Yoga
 

Anyone found this helpful? or just detrimental? I did a class today and I think I am REALLY going to regret it! Headache came back as I was in the class and since my neck has started acting up and I have become foggy again...

I practice yoga and find it very beneficial, but I don't have any residual neck or headache problems such as you describe.

There are many different forms of yoga, if you were in a Vinyasa (flow) class it may be physically too much. See if the studio offers restorative or Yoga Nidra, consider those as an alternative.

There are many different kinds of yoga. Some yoga types should completely be avoided because it's quite rigorous. Others should be avoided because they are held in purposefully hot rooms.

Yoga instructors are typically very accommodating to physical limitations but you have to be the one who is aware that you need to stop following along and sit in "child's pose" until either the end of the class or until you can get back up and join in again.

It would be a good idea for you to mention what you're going through and recovering from to the instructor before the class starts, like at least 15 minutes before, if you can.

Also, I recommend yoga that is geared for cancer/MS/geriatric/CFS/Fibromyalgia/etc. patients - they have classes to specialize for people dealing with physical limitations.

They also have yoga classes called "restorative" and/or "relaxation" yoga that should be fine. Yoga for beginners might also be ok. It all kind of depends on the instructor and the class or studio.

I would also caution against doing all shoulder and head stands, possibly all upside down poses, maybe even "downward dog" until all symptoms subside. Women aren't supposed to be upside down in yoga during their menstrual period… and are typically given a different pose - it's perfectly ok and even expected that not everyone has the same ability.

:)

Thank you... very good information... the instructor was a previous PT and worked with TBI and Stroke patients... she and I had communicated prior... I did slow vinyasa yoga... I think all the down dog was too much... she agreed as I became very unstable towards the later part of the class...

I've been doing yoga as well. I find it to be great. However I do it at home myself and just stick to poses that don't bother my head like down dog or anything like chair pose. I tried following along with classes but found I spent most of the class doing my own thing anyways (Was not about to attempt headstands :P)

When I did vestibular therapy, they added yoga into my therapy to help me learn to tolerate changes in balance and weight shifting.

I then found a restorative yoga class at my university. It was wonderful! The instructor also worked with me individual to help me modify when needed and always allowed me to stay in a restorative position if I couldn't do what the rest of the class was doing.

I now do it at home as the semester ended. I want to find a class for the summer, but all the classes near me are "hot yoga". I wouldn't make it past breathing before I'd get dizzy there!

When I worked in special education, I very often included a "yoga" time in the early afternoon. Very simple poses with names the kids would understand. If it was something the child wasn't able to do, we would modify and also allowed them to just sit and be still. It really made a huge difference. The kids got a chance to "reset" before the afternoon academic time started. So I feel like no matter the neurological level, if you can adapt it or even just stop and be still, your nervous system benefits.

My suggestion would be to find a "restorative" class or something designed for people with chronic pain. It wont' be as harsh on your brain and body :)