Important Facts That You Should Know About Yoga Classes

Yoga classes for beginners seems to be good for just about everything, from improved cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and balance to reduced stress and anxiety. But as neighborhood yoga classes for beginners become as common as coffee shops and gyms add more high-octane classes with names like hard-core power yoga, some practitioners are discovering that there might be a downside to downward dog: Research published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement found that although two-thirds of those studied found relief from preexisting pain by doing yoga classes for beginners, 1 in 3 experienced new or increased pain as a direct result of getting their ohm on.

“We tend to think of yoga classes for beginners as something gentle on our bodies, but it can actually cause pain and suffering if not done correctly, especially if the participant has physical limitations," says Barbara Bergin, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Austin, Texas.

While some styles can be therapeutic, don’t underestimate the power of the practice, says Linda Boryski, a licensed physical therapist from the University of Saskatchewan, who is also a medical yoga therapist. “Yoga classes for beginners can be very challenging physically, requiring substantial strength, flexibility, balance, and body awareness. People are often embarrassed to admit that they've been injured during yoga, I believe because of its reputation as a gentle form of exercise.”

“Large classes make it challenging for teachers to correct [form] and watch for common errors that lead to injury,” Boryski explains. “In many classes, teachers demonstrate a pose, usually at a very high level with excellent technique. Students are then driven to obtain that same level yet fail to understand how complex it is or how long the teacher has been practicing to get to that level.”

Fast-paced classes leave little opportunity to learn things slowly; often, there just isn't time to show all the modifications available to make a pose safe for everybody in the room. Add in speed and repetition and it's no wonder some people end up getting hurt. “Yoga classes for beginners is a powerful practice for health improvement, but students can experience repetitive strain injury if they do not practice proper form,” warns Atlanta-based yoga instructor Amber Barry.