July-August 2012 IDEA Fitness Journal Quiz 2: Yoga Safety

A purported rise in yoga-related injuries in the United States has stimulated a firestorm of discussion in the yoga community, as well as a national media blitz. Over the past 20 years, yoga has expanded in popularity in the U.S. and throughout the world, bridging the gap from young to old, novice to athlete, healthy to disease-ridden and wealthy to underprivileged. While this growth is generally considered positive, the same is not true of an increase in yoga-related injuries. This continuing education quiz examines what may be contributing to the claimed surge in injuries, looks closely at the statistics, and offers expert tips on how to cultivate a safer teaching and practice environment.