Overcoming Fear After Injury
Aditi Shah
Suffering from an injury and undergoing a slow healing process can often create fear and anxiety when approaching yoga postures which address the injured area. A few years ago, I tore my labrum and rotated a disc in my neck – leading to many months of rest – and a fear of headstand.
Even though I was 100% cleared to do it, every time I would approach the idea of putting my head on the ground, fear and self-doubt would take over my mind and I would end up just staying in child’s pose. After a while, the disappointment of not being able to come into headstand made me decide to change my approach. I allowed myself to feel my fear and decided that I could move towards headstand in spite of it. Here’s a sequence outlining an approach to sirsasana.
Child’s Pose – bend elbows and press palms behind head
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Plank to Forearm Plank
Dolphin
Balasana
Sirsasana at the wall with blocks beneath shoulders at the wall to keep weight off of neck
Sirsasana Prep with feet on floor
(Over time, work on headstand prep with feet on the floor, pull one knee at a time into chest, come into egg shape, lift up)
Balasana
Supported Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
Savasana with bolster beneath knees
Aditi, thank you for your example of looking right at fear to overcome fear. I have plenty to address, and your success is my inspiration. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLove the concept of feeling the fear and moving toward something. Thanks for the inspiration! xo
ReplyDeleteI love how you broke down the parts of the pose and worked it from the ground up. It's from your own experience and bc of dealing with your own fears in regards to the pose you understand the fear so well. You've worked through that fear and now are the best teacher for helping your students work through their own fears!
ReplyDeleteHeadstand using all the blocks is a great option - I hear you that it's not so much about not doing the pose, but rather feeling confined by the fear that holds you back from trying. Nice way to move through it!
ReplyDeleteFear due to physical injury is a totally different fear!! I understand what you are going through, it is totally justifiable!!
ReplyDeleteCan I speak to you about your injury this upcoming weekend? I found out my labral muscle is torn and I'm curious how you recovered from your injury. I'm sure fear of re-injury will factor into my recovery. So I really appreciate your insight and sequence. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFear developing after injuries is quite common it seems and yet I wonder why it isn't discussed more often. I feel like so many of can relate!!
ReplyDeleteHaving just had surgery a few days ago, I am beginning to think about how and when I will return to my yoga practice. I know that fear will play a large part in my recovery and will probably work to help me slow down rather than to just jump right back in.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed with your turnaround in your attitude about fear in sirsasana :)
ReplyDeleteI so much relate to your fear. Aditi! I too messed up my neck, badly, a number of years ago, and it took a long time for me to trust myself in headstand. I would ask Colleen and Rodney though about the use of the blocks under the shoulders for Sirsasana, not sure about its efficacy.
ReplyDeleteGood, systematic approach. Headless headstand, like extended yoga mudra, hints at the threatless wonders of Sirsasana and encourages us to get those knees into the chest in DD headstand prep--launch pad to the full pose's liberation.
ReplyDeleteAFter my double hip replacement, inversions were TERRIFYING for me. I had never been scared of them before. I hear you Sister! Jai for deciding to feel the fear and do it anyway. xo
ReplyDeletefear after injury is a common difficulty to overcome. sounds like you went through all of the stages. wonderful sequence to conquer fear and re-establish your practice. how about tadasana with weight on head and maybe starting with handstand which is less likely to end in injury and gets people inverting and on their arms.
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