don't tell everything though and chances are if you test enough, you'll find everyone has some sort of condition.

Posted 3 years ago #
Priyah
User

Thank You Tomako for moving Mukerjee's statement over and creating this thread. Thank you Mukerjee and the rest of you for your energy. There are two sides here to consider. The rest are extremes and the more extreme we get, the more foolish our statements will seem.

Here are the two sides:

1. Seniors can do what they like. I am one too and I don't like anyone taking control over my life. I want to be independent and my health is my concern - not yours. Don't tell us what to do because we have earned the right to take risks if we want to. We took risks all our lives and we realize there is some luck to get where we are. We don't need safety precautions on everything because we did fine before everything had a warning on it.

2. Seniors can practice yoga, but should be pointed toward chair yoga first. We do this for your safety, because yoga is more than it seems to be. Also, would you mind filling out this six page questionnaire about your health. We want to make sure you don't hurt yourself and you'll never be asked to push yourself because we know you worked hard all your life.

There are more or less extreme views, but that's it. The point here should be a safe common sense approach to Hatha yoga for all ages. Not everyone at age 65 feels the same. Some people never make it to 65! Some people can run a marathon at 65. Some people are in a wheelchair before 65.

The health condition entering a class should be more of a factor than the age, but where do you draw the line?

Shanti,
Priyah

Posted 3 years ago #
Rhenzy
Member

Apparently, there is no easy way to draw this line between safe and intrusive. Either way, someone will be upset. But if you look at this issue from a legal stand point negligence is a crime. Protest as we might, seniors are changing laws. Running over pedestrians isn't allowed. Now seniors are getting their eyes checked more often. If enough seniors have strokes from headstands some yogis will be in court defending themselves for negligent teaching practices. And you better have LIABILITY insurance!

So why put yourself through this? Aura has plenty of safety guidelines for yoga teachers to follow. You should know better than to put your students in harm's way.

Posted 3 years ago #
raja
Member

Oh yes, the threat of a liability suit is such a grand idea. Supposedly "civilized countries" have so many wonderful lawsuits over the most trivial matters. Imagine suing anyone for entering into an activity that you have freely chosen to do. Who forces you to practice Yoga?

For that one reason (liability), Mukerjee is correct to mention a few of the many negative possibilities that may arise from having seniors perform inverted yoga asanas in your classes. Sadly, there are many more possibilities which haven't been mentioned here.

Yoga teachers beware, and research this topic. Do you know if a student has pre-existing cerebral aneurysms? Do you know if a student has pre-existing giant saccular aneurysm or pre-existing intracranial saccular aneurysms? Do you know if a student has a previous medical history of head trauma or subarachnoid hemorrhage? Why would you have them stand on their head, if you don't know?

Read, research, become informed, and forget about arrogance. The uninformed can afford to be ignorant, but anyone who has chosen to become a Yoga teacher can't afford to be uninformed.

Posted 3 years ago #
vasana1
Member

Inversions for seniors! Maybe if they practiced all their lives and don't have any health problems. If they have HBP, glaucoma, previous stroke, heart conditions, epilepsy, cervical spine problems, etc., you would be crazy to endanger their lives!

Posted 2 years ago #

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