In the eternal quest to stay youthful and healthy, yoga has become a popular exercise for people looking to not only gain flexibility, but also improve their mental health.
But, one wrong move and there could be serious consequences.
In 2006, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that nearly 4,500 people ended up in the emergency room from yoga injuries. That's up 18 percent from 2004.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Benjamin Shaffer suspects the number of injuries is actually higher.
"Most of the injuries we see are overuse, soft tissue injuries that affect the low back, the neck, groin strains, problems that have to do with overstretching," he said.
One reason for the increase in injuries, according to Kimberly Wilson, the founder of yoga studio Tranquil Space, is too many people pushing their bodies too far and not respecting what their body is telling them if they're on the verge of an injury.
Wilson said another cause is inexperienced teachers.
Health
"I think it's really important when you're looking for a studio or a teacher that you find someone who has been thoroughly trained," she said. "You can just check in with them, 'So what kind of training did you go through? What's your specialty?'"
Simmy Pell, 58, started practicing yoga to gain more flexibility, but after attending one class six years ago, the life-long athlete was benched. One wrong move caused her lower back to be in so much pain that she couldn't even stand.
Pell said she pushed herself too far in class and didn't recognize that she already had a back problem.
"Listen to your body," Pell said. "Don't be like that girl or guy next door to you who can turn themselves into a pretzel and maybe a little less is a little more in the beginning."
According to Wilson, if a pose doesn't feel right to you, then stop. Yoga should cause sensation, not pain.
