I have not gone to Bikram Yoga for almost three weeks. In six years, Iâve never had this long of a break in my practice. My enthusiasm for this slightly déclassé, rough-hewn but effective discipline inspired me to buy a fifty class card on Thanksgiving Day, whereupon I strutted into class and wrenched my back with an over-enthusiastic ardashandrasana. I didnât notice it at the time but I realized by the end of the class that Iâd had increasing lower back distress throughout the class. The next evening, I compounded my problem by changing a flat tire. Even though I âused my legs, not my backâ, Iâm sure that didnât help.
For three weeks now, sitting can be painful, and rising from sitting to standing requires me to carefully lead and lift with my knees to avoid strain. I went to my friendly acupuncturist / bodyworker for one session. He taught me some useful stretches and crunches, and vigorously inserted some acupuncture needles the size of golf clubs. The pain was always pretty mild but reminds me that Iâm of an age where recovery from injury is getting slower all the time. Iâm finally getting my freedom of movement back and am sitting comfortably instead of constantly needing to squirm. Fortunately, walking, dancing and biking have been OK throughout, but for a sedentary office worker like me a sitting problem is really a challenge.
The last two days the pain has been definitely receding. I now expect to pain free and back to yoga in two more weeks. I will modify asanas to avoid pain.