Herniated Disks (March 2005)
ORIGINAL QUESTION:
From From Mary Vickars AYT April 2003 Burnaby, B.C. Canada
I have a 40 year old woman, who herniated a disc in her lower lumbar about
16 months . . . was told healing time would be 18 to 24 months.
Sitting and forward bends "hurt" . . . although I always advise students
they should NOT be feeling pain.
What do you offer this type of student when there are forward bends planned
in a class? Is there a way to "painlessly" forward bend for them?
Sitting also bothers her, but I suggested instead of easy pose to do
Vajrasana.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Have a glorious day,
Mary
ANSWERS:
From Nicole DeAvilla, AYTT graduate 1984, Marin County, CA
Dear Mary;
First of all she should avoid sitting and forward bends. It hurts because
it is aggravating her condition. When the rest of the class is working on
forward bends she can work on her therapeutic asanas. She can do single and
double knees to the chest and pelvic tilts (under curve only). She can do
these whenever the rest of the class is doing something that is not healthy
for her. It is OK if she does them several times through out the class.
Also you can ask her if she was given any therapeutic exercises from her
doctor or physical therapist. If she remembers them she could do them in
class also when not able to participate with the other students. This will
help her to heal faster. If you check back through the old issues of Awake
and Ready, you will find these postures and some more postures and tips
discussed in Volume 7, No. 3 and Volume 8 No. 1 called Therapeutic Yoga: The
Lower Back.
It is best to go slowly at first. You did the right thing in suggesting
that she sit in vajrasana. If that ever does not work she could sit in a
chair, lean against the wall or skip sitting and be in a therapeutic
position.
She will need to be strong and without symptoms for some time before
attempting simple forward bends.
Blessings to you and your student.
Nicole
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