Questions for YogaTeacher
#311521 - 07/18/07 03:27 PM
|
|
|
|
Ulrika
Reged: 08/20/06
Posts: 581
Loc: Uppsala, Sweden
|
|
|
I was just wondering if you have IBS yourself and of what type?
I was also wondering if you or anyone else who is good at yoga could do an online yoga class specifically for IBS to download for free? I saw that Heather has a DVD project but that it might take a while before that gets done. It would just be great to have someone go through advice and a program maybe one for IBS-D, one for IBS-C et.c.
I was wondering - some yoga instructors specifically say to avoid inverted positions during your period while others say that as long as you don't feel uncomfortable there is no problem. Plus some positions are to be avoided if you're having an IBS attack such as D. What is the rule there? I mean, I have too fast bowels all the time, only most of the time (luckily) thanks to loperamide and watching what I am eating and trying to not get too stressed out, it's under control so that my bowels are as slow as I need them to be to feel ok. (I don't have normal sphincter control due to the paralysis condition I had as a child so I need my bowels to be really slow to be able to be out and about.) But is it ok to do those positions as long as my IBS is under control with medicine, diet et.c.? I mean, for me a flare is just a bit quicker than normal, but strictly speaking without the medicine my bowels are always too quick, i.e. my IBS is always active so to speak, as it seems.
I'm also wondering - why is it I tend to feel sick when doing yoga in the afternoon or early evening - even if it's been hours since I ate, but it's in general ok in the morning. This is a bit of a problem since my IBS is always more likely to cause problems in the morning so if I were to join a yoga class it would be hard for me to do it in the morning - but since I tend to feel sick when doing yoga in the afternoon or evening it would be hard and certainly not as pleasant as I would want it to be to do it then too. Any advice?
Apart from that I'm thinking of taking private lessons since apart from IBS-D I also have a semi-paralyzed leg which of course affects my balance and strength so I find some yoga positions put too much strain on my hips and right knee.
Lots of questions, hope you don't mind. 
/Ulrika, IBS-D
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm not Yoga Teacher, but I can explain why women shouldn't do inverted poses while on their period. The theory is that it can cause or worsen a condition called endometriosis, which is abnormal (and sometimes very painful) cell growths on the outside of the uterus. According to some people the blood flows backward from the uterus but not all of it drains back out. It's kind of gross, but that's the explanation I found during all of my research when I was diagnosed with it.
And I think your idea of an online yoga class or video specifically designed for certain types of IBS is excellent! I would love it someone would do that! I'd prefer it be free, but I'd actually be willing to pay for it! 
--------------------
IBS-A...I can never make up my mind 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
About the period stuff, that's what I thought too, but couldn't that happen just from lying down too?
And I actually thought of another question. I have read that you should also avoid inverted positions if you have any type of spinal cord injury. So, I was wondering what the rules would be for me. I have had transverse myelitis which is an autoimmune paralysis condition where the immune system attacks the spinal cord causing inflammation and swelling. But this happened when I was 12. I do have nerve damage from it, but the inflammation of course healed quickly so I don't have any real "injury" left in my spinal cord. I didn't even have any visible lesions when I had the MRI in the acute phase of the paralysis. I'd hate it if I couldn't do inverted positions since I love them.
/Ulrika, IBS-D
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I don't know much about it, but I did a search for inverted yoga positions and transverse myelitis. I didn't find anything that said you should or shouldn't do them, but I would check with your Dr just to be safe, (but I'm a hypochondriac, I go to the Dr for everything!). lol!
About the period thing, I guess lying down isn't as bad as being upside down. Not sure. I was on Depo previously & now I'm on Lupron, so I haven't had a period in 2+ years, I may not be the best authority on that subject.
--------------------
IBS-A...I can never make up my mind
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hey Ulrika,
I hope this finds you well. Whew.... lots of questions. I'll do my best to answer them for you in some sort of organized way.
1) Yes, I have been dealing with IBS-D symptoms and issues since I was 15. I am now 38 so it's been an interesting journey along the way. As a yoga teacher, I am very aware of the power of our mind, our thoughts and our words and what kind of an effect that they can have on our body. They are all connected . Because of this I am very hesitant to say that "I HAVE IBS"... as I believe that this just reinforces an environment of "illness" in the body.
