Last week's story in The New York Times magazine titled "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" spent a week on their most-emailed list and has the US yoga community in a flap.
Some of the more hysterical commentary failed to mention the article was excerpted from an upcoming book by the NYT science writer, and therefore can't help but be a simplified and over-generalised version of the narrative, lacking full context and, just possibly, balance. And, as a journalist, I recognise the technique of provocation to appear fresh and new as well as attracting readers and debate.
Other reactions published this week point out a number of inaccuracies in the story and instances where interviewees claim to be misquoted (that old chestnut!).
Nevertheless there are some important issues lurking behind the anecdotes and accusations of ego.
I've been in countless classes where I've noticed a fellow yogi in a posture which could cause themselves damage, such as wrenching their knee out of alignment with their ankle during Warrior I or crunching down onto their cervical or thoracic spine in Shoulderstand, which the teacher failed to notice and correct. I've also attended classes where the teacher failed to inquire at the outset if anybody had any injuries or were pregnant, and later led us through poses which could cause harm. I don't think it's unfair to suggest that perhaps some yoga teachers need an anatomy refresher. I'm also skeptical whether inversions be practiced in general classes at all.
Dr Timothy McCall, author of Yoga as Medicine, has been writing about safety during yoga for years and his response How Not To Wreck Your Body Doing Yoga, Or How I Really Feel About Headstand is worth a read.
But the most obvious reaction to the article is to reiterate to only practise with experienced and/or committed teachers. They've got your back. And always listen to your body.
Helping students find precise anatomical alignment in asana practice is what I'd like to be known for as a yoga teacher and it will comprise a large part of my personal yoga style of physical and emotional therapy. I picked up Leslie Kaminoff's Yoga Anatomy and Ray Long's The Key Muscles of Yoga this week to supplement my education, and can't wait to absorb their contents. I've already used Kaminoff's to investigate the origin of some twinges felt in a deep pose and correct my alignment.
Tonight I start my introductory long-weekend yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space, now that I am temporarily released from the shackles of the 14-hour workday and weekend work updating a breaking news website. There won't be in-depth coverage of anatomy in this module - that will be covered properly in the 200-hour level two training next. The next three-and-a-half days will be intense, challenging, and very exciting. I can hardly wait until I can use yoga asana to help people heal. Yes, that's right: yoga heals.
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