Yoga can be very impactful and supportive for some health issues, but yoga does not work for everyone. It can lead to disastrous consequences, especially when the instructor doesn’t know the contraindicated or even undisclosed health issues that an individual can present with. 

Jennifer’s Yoga Injury – A Case Study 

Jennifer is a 43-year-old mother of two who is employed as a 5th-grade school teacher. She had been experiencing intermittent lower back pain. After three months of muscle relaxants and over-the-counter medication, her condition had not improved. She consulted our wellness office, where we performed comprehensive chiropractic, orthopedic and neurologic examinations to identify the underlying issues. Her condition was diagnosed as pelvic constraint and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, which created mechanical low back issues. She opted to commence multidisciplinary treatment utilizing chiropractic and physiotherapy. Within 2 weeks of treatment, her lower back pain levels had subsided by 75% in severity and intensity. She was responding well to her prescribed course of treatment.

Jennifer’s well-meaning friend recommended that she join her at a therapeutic yoga class to help her strengthen and stabilize her lower back issues. After a few sessions, her back pain got worse to the point that her pain intensified and proceeded to radiate down her legs. The became pain so significant that she went to the hospital for emergency care. An MRI of Jennifer’s spine revealed an acute central L5-S1 disc herniation compressing the S1 nerve roots bilaterally. After a week of bedrest anti-inflammatories and opioids, she decided to return to our office for treatment. After participating in yoga, a simple mechanical lower back condition had escalated to a significant injury. Jennifer needed spinal decompression therapy to reduce the disc herniation and alleviate the pressure on her S1 nerve. After 8 weeks and 25 treatments, her pain was gone, and her condition was stabilized. 


Many people have similar stories to Jennifer’s. 

How Yoga Can Be Harmful 

The problems in yoga stem from class sizes, instructor knowledge, and individual experience. It is difficult for a yoga instructor to give individualized attention to those who need it the most in a large class. For example:

  • Frequently, the instructor demonstrates new poses and can not confirm if each individual is maintaining proper form without stressing their body’s ligaments and joints.
  • The instructor is not directly working with the individuals in their class that require one-on-one attention. 
  • There are various levels of experience, flexibility, athleticism, and health concerns in any yoga class. 
  • A lot of yoga classes have gone virtual during COVID. This has added a new dimension of issues because an instructor now has no direct contact with class participants. Individuals are at home mimicking the instructor on the other side of the screen. The instructor absolutely cannot correct anyone participating. 
  • Studios have new mandates that everyone stays on their individual mats, including the instructor. This scenario makes it difficult for the instructor to notice incorrect poses or recognize individuals having trouble with particular exercises.
  • Many yoga instructors never see the same person twice. There are multiple instructors for multiple classes at the same studio. 
  • Yoga can cause small micro-tearing of muscles which can cause soreness due to over-stretching of muscles and tissues while performing certain poses. 
  •  It is essential to recognize that certain poses can trigger pain because of the stress of bad form during certain positions. 

These examples lead to multiple injuries and diminish the effectiveness of the exercises that are being taught. Instructors may have a different degree of expertise in dealing with individuals with spinal problems. This is a big problem because people with significant spinal issues never get the consistency they require to improve. There needs to be a systematic approach to improving the core stability of a person with spinal problems. This can only be achieved when a therapeutic yoga instructor works consistently to progress exercises to support their specific spinal issues.

Keep Yoga Safe – Things to Consider!

  1. Make sure that your instructor is certified and educated.
  2. Confirm that the studio you are considering has a reputation for dealing with people that have spinal issues.
  3. Disclose any health issues that you have to the studio/instructor before starting yoga.
  4. Ask your doctor/chiropractor/specialist for a list of exercises that you can or can’t do, and make sure you share them with your instructor.
  5. Participate with the same instructor for consistency when performing therapeutic yoga.
  6. Make sure there is exercise progression. Ask the instructor to start with beginner poses and then build strength and flexibility as the classes progress.
  7. Choose a small-sized class, especially when in the early stages.
  8. Let your body guide you. There should be gentle stretching and not any strain during exercises. Too much, too fast leads to potential problems.
  9. Go at your pace, and don’t feel pressured to keep up with the rest of the class. 

Hit the Mat Safely

Yoga is often a restorative therapy allowing for strength, flexibility, stability, and emotional well-being when appropriately practiced with the proper guidance. I recommend yoga for many of my patients to help in their stabilization, motion, recovery, and maintenance. Yoga can be a crucial part of your wellness. It can also help with your spinal issues. Individuals can be set up for success or failure — following a few guidelines can help achieve success!  

About the Author Dr. William Heidary is the owner of Back on Track Wellness Clinic in Ontario and a chiropractor of over 25 years. Dr. Will has worked with thousands of patients to achieve optimal wellness. Most recently Dr. Will has founded Winkzzz Inc a sleep and wellness company which promotes quality sleep for everyone.