I will say that I am healing from IBS and with the practice of yoga and with my diet(I am vegan), I am able to control my IBS symptoms most of the time. Of course, I have the occasional flare up and when this happens I know it is a call for me to be extra mindful not only with my food choices, but about getting enough rest, etc.
2) I have produced and hosted two yoga DVD's that you can check out on my website (www.questyoga.com) but these are not specifically geared towards IBS. Like Heather, I have an IBS DVD project that is in very pre-production status but since I have a studio to run and I am writing a book, I have many other things that are at the front of the line up. I agree that it would be awesome for Heather, me or somebody to do one specifically for IBS but I know that it takes A LOT of work. Here in NH, I have been doing do a Yoga Show for the past 5 years on local access TV... again this kind of production takes time, money, volunteers, and know how.
I am not sure how to go about doing something that we could make available online for folks to download for free but given the time, energy and resources needed for this kind of project this would probably have some costs. Right now, my scheduel is tight.... maybe in the future?
3) I am of the school of thought to listen to the wisdom of your own body. I have been practicing yoga for about 15 years and I always still do inversions when I have my period. It doesn't bother me and it actually feels good.But it's important to remember that EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. What feels good for me might not work for you. Some people say that the natural flow of your menses is towards the ground and away from the uterus hence you shouldn't invert the pelvis and raise it up high.... again, I feel that it's a personal choice. Try it each month and see how it feels, one month it might feel good on a heavier flow month maybe not so great.
4) To practice or not to practice is a personal choice. What feels good for one person may not feel OK for another. For me, it always helps me feel better to practice yoga when I am having an attack. Yoga is more than just physical postures (asana). Yoga is ultimately a philosophy, a way of life, a way back to health. Yes, the postures are helpful, but so is using the breath (pranayama) and meditating. If you are having an IBS-D flareup then there might be some postures that upset YOUR tummy like deep twists... while for ME they might be soothing. Do you see the pattern here? With a consistent practice, over time you will be able to determine for yourself what works and what doesn't.
5) When you say "sick" could you be more specific? I am not sure why you would feel sick when doing yoga in the afternoon or evening. It could be something that your eating
or drinking.... maybe you are dehydrated....maybe your body just prefers morning practice...there are lots of maybes here. My advice would be to just pay attention... notice what you might be doing or doing differently that could effect those feelings of being "sick". I know that I prefer to practice in the morning... for me there is no better way to start my day and that my practice at night FEELS different. Keep in mind that with enough classes with a certified teacher and by gathering more self knowledge you may be able to practice on your own.. at home...day or night.
6) I have several private clients and I know the benefits that "one-on-one" guidance and support can have, so if you can afford private sessions then I say go for it.
Gee, I hope some of this helps... remember to just keep honoring your body. Listen to what it's telling you. Respect your limits but don't be afraid to challenge yourself and explore. Yoga can change your life.
Be well.
Peace,
K
--------------------
"You have to be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Ulrika,
I know, I LOVE inversions too.
Have you asked your Doctors/Chiropractor/etc. what they think about doing yoga inversions with transverse myelitis?
If you don't have any "real injuries" left in your spinal cord and if you have not been having any problems with doing inversions then I imagine if you are practicing them safely and under the care of a certified instructor then your probably be OK.
Again, I must stress that I am not a doctor so you should double check just to be sure. Ultimately, it will be your decision.
Be well.
Peace,
K
--------------------
"You have to be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. When I said I tend to feel sick when doing yoga in the afternoon/evening what I meant was mainly feeling nauseous and sometimes a bit dizzy.
By the way, what type of vegan food do you eat? Do you follow any rules (like Heather's EFI only vegan style), do you do what's called "levande föda" in Swedish roughly translated to living food i.e. when you don't heat things above 40 or if it's 45 Celsius degrees? Just curious. Vegan food is not for me I think but I am very interested in different food choices and theories behind them. I am following the EFI diet and I think it gives good rules but I am also interested in things like paleolithic food and ayur-vedic food since I think there is a lot of logic to these different "strategies".
I suppose about the different yoga poses, it is your opinion that there can be nothing harmful in doing them as long as I don't experience problems or discomfort doing them? If I follow a program on say a DVD is it ok to just rest if something feels uncomfortable and then continue even if this means I have "missed" a position? As I have understood it you should always combine say a forward bend type of position with a backward bend type position, so what should I do if one feels good and the other one doesn't?
Sorry, I didn't mean to write tons of more questions. 
Many thanks again!
/Ulrika, IBS-D
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
Posts
