Yoga and AF

[Elaine1951]

I am huge yoga fan but this first onset of AF this Xmas has caused me to think about what Poses I should avoid. The experience of AF is so terrifying that the idea of doing anything which might prompt it is best avoided. Thanks

[SVTSophie]

Hi Elaine, I know the feeling. I'm desperate to exercise but fear of doing anything that will set off AF scares me so much. I've recently ordered yoga DVD's as I thought this would be the best way of getting around it, but after reading this I'm not so sure? I know everyone is different - What poses set you off? x

[Elaine1951 in reply to SVTSophie]

Hello. No poses have set me off just worried they might. I guess with AF we just have to do it or live in a cotton wool box which is v unhealthy ! Good luck. I'd go to a class if I were you

[SVTSophie in reply to Elaine1951]

Oh I see! Let me know how you get on! And I'd rather do it in my own home, as always emabrassed if I get AF in public.. x

[BobD Volunteer]

LIve your life despite AF not as a result of it. Don't let it take over. Triggers are just triggers, not the cause. You have AF ergo you have AF.

[Alil]

I would be careful around strong inversions like headstand. Otherwise I'm sure yoga can only be good for those of us with AF. Don't strain and don't forget to breathe!

[Elbows]

I practise yoga 3 to 4x a week and started doing so when first diagnosed with AF and when successfully ablated. It has helped with anxiety and breathing and as helped keep me fit. As with any exercise practice within your limits and listen to your body, don't let AF stop you or as Bob says rule your life.

[Dee1989]

A question for you all. I used to always go to yoga classes I have had an ablation that seems to be successful that was two months ago. When do you think it is safe to return post ablation?

[PeterWh in reply to Dee1989]

No doubt you will get some responses but if I were you I would definitely email EP and ask question.

[Dee1989 in reply to PeterWh]

Spoke to an Arrythmia nurse at Barts today she said yoga is fine for me 2 months post ablation in fact she said yoga is great!

Will let you know how it goes

[Elaine1951 in reply to Dee1989]

yes do. I'm sure it'll be great

[PeterWh in reply to Dee1989]

Brilliant.

[Hidden]

If you want to do yoga but are worried about it, then you do it and get AF, I'd guess it was the worry that brought it on, not the yoga. More likely that Christmas was more of a trigger than yoga I'd have thought.

[Elaine1951]

I think you're right !

[Elbows]

Dee I think it is safe to return to yoga, but I would be carefull with inversions, head and shoulders stands and keep clear of the plough until you have been free of AF for 3 months. But as said before go with how you feel and if you have a yoga teacher talk it over with them and your EP/AF Nurse.

[Hidden]

I have only done a few Yoga classes but a lot of research on how lifestyle impacts on AF. My simplistic advice is avoid any pose that feels uncomfortable - i.e. listen to what your body is trying to tell you.

[Hidden]

Can I assume that you're not talking about Bikram / Hot Yoga or Kundalini? It will depend on how fit and mobile you are. If you can do a headstand and other advanced poses without strain - that's the key - then it won't be a problem. If say five rounds of Sun Salutations are a trigger, then you need to choose maybe pose of a cobbler. The Plough, Inverted Staff pose and ear pressure pose would probably be inadvisable.

I do 50 minutes of fairly intense aerobic work in the gym. On some days that gym session can set off AF and other days it doesn't. I always do yoga poses afterwards, and for me the best winding down poses are easy inversion (legs up the wall), shoulderstand, and folded pigeon. I read in Yoga Journal that Patanjali never said that yoga should hurt. Enjoy your yoga and treat your body like a friend.

Namaste

[Kodaska]

I can't do better than the suggestions already noted. I would, though, suggest that fear leads to stress which leads to all sorts of problems. Rather than ask us or even a yoga teacher, how about asking a cardiac care nurse what kinds of positions might trigger AF? I'm guessing anything that crunches your midsection, such as plough pose.

If I were a doc, I'd prescribe meditation to stabilize your mind. Once you get a handle on the throttle of the fear engine you'll be better able to assess your situation.

[stargazer61]

I did yoga for many years up until a year ago when local classes stopped, and also pilates, and I have done two pilates classes since my SVT attack in November, My main problem was the dizziness and light-headedness, so I missed out rolling down while standing, found being on all fours too much, so stuck with rolling my back forward a little from seated, and managed everything on my back and side. A yoga class started locally yesterday and I contacted the teacher first to tell her about my medication side effect problems and that if need be I'd just adapt any pose I couldn't do. I prefer gentler forms of yoga, and was lucky, it was great, very gentle, I even managed to be upside down in both cat and dog - BUT I'd not had my first dose of the day's medication either. Personally, I wouldn't do anything inverted, but other than legs up a wall and I'll try cat and dog again. Putting feet above head makes the heart work harder, so I'll not be attempting any of those poses, even my fav the triangle. I'd advice a class with a gentler method coupled with the essential component of listening to your own body. Most teachers I've had have gave the gentle 'stsrting' position with ways to increase the pose should you want to, this suits me, as mentioned above, yoga is not supposed to hurt, as I believe it, you stop at the stretch of a working muscle and try to feel the energy of the pose, it feels great when your body, mind and breath unite - which is what yoga means, union. This calms the whole system, and that's what we need. Some poses, such as strength- building ones, I used to hold for less time than the whole class for instance, and if everyone was doing cobra, i'd stick with sphinx (for other health reasons than svt) and |I think it's helpful to have a teacher who knows your condition who'd give alternate poses to you if they felt it was too much for you. I also had been at that class for a while so didn't feel stupid or out of place if I didn't do what everyone else was doing. I am one who likes to hide away (at the back, in the corner) but yoga classes are usually lovely quiet affairs with nice people, and nobody is watching anybody else or trying to compete

Go gently...but go....

[Bryonny]

I have continued to do Iyengar yoga after being diagnosed with AF. I let my yoga teacher know but for the most part I do the whole class but may reduce time I hold a position or avoid inversions if I feel very tired. If unsure what you should do may be best to talk to your EP.

Yoga tends to help me feel better and I try and do a bit of practice every day, I want to maintain my strength and flexibility. I can't run any more as I get too short of breath but this has probably saved my knee and hip joints from wear and tear!

[Elaine1951]

Wise advice. Thank you so much. Good luck to you too c