Now that yoga is more and more appreciated by doctors, it is quite common to come across students who come to the mat for therapeutic purposes, for example to fix posture defects .
In fact, our sedentary lifestyle favors the prolonged maintenance of unhealthy and comfortable positions that afflict our organism day after day.
In the myriad of existing yoga styles, this line of students will turn to those types of yoga with a more physical orientation and, specifically, to the so-called postural yoga, born specifically for corrective needs.
Let's find out what it is in the details.
Postural yoga: some points to clarify
Postural yoga is a branch of hatha yoga that aspires to use asanas as a corrective method of postural defects . As anticipated in the opening, it is, inevitably, a type of yoga rather oriented to the body and focused on alignments and symmetries even at the expense of the meditative aspect; indeed, it would be difficult to reconcile with this approach from the "gymnastic" purpose and approach.
We must admit that, although the network is full of postural yoga classes, none of them has taken the trouble to offer a broad overview of the discipline by offering a proven methodology or, at least, a theoretical framework on which to base all practice.
From the material collected, we offer you some useful reflections, we hope, if you plan to approach this discipline:
- The "postural" label seems a little forced, at least in many contexts: there is not enough literature that attests to the validity of the asanas for corrective purposes, therefore it would seem a bit risky to use them with students suffering from serious problems. If, instead, we mean (as we believe) small postural defects, what would be the "plus" compared to classical yoga? Wouldn't it be worthwhile then to enroll in a course of postural gymnastics and one of yoga? Do you risk trivializing both disciplines by forcing them into a forced marriage?
- However, when postural yoga also had its conceptual legitimacy, inevitably it would be a decidedly physical yoga where the asanas would be emptied of their symbolic and spiritual value to be bent to corrective needs; it is different to approach the position as a meditation tool or as an exercise in gymnastics aimed at improving a physical defect; likewise, a lesson differing in the aim of wrapping students in the pure spirit of yoga and once achieving gymnastic or therapeutic results is different: very different aims and methodologies come into play, it seems difficult to reconcile.
- A final point that leaves us perplexed, and is the most prurient, is the preparation of teachers who should be competent in both yoga and postural gymnastics .
Find out which disciplines to find a correct posture
Postural yoga: to try!
Despite these reservations, we are well aware of the benefits that yoga can offer in the postural environment and we consider it very valuable to alleviate those small defects due to standing too much or sitting too much, doing it incorrectly.
The hatha yoga has a repertoire of asanas that are a real cure for it and that, lesson after lesson, will help you to improve the perception of the body and the position it takes in space to the benefit of the health of the whole organism.
We have exposed some doubts about postural yoga, but we do not doubt that there are trained teachers and serious centers.
However, we also know how scarce the professionalism of many gyms or structures can be, so we want to invite our readers to be cautious : if trying different styles is fun, when problems related to health come into play you have to move with your feet to lead and understand the sense of what you do.
This is because there is now a plethora of disciplines and moving through them is not easy: we try to take you by the hand and guide you but, as always, invite you to personally experiment beyond any suggestion. Your body always remains the most reliable advisor!
