Ten days ago, Diane Bruni and I hosted a\u00a0public event called \u201cWhat Are We Actually Doing in Asana: an exploration of yoga-related injuries.\u201d There were about seventy people in attendance at Diane’s studio here in Toronto. When Diane asked who had been injured through asana practice, virtually everyone raised their hands. Of course, we get injured doing all sorts of things in daily life. But in the majority of its discourse, yoga holds forth a therapeutic promise that its culture might not be fulfilling.\u00a0What’s more is that most of those in attendance were teachers, who one might assume to be better versed in avoiding injury than most.<\/p>\n
We were joined by Dr. Raza Awan, medical director for Synergy Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. He gave an overview of the epidemiological research he has begun with\u00a0the yoga injuries that his clinic\u00a0has been treating over the last several years. Diane shared\u00a0a personal account of her 20 years of dedicated practice, and how injury has led to innovation. I nervously presented some preliminary themes from my own research, based so far on over sixty interviews. Kathryn Bruni-Young spoke on her transition from vinyasa-only practice to the more eclectic (and, she claims, healthful) mix of strength and movement disciplines she engages with and teaches today.<\/p>\n
The main part of the three-and-a-half hour meeting featured an open and wide-ranging discussion. Participants shared concerns, some injury stories, and general feelings about the state of asana education.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll be publishing several clips from the evening over the next few days. Here\u2019s my bit.<\/p>\n