Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 11 Dec 2024
Are You Overdoing Yoga? Here's How You Can Tell and Why Is It Risky?
If you are in good health, it is advisable for you to perform yoga asanas in a moderate amount daily
While yoga can energize you and make you fit and mentally sound, sometimes it also does the opposite. According to experts, while the asanas can make your mind feel clear and calm and help you manage stress, overdoing it can take a toll on your health.
There are many types of yoga—a few of which are physically demanding power yoga, or yoga nidra—which is as close as you can get to taking a nap. So, if you are in good health, it is advisable for you to perform yoga asanas in a moderate amount daily. But since most of the styles do involve a physical component, you can overdo it as well.
Experts say there is a need to balance the practice—and so, if you do too much, you can get injuries, and too little will not give you the benefits you are looking for.
How can you overdo yoga?
A few signs of an unhelpfully extreme yoga practice include:
You are not able to sleep well
If you are a regular yoga practitioner and have not been able to sleep properly lately, it can be due to overdoing yoga asanas.
Pushing too hard physically and skipping rest days
Many people tend to push themselves too hard. Experts say not taking a day off will have adverse effects on your health. Overdoing yoga can be taxing for your body and lead to pain and fatigue in the various muscles and joints.
Being out of breath
Since yoga is all about focusing on breathwork and you are not able to regulate it, you are definitely not practicing it well. Experts say being breathless during yoga could be a sign that the postures that you are doing are not being accepted by your body yet.
Pain and soreness
Pain and soreness are another red flag you may be overdoing with yoga. Experts say even the most well-intentioned yogis may feel like they have overdone it a day or two after a yoga class.
Healthy, pain and fatigue-free ways to practice yoga
According to experts, the key to healthy and happy yoga practice is balance. And to avoid overdoing, you must:
Always do mini-practice
Make sure to devote short sessions of 15-20 minutes to your practice. Also, take one or two days off every week to risk overuse of postures.
Always listen to your body
Do not ignore the signs that your body is giving. If you feel constant strains or muscle pains, stop immediately.
Explore a more comfortable form of yoga
Doing a lot of power or hot yoga can be exhausting. Try doing more comfortable asanas and then move on to the difficult ones.
Explore the philosophies of yoga
There is more to yoga than pushing yourself with asanas. Dive into some of the underlying philosophies—concepts like nonviolence, which can be enlightening.
Always take sessions from a certified yoga practitioner
They can always give you adjustments and guide you into starting a practice and how to increase the intensity safely.
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