Undertaking Yoga after a Stroke.

Great question Kaz,

It is a really hard one to answer, not knowing more about you. However we have a number of members that are passionate about Yoga. Emma Gee does Yoga most days. Here is her website http://emma-gee.com/about-emma-gee/

I also know that Antonio does Tai Chi, he may do yoga as well. Here is one of Antonio's vids https://enableme.org.au/Users/Profile?userId=2f0e6ffb-1a93-46a7-b32e-e2f35eb104f5

Looking forward to hearing what other people do in the yoga space.

Diana

Kaz

I did yoga before my stroke so I had experience already when I took it up again. However, it was a few years before I could do most of the poses because anything that involved lowering my head caused me fatigue and low blood pressure (like downward dog!). I found that Pilates in a studio suited me better because the instructor was able to do a lot of things where I was lying prone or standing vertical using their equipment. I also did Tai Chi a few times and found this easier than yoga because of my weakness and balance issues. I used to swim a lot too, and was unable to swim in the ocean for a while because of the up and down motion of the waves, so I stuck to the pool, instead. I guess the principle is to aim for the ultimate exercise you want to do but in the meantime do the thing that's closest to it that you're able to do.

I'm doing a very customised form of yoga.  It's been great for stretching and core strength which help with everything else I'm trying to do.  I work one on one with an instructor and we use a lot of visualisation and passive movement (the instructor positions my arm or foot for me if it's a position I can't get into myself)  We work a lot on the floor and she incorporates both yoga and Pilates moves.  And I use a bar or pole in the good hand as an extra balance point when needed.

Kaz which poses you can do will be a question of trial and error within your issues and being prepared to work at it.  You'll find lots of videos of post stroke yoga on youtube.  The breathing exercises are also good for you even if you can't do much of the active stuff.

Hi Kaz

I work as an OT and Yoga Teacher in Sydney. Your question is a great one - but also hard to answer! What I've found is that everybody is different - poses that can (or "can't") be done really depend on the individual. In the classes that I run, we have up to 8 people in the room with various levels of ability following a brain injury or spinal cord injury and a lot of poses are modified to suit the individual. It's not uncommon to see several different types of downward dog in a single class - and that's OK. Yoga is about mind-body connection, so it's important that you find a teacher (in person, or online) that can explore this with you. Hope that helps! :) Lisa

I went back to yoga six months after my stroke and often have to work through severe nerve pain down my left side, but my strength and muscle tone is returning.  I think the most important thing to do is to listen carefully to your body and only do what feels right.  I can't sit cross legged now so I don't, it's as simple as that. My nerve pain is slowly lessening during yoga but this has taken 18 months to notice.  I'm sure it's the best thing I can do for my self.

I Kaz

II suffered a schematic stroke in May of 2017, my left side was affected.
I have been a yoga practitioner for many years and have developed a great body consciousness. my yoga practice has always been in the morning.

Yoga always worked for me as an anchor, during difficult times of life was in the yoga that I foundmy self

When I saw me at the hospital I did not hesitate that yoga was going to be my n.1 tool.
My thought was always: it does not matter if I can do it, I'm interested in the way (caminho), and even without seeing I have to believe.
I knew what my body was able to do before the stroke , so I had to find other parts of my brain to replace what was missing.

Do not be afraid, do what you can do, what matters is repetition and what we learn along the way.

sorry for my english, thank you, google translate 

Paula

Hi Kaz,

I didn't do Yoga until a few years ago. I began with stretching first, and just did stretching for 3 months before following a Yoga DVD. I am not really keen on participating in a Yoga class, feeling more comfortable in the privacy of my own lounge room. 

I am a Yoga convert for sure. :-)

Sue