Content

1. Introduction
2. Awareness in Transitions
3. The Subtle Danger of Showing Off
4. Adaptation Is Healing
5. A Student’s Story – The Wrist That Needed Rest
6. Yoga as Awareness, Not Achievement
7. 5 Practical Ways to Prevent and Heal Injuries in Yoga
8. Watch the Video
9. Reflection

In more than thirty years of teaching yoga, I’ve rarely seen students injure themselves during my classes — never, in fact.

When yoga is practiced the way it’s meant to be — as a moving meditation where breath and awareness guide every movement — it becomes very difficult to get hurt.

Because true yoga isn’t about pushing or performing.
It’s about listening.

Awareness in Transitions

One of the most common moments where injuries happen isn’t in the posture itself — it’s in the transition between poses.

When we move too quickly, when the breath disconnects, awareness fades.
So treat your practice as one continuous, flowing sequence — a dance between body, breath, and spirit.

Be as mindful in the transitions as you are in the postures.
That’s where grace — and safety — live.

The Subtle Danger of Showing Off

I once had a long-term private student who practiced with me twice a week for five years.

She grew from beginner to advanced level — always steady, mindful, and safe.
Until one day, on vacation, she tried to show her friends the splits — without warming up.

She tore her hamstring.

She told me later, “I knew better… but I wanted to show off.”

And haven’t we all been there in some way? Trying to prove something — to others or ourselves — forgetting that yoga isn’t about performance.

Especially in poses like headstand or shoulder stand, this can be dangerous. The neck and spine are delicate; awareness must guide strength.

So remember: never practice to impress.
Practice to connect.

Adaptation Is Healing

Last month, I injured my shoulder.

The first day, I rested.

The second day, I practiced again — just differently.

I softened my sun salutations, added breath, meditation, Reiki, and natural remedies.

Within four days, the pain was gone.
You don’t always have to stop — you can adapt.

A Student’s Story – The Wrist That Needed Rest

A private student of mine — a doctor and young mother — came to me recently with wrist pain.

After a long baby break, she had returned to full-time medical work, using her wrist all day long.

And because she’s a typical Pitta type — determined, flexible, eager, and prone to lose joints — she added more push-ups than I had recommended during her sun salutations.

Her wrist rebelled.

Within minutes of our Zoom call, I showed her how to adapt her practice:

• Rest the wrist, avoid pressure.
• Keep knees down during the push-up phase.
  
• Replace Cobra with Sphinx.
  
• Do Downward Dog on the forearms.
  
• Use fists or blocks to soften the angle.

She was so relieved — she could still practice.

In our next private 1:1 Ayurveda-Yoga Therapy session, we adapted her practice even more closely to her needs — focusing not only on relieving wrist pain but also on gradually strengthening it.

This is the essence of Ayurveda Yoga Therapy
— adapting the practice to your unique body, rhythm, and needs.

Yoga as Awareness, Not Achievement

Yoga isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence.

Strength and flexibility grow through awareness, not force.
And sometimes, it’s in the moments of limitation that our practice deepens most.

If you’re ever injured, remember:
You don’t have to stop.
Just breathe, listen, and adjust.

Every pain, every sensation, every breath can be your teacher.
Keep practicing.
Keep adapting.
Keep enjoying the journey.

🌿 5 Practical Ways to Prevent and Heal Injuries in Yoga

1. Move with awareness in transitions. Most injuries happen between poses — slow down and stay connected to your breath.
2. Let go of the need to perform. Yoga is not about proving anything — it’s about listening and connecting.
3. Adapt your practice to your current condition. Use props, modify poses, and honor your limits.
4. Practice with steady, conscious breathing. Breath unites mind and body, protecting you from strain.
5. Treat pain as communication, not failure. Every sensation can guide you toward deeper self-knowledge.

🎥 Watch the Video!

👉 If you’d like to see how I adapted Sun Salutations with shoulder pain and wrist weaknesses, you can watch my YouTube video here:

Adapted Sun Salutation for Shoulder Pain (15 Min) | Keep Practicing, Just Adapt!

13 min Gentle Sun Salutation for Wrist Pain Relief | Yoga Modifications That Heal

👉And if you haven’t yet, you can also watch my new video:
5 Tips to Avoid Yoga Injuries and Support Healing

With love and awareness,

Verena Gayatri
Ayurveda-Yoga Coach and Teacher
www.verenaprimus.com

Live your health. Live your truth. Be a Modern-Yogi.

Freedom to own your health and truth.

Start here