The worst yoga poses to avoid for beginners

As a beginner, it might often be tempting to jump into the deep end when it comes to yoga. However, there are some poses that beginners should avoid until they learn basic mastery of yoga in order to avoid injury.

It is true that yoga is for everyone, but for someone who is starting out on the journey of fitness and mindfulness, it can often get overwhelming. Starting from so much information on the internet to a variety of online classes and guides, beginners may be tempted to jump in the deep end.

However, there couldn’t be a worse mistake that they could make. Yoga needs a lot of practice and awareness to perfectly excel in. Flow, posture, breathing technique, movement, hold, patience, and timing - there are a lot of factors that a yogi needs to work on to perfect their poses.

If not done well, the performer risks the chance of injuring the back, ankles or different joints. As a beginner, it is always advised to start slow and gradually build up the technique and focus. Perfection is only achieved through discipline and consistent efforts.

With that being said, let’s discuss the worst yoga poses that beginners should definitely avoid:

Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana)

While the pigeon pose is a wonderful and powerful hip opener, it can be difficult for beginners to master. Tight hips may make it challenging for beginners to get into the right position. It can also lead to an uncomfortable feeling in the knees if the form and pose is not done correctly.

Wheel Pose (Dhanurasana)

The wheel pose involves bending over backwards fully with both the hands and the feet. In order to perform this, not only do you need a strong and flexible spine, but also strength in the hands and in the legs to support your body. Adequate wrist and shoulder mobility are also essential to help you properly distribute load and keep your joints safe.

Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

Camel pose is also a backbend yoga exercise that requires plenty of flexibility, mobility and strength. It needs immense spinal extension and can be difficult to perform without the right kind of fitness and agility.

Crow Pose (Bakasana)

Crow pose is often one of the first arm balancing exercises that are attempted in the field of yoga. While it may be a little easier than some of the other poses on this list, the crow pose can still be challenging for anyone at the beginning of their yoga journey. They must keep in mind not to put too much stress on the wrist with a wrong angle, else there’s always a risk of injury.

Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana)

Shoulder stand places a lot of emphasis on shoulder and extreme neck flexion and this can pose a great difficulty of challenge to anyone. The risk of injury also looms large by placing the weight of the body incorrectly on the shoulders who are having to bear a lot of load.

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