If you are practicing yoga frequently and doing other forms of exercise, it can be a welcome relief to have a few days off a month, often called Ladies Days. If you do choose to practice while menstruating it is advisable to avoid the inverted postures, such as headstand, shoulder stand and plough pose. Here is a sampling of a few common medical conditions and a little information on how yoga can be beneficial. Studies have shown that asthma sufferers used their inhalers less, were more relaxed and had a more positive attitude after doing yoga for 16 weeks. The conclusion is that yoga is beneficial as an adjunct to the medical management of asthma.
Yoga improves respiration and chest muscles are able to relax.
The most valuable aspects of any Hatha yoga style for a spinal injury are movement and stretching. In moving and stretching the spine it is the quality of gentleness and stretch combined with the relaxing effect of deep breathing that is most beneficial. Readers of this section should also see the earlier section on injuries and what it says about pain and be aware especially with a chronic condition that some pain may be good pain, the type that needs to be worked through or worked out, not shied away from. Yoga can also be of significant benefit to those with spinal disease and deformity such as ankylosing spondilitis and scoliosis. It is the aligning movements, postural strengthening and relaxation that are of most use to these types of conditions.