Yoga and Chiropractic

Often people ask me what I think of YOGA, and if it benefits chiropractic patients.

The short answer is that I think yoga is great, and that it is a huge asset to anyone, whether they are chiropractic patients or not.  The problem that I encounter is that too many people come to my office with injuries sustained during yoga classes, and this is something that is highly preventable.

Most of the yoga injuries happen as a result of students not listening to their bodies and being, for lack of a better word, competitive in yoga.  What I mean by this is that people often try to do as much as the person next to them in class, trying to push themselves a bit too much so they can hold a pose for longer, or get themselves into a particular position that they are not ready for (and may never be) due to physical or genetic limitations. 

When you go to yoga, please do not compare yourself to the person next to you.  Do not try to hold a pose longer than what is comfortable for you, and do not try to bend/twist or get into a pose that is painful and/or too challenging.  Yoga is personal practice, a personal challenge to your own limits (not the limits of the person next to you). 

As a long term yoga practitioner I can tell you that there is a lot more to yoga than the physical exercise portion of it.  It is my understanding that the physical part of yoga is designed to get you to a place where the body is ready to meditate. Injuring your body does not probably fit into that picture.

There are many places in Santa Monica where you can find the type of yoga that may suit you best.  Here is a list of a few places that you may want to visit:

1.Yogis Anonymous -www.yogisanonymous.com/

2.Yoga Co. -www.yogaco.com

3. Power Yoga (Bryan Kest's) -www.poweryoga.com

4. Santa Monica Yoga -www.santamonicayoga.com

5. Bhakti Yoga Shala -www.bhaktiyogashala.com

Dr. Eric - Your Santa Monica Chiropractor

310-993-8482