Yoga for people with a spinal cord injury
A person with a spinal cord injury is forced to sedentary lifestyle quite often so this may contribute to the appearance of secondary dysfunctions which will be no help to improve those people’s quality of life.
Practising yoga may help these patients in many ways. Let’s find out why.
Yoga is a flexible discipline which can be adapted without reducing its benefits on our health. It is not about training muscles but being aware of our body, learning how to control our breath, relaxing and improving coordination.
Which are the benefits of adapted yoga?
There are so many as by traditional yoga. Patients experience a reduction of their stress level and improve their concentration and mental peace.
The physical benefits of yoga are a great flexibility, balance and muscle strengthening. In addition, their sleep quality also improves.
Then, which exercises can be performed?
As we have already mentioned before, some disciplines can be adapted and yoga is to be found among them. Before you start practising yoga, you should talk to your doctor and/or an expert in therapeutical yoga for disabled people.
Once you have talked to your doctor, you could try some of the techniques and positions we mention as follows.
What type of Yoga?
Some experts recommend practising Yoga Iyengar since it is focused on relaxation, meditation and breath control. In most cases, the positions of this type of Yoga can be adapted. In the article of the Nursing Peer-Reviewed Journal of Clinical Excellence of 2006, it is explained how to join a rehab programme for people with a spinal cord injury.
Can I start practising it straight away?
If you want to start practising at home right now, we would like to recommend you two positions:
First position: breathe in while you raise your right hand above your head (you may help you with your left hand if you needed to). Once you have completely stretched your right arm, then breathe out and repeat the same with your left arm.
Second position: grab your thighs or a chair; bend your chin to your chest while you slightly bend your back forward. Hold this position as long as it feels comfortable. It will be usually between 3 to 5 breaths.
Videos on Youtube
In the Internet you will find many workouts such as this one:
or tutorials like this:
