Yoga Teacher Training Forum

Each student and injury are unique. A student should have a physician's approval before setting foot in a studio. Additionally, teachers who just don't know what to do with students who have ailments need to learn or send students to a teacher who can modify. Teaching is a learning process, but if you come from a style that is exclusively for athletes, students need to be in a class where a teacher understands contraindications and modifications. Otherwise, that student is put at risk.

One more point to mention for those who are studying, teaching and improving. Contraindications seem to freeze us in our learning process. The reason being: there are so many of them. Rather than experience angst, you would make better use of your time by researching them. 

A basic understanding of contraindications

Every teacher, advanced student, or even a beginner student hears the term “contraindications” once in a while during a yoga orientation or before learning certain types of asanas. Very few people actually try to understand the term since it disappears from the practice long before you get your head around what’s going on. It is important for every student to have a basic understanding of the contraindications since they are going to practice yoga for a long time.

For those who are completely unaware of what a contraindication (in terms of yoga) is, it is a condition a person may have (medical, physical, location) which makes several yoga asanas/positions or pranayama unsuitable since it may put you at risk. A very common example of a contraindication is pregnancy. Pregnant women cannot practice asanas, which require them to lie down on their tummy.

It becomes quite difficult to avoid harm to self by avoiding asanas or positions if you do not know about the probable contraindications. More often than not, there are ways to modify the asanas and make them suitable in order to address the issue of contraindication.

The most basic contraindications are listed below:

• Glaucoma or any eye disease
• Heart issues
• Joint conditions
• Spinal issues
• Pregnancy
• Blood pressure
• A surgery that was performed recently

This is just a very general list of contraindications that every student and teacher should be aware of.

Examples of modifications one can make to avoid contraindications:

• Lower back pain: Trying to keep the back straight while practicing forward bends in order to avoid further damage and pain.
• High BP: For patients having high blood pressure, lowering of head below the level of heart can be dangerous and should be completely refrained from to avoid this contraindication.
• Menstruation: To avoid this contraindication, ladies are advised to not perform inversions such as headstand or shoulder stand. Possibly back bends should be refrained from as well.

This is a basic understanding of the possible contraindications, which are found to be the most common ones among many others. Contraindications only rarely keep a person or practitioner from continuing the yoga practice. There is almost always a way to modify the asana in order to best fit his needs to minimize the harm or completely avoid it. Continuous increase in the popularity of yoga has resulted in plenty of inexperienced teachers. These teachers are not bad with the science; they just lack experience, which is required to teach. Teachers should be completely familiar with the contraindications so they can aid the students on how to continue their practice and help work out a modification for several asanas to avoid any sort of damage to the body.

Apart from teachers, students as well should be taught at least the most basic of contraindications so they can help themselves whenever they need to. All forms of yoga were developed to promote good health in every aspect. Class is not the only place where you can learn about contraindications. Students need to take charge of their own health. Research online for your own good and try to find out as much as possible about contraindications and the modifications those contraindications can be address with. Don’t just think about these issues when brought up in the class, it is must for every student to have knowledge of this subject as long as the yoga practice continues. Students practice yoga for benefiting their own body. To continue to derive benefits, students cannot be dependent on the teacher for everything. Become as knowledgeable as you can about matters like contraindications and live a healthy non-interrupted lifestyle for as long as you practice yoga.