I just heard a talk on NPR Science Friday by William J. Broad. He is the author of a well researched book called The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards.
According to Mr. Broad, a lot of people have been injured doing yoga - but one thing especially stood out for me: Neck injuries. I have had neck issues myself, but never before associated them with asanas.
The three dangerous positions he mentioned are shoulder stands, headstands and plough. The dangers can be as serious as risk of stroke.
Here is a quote from the NPR interview "There are not well-known arteries that go up through the sides of your vertebrae into your brain. You torque those things around, and you can tear the inner linings. You do that, you start to get clots there. You come out of the pose, the clot sail into your brain, and you have a stroke."
Yikes.
He also talks about the benefits, which of course are many. Broad and his daughter do yoga regularly.
Luckily 3HO style Kundalini Yoga does not seem to place much emphasis on the three postures I mentioned, but in my more hatha days I did them all a lot.
Be happy, be safe.
Sat Nam, Tom
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