bump....

Does anyone here do Yoga or Pilates?

Looks like I will be doing pool/aqua therapy for 2 months combined with land work also. After the 2 months of PT then I an look into this Yoga stuff some more.

Don't let anyone convince you that Yoga doesn't build strength!!! It is very easy to find Yoga instructors who leave the more spiritual aspects up to each individual and focus more on just the physical aspects. I prefer Yoga over Pilates. I feel it is more user friendly for someone with a spine issue and is fantastic for flexibility and core strength. Also if you have any balance issues, Yoga is a fantastic way to work on that.

"C"

Thanks C !

I had to call my surgeons office this morning and got my favorite PA. She is pretty cool. I mentioned this. She said you are dead on.

She said once I get through all the rebuilding I need to do. She will send me to -her- Yoga instructor. She's been doing it for years. She promised to keep me from hurting myself and I don't have to chant

Right now I have to focus on PT and fusing.

me with my Pain Mgt doctor. She is a big fan of Yoga, but she also is the first to say that because of my Lumbar and Cervical Surgeries and all my Thoracic problems, most Yoga could cause me more harm.
She told me that there is a passive style of Yoga that I could do, but it was key to find an instructor who really knew what that meant.
Pilates would be helpful in building up some strength but also important in help stretching out my spine with really using traction.
But Graham, she still frowns on both of them for me. She would rather see me continue to walk, continue going to the Aqua Pool and really get involved with the elliptical machine.
Hopefully that will work for me, but as you know any of our exercise programs really are made to order for each of us.

after having lumbar fusions and also dealing with thoracic herniation I've been told by several docs and PT's yoga is out because of the twisting and bending. I practiced yoga for 5 years before I had surgery, (though I had to give it up when I couldn't stand any longer:) )

Pilates has been recommended once I recover from surgery becasue of the extensive core work. I have done both mat pilates and pilates machine work. Just one more opinion...

My surgeon whom I first saw 12 years ago with a real bad case of sciatica at that time sent me home with a print out of Yoga exercises. I got better and have been doing it until my fusion surgery. Then the same surgeon warned me to be very careful with yoga, because unless the instructor is very knowledgeable about spinal fusion some of the exercises can be harmful and they are not advisable for fusion patients. Same with Pilates, that I can no longer do. Right now go with the post-fusion PT, and there discuss some of the acceptable positions and the no-nos with your therapist.

Kin

I am a yoga teacher and due to your recent injuries, I would not suggest that you attend a yoga or pilates class. I would suggest that you have private sessions in either the yoga or pilates. The teacher will work with you on a one on one basis and give you exercises that fit your situation. Going to a class and doing exercises geared towards individuals without health problems could result in injury and discomfort. Do a search on google in your town or call the studios and get recommendations.

Thanks folks for the feedback and comments.

I most certainly am not entertaining this idea right now. I am being a good boy and doing what my Surgeon, PA, and PT tell me. Not going to screw up this recovery. This patience thing is killing me though...

I'm looking forward past PT. Working on my long term exercise plan. At the end of PT I don't want it to go to waste. I want to build on it. I want and need to be in better shape. I need to protect L4/L5 amongst other things.

I have some goals that require me to have a fair amount of endurance. I'm not ready to throw in the towel quite yet...

Graham

Great advice. I am fortunate that a friend of mine is a very accomplished Yoga Instructor who has worked with me privately. It is definitely easier for the instructor to focus on one student's needs privately vs during a scheduled class.

Graham, one of the great things from Yoga that I can work on even on off days, is balance. By simply working on that, it helps me maintain focus on healing as well.

"C"

They for me were the thing that worked the most. My doc said to try them and use good judgement and let teacher know what I have. Yoga helped me relax and gain balance and piliates made me feel lengthened and taller, uncompressed. Sadly I did not stick with them after doing for year or so trying to start back. My teach would show one way for people not in pain and another way for people in pain. I have bulging discs and thorasic tears and herniations and it definitly did not make any worse.

I just started yoga again. It is the only type of exercise that I can stick to. However, a recent yoga class aggravated my sciatic nerve. Do you try avoid twisting poses?

doing some of the less complicated yoga positions, so great for stretching, but I can't do many of them, or for too long. I'm also going to look into Tai Chi, there is a club close to where I work. You might want to check that out too Graham, once you ask if that would be good for you to do.

Restless,
Yes I most certainly will not being chanting. I'm not interested in religious aspects. Just stretching and strength.

Kelly,
I will also look into Tai Chi. I asked about it in another thread. It would be like Yoga or Pilates. Some moves are fine and some would just cause issues and flare ups.

As it stands right now. I have 3 more months of core strength training. I'm starting to do elliptical trainer. Once I get through this then I will try something else. I most certainly will do something. I've decided I can't afford to be a couch potato.

Graham

I am exactly 5 months to the day post Laminectomy and fusion of L3,4 and 5. Signed off from the PT two months ago and started back to the gym doing about 90% of the PT routine I had been given by the therapist. I had excellent flexibly prior to the surgery and have lost most of my lower flex. I am scheduled to begin a Body Flow class that is a combined Palates-Tia-Chi modality. Not knowing at this point if it will be beneficial the instructor has assured me that I will gain more flex in my hips and it will not irritate my lumbar recovery. I have very gradually increased my strength in the last two months but still have a long way to go. It has dramatically improved and I hope that by 1 year out I will be semi-normal. Everyone has told me what a long process this would be but I guess I am not as patient. Best of luck and I will try to let you know what the verdict is on this Body Flow class.
Mike