Yoga beginners 'could sustain spine injuries'RSS Feed

An award-winning science author has warned yoga enthusiasts that inexperienced teachers could put attendees at risk of spinal injury.

William J Broad, who won a Pulitzer Prize, claimed beginners who perform relatively advanced poses could sustain tears in the linings of the arteries running through their spine.

He explained in an interview with BBC Radio 4 that this could then lead to potentially fatal blood clots developing.

The expert claimed to have discovered the dangers of exercises such as the plough and shoulder stand when researching for his new book The Science of Yoga: The Risks and Rewards.

Mr Broad explained how "extreme bending of the neck" could lead to serious injuries, which are "not anecdotal" and "not freak accidents".

However, it has long been suggested that yoga can have beneficial properties and help those suffering from back pain to gain some relief from symptoms.

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Posted by Timothy Walters

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