Yoga after heart surgery

Hi All , good to be here in every sense.

I had a surprise heart issue over a few days culminating in mitra valve repair 5 weeks ago via sternotomy. Discharged after 5 days on bisoprolol and warfarin both hopefully temporary. Follow up in two weeks

I was a very active (59 year old) yoga teacher before this teaching hot yoga and arm balances as well as more general accessible and relaxing classes.

Does anyone have experience of returning to yoga (teaching in particular) and time scales for this ? Keen to progress but want to be sensible too!

thanks for any shared experiences! 🙏

[Blackcatsooty]

Dear Ash

I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve. The nurses wanted me to get of bed immediately. So one of the things I did was a tiny bit of yoga whilst holding the bottom of my bed.

The nurses were beaming with delight.

Now it’s a long long long and slow journey towards getting fully fit. Essential to read the rehab notes and to adhere to them. But at the end, which for me was three months, you should be very well indeed. If you get rehab classes ( I didn’t get them due to covid) then listen to the advice. I could ring the ward nurses to help with recovery. And also ask the BHF nurses.

Do not despair, it might be 2 or3 months, but recovery for me was amazing. I got my life back.

Sooty

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Given that we are all different, our rates of recovery from medical interventions and our physical capabilities after it will vary, so I suggest you wait until you have your follow up in two weeks and put your questions to the health professionals who are responsible for your care, and you should then get a definitive answer tailored to your own circumstances. Hopefully as you are likely to be in good physical shape due to your earlier yoga activities, you should be able to return to doing something you enjoy earlier than many others. Namaste

[DWizza]

Hi Hidden , just my experience after Nstemi and quadruple bypass surgery last July . I’m not a teacher, I was going to my local vinyasa flow class twice a week . Post surgery I was desperate to get better and have some normality . Walking as my go to exercise as prescribed by the medics & physios in the first couple of months , and I focused on nutrition. I yearned to get back into yoga and weights training, riding my motorbike, working round my farm but the last thing I wanted was to undo the healing of my sternum or worse . I did start yoga after 3 months and had to use regressions to take weight off my sternum when transitioning from plank to cobra etc . It obviously takes a while to get that strength and mobility back after having open heart surgery and being pulled around . 7 months down the line I can transition smoothly and flow better in sun salutations , still working on left shoulder stability and mobility , I think that side was pulled back more during surgery and is giving me some issues. Looking back , I was desperate for normality , my lovely yoga teacher keeps reminding to be kind to myself. Namaste 🙏

[Bluedolphin123]

I’ve not got any advice but you sound like your doing amazing in your recovery so I’m sure it will all come together in time 😊

Im doing gentle yoga whilst waiting for the same operation , do you mind me asking did you have to wait long for your surgery? x

[Silvasava]

Not a teacher but doing Ashtanga and Hatha yoga for 30 years. I'm 77, I had a stroke in 2019 and was subsequently diagnosed with Afib and DCM. Although recovered very well now I cannot put my head below my heart or keep my arms raised for any length of time. I now do two sessions of chair yoga each week and walk as much as possible.

[22alfie]

Hi I also was a very active person before my heart attack running, cycling, hiking, swimming kayak and yoga. I took my heart attack stent op female age 65 shocked but family history so sometimes you can't avoid. I've been on all the usual pills now only on aspirin and lipitor and of course my spray which I carry everyday no matter were I go as now have angina. but