and that are demanding on the cardiovascular system can cause shortness and shallowness of
breath, and may cause an asthma attack.
Intense backbends–Ex. Little Thunderbolt Pose (Laghuvajrasana) here. These poses can be
stimulating and cause shortness of breath if you have asthma. It is recommended to start with mild
backbends and progress into deeper ones slowly, according to how your body feels.
Arm balances with both feet off the floor–Ex. Uneven Half Repose Pose Dedicated to Ashtavakra
(Vishama Ardha Shayana Ashtavakrasana) here. These types of poses require a lot of strength and
endurance and may cause shortness of breath.
CONDITION
- Neck Pain
Yoga practice can help prevent and relieve neck pain. The combination of gentle stretches and
strengthening movements can open up tight muscles in the body, increasing neck flexibility and
rebalancing postural muscles. Simple and slow movements will lubricate the neck and increase its
range of movement. Hold each pose for 30 to 90 seconds.
While it’s important to strengthen and stretch the neck muscles in order to help prevent neck injury,
if you already have a neck concern it’s best not to aggravate it. Poses that are most strenuous for the
neck are the ones that bear the majority of the body’s weight on the head or neck.
BENEFICIAL POSES
Seated neck stretches–Ex. Easy Pose with Neck Stretch (Sukhasana) here. Neck pain can be
caused by tension in the neck muscles. Stretching these muscles can help prevent or reduce neck
pain.
Seated twists–Ex. Pose Dedicated to Bharadvaja 1 (Bharadvajasana 1) here. Muscles in the neck
are connected to the muscles in the upper back. Seated twists increase the range of motion in the
upper back and neck and can help prevent or reduce neck pain caused by tension in these areas.
Poses on hands and knees–Ex. Going from Tiger Pose (Vyaghrasana), modification knee to the
forehead, here to Tiger Pose (Vyaghrasana), also known as Cat Tilt here, top. Rounding the back
and then going into a mild backbend can help strengthen the neck muscles and stretch the front of
the neck (in Dog Tilt) and the back of the neck (in Cat Tilt).
Hand position of the pose dedicated to Garuda–Ex. Hand Position of the Pose Dedicated to
Garuda in Hero Pose (Hasta Garudasana in Virasana) here. Any pose with this hand position
helps stretch the upper back and back shoulder heads and can help prevent neck pain caused by
tension in the muscles of the upper back.
POSES TO APPROACH WITH CAUTION
Full inversions–Ex. Revolved Leg Position of One-Legged King Pigeon 1 Version B in Headstand
5 (Parivritta Pada Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana 1 B in Shirshasana 5) here, One-Legged
Unsupported Whole Body Pose (Eka Pada Niralamba Sarvangasana), also known as
Shoulderstand here Full inversions with the head on the floor put strain on the neck since the
