My first ever yoga experience I went to a Vinyasa Flow yoga session, lasting 90 minutes at my gym. This style of yoga is definitely not for beginners, or for those who experience any sort of pain. Very fast moving, and difficult regarding controlling your breathing (which is a big thing in yoga) and moving whilst controlling your breathing. The positions themselves were at times complex.
A few weeks later I tried out Iyengar yoga, which was much more simpler, slower, and easy to get into. Although some of the positions might be difficult, as long as the teacher is aware of your injuries beforehand, you can always adapt.
I managed to arrange a meeting with a yoga instructor, just to get a little more insight on yoga, its principles and if its something I should be encouraging my patients to do.
One form of yoga was developed by a man called Patanjali, who came up with the '8 limbs of yoga'. The aim was to master each limb reaching eventually enlightenment 'Samadhi'. One of the limbs needed to be mastered involved improving on ones flexibility in order to achieve a seated position (Lotus position) which you are meant to remain in, in order to mediate.
The Western world has taken this element of yoga and used it as a tool to sell and focused on the healthy aspect regarding improving ones flexibility.
Generally people practise Hatha Yoga (Hatha is divided into Ha, meaning Sun, and Tha meaning Moon). Subsections of Hatha yoga are Vinyasa (fast pace and relatively high intensity yoga), Bikram (yoga in a room at high temperatures), Iyengar (slow, relaxing, stretching) and Ashtanga (high demand on the body, very active).
With the research I have done, discussing with a yoga instructor and participating myself in different types of yoga I have concluded the following:
> Yoga is good as long as its the correct yoga (Iyengar)
> When giving yoga as advice ensure the patient knows what they're getting themselves into! My experience seemed very spiritual and that threw me a little
> Yoga is advisable for those who need to improve general flexibility
> Yoga is not advisable for those who are flexible already! Hypermobile patients do not need to further improve their range of movement!
> Yoga takes time and as such the patient needs to commit to it and give it a chance.
