...not exactly, though the Times piece from Jan 8th may lead some readers to believe otherwise. After receiving the "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" article from about 10 different people, I'm putting my two cents in for both teachers and students:
Teachers:
1) Avoid giving "mixed level" classes if you can: You have a woman balancing on one foot in a standing split while the guy next to her can't get into child's pose because his quads are too tight. It's really tough to cater to both experience levels at the same time.
2) Unless you're working one-on-one with a student, avoid headstands altogether. The cervical spine is way too fragile. You only have two eyes and they're unable to carefully watch the ten necks simultaneously trying to attempt this pose during class.
3) Incorporate a bit of Pilates into each class. By helping students safely strengthen their core (both abs and lower back), you are placing more emphasis on alignment (think possible better posture) rather than flexion / extension (think potential spinal surgery).
Students:
1) Attend class with a teacher that is more concerned about joint alignment, awareness through movement, and breath work than with the guru who's encouraging scary-looking poses they'll gladly demo for anyone who will watch.
2) Be honest with yourself about which class level you should attend -- and if it is unclear to you, err on the side of caution. After 12 years, I still take a basics class from time to time, as there's always room to enhance your foundational understanding of each pose.
3) Resist the temptation to mimic the superstar on the mat next to you. It sounds super cheesy, but yoga is about understanding where you are in any exact moment on the mat; not where Sexy McFlexy is as she wraps her ankles around her head.
