Though it is known for its natural healing abilities, experts have warned against practising yoga without guidance. At an event commemorating the International Day of Yoga at the Le Royal Meridien Hotel, Abirami Premnath, a yoga practitioner, advised guests and employees at the hotel that one should be careful and distinguish between fake yoga experts and qualified ones.
“There are many who claim to be yoga practitioners after a three-month or a six-month diploma course. Qualified practitioners are called yoga doctors and hold a degree in Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, which is a course of study offered by the Goverment of Tamil Nadu,” she said.
Abirami said that customised yoga sessions ought to be prepared for diabetic patients and people with hypertension and other ailments. “There are limitations to what people with ailments can do. People with cardiovascular issues and breathing troubles should ideally be advised to not try pranayama. Otherwise there is a real danger of them falling unconscious. Similarly, people with hypertension shouldn’t do a lot of bending and reaching out exercises. It will only add to the stress,” she said. She added that though yoga practised without guidance could have side effects on a person, when done properly, it can help fast track an ailing person’s recovery.
“It doesn’t matter if the person is undergoing allopathic, homoeopathic or any other method of treatment. Yoga will help accelerate the recovery rate and your doctor may even prescribe lower dosage for diabetic patients as they progress through the stages,” she said. Asked if there was a right age to start practising yoga, she said it could begin from as early as seven and continued until 72 optimally.
However, for those aspiring to practise advanced asanas they need a bit of advice, she said.
“Always refer a qualified practitioner. People who are fit may think they may be able to do head stands and other advanced positions themselves but it may end up being fatal as yoga plays with your nervous system. Any reckless action can make you bedridden,” she signed off.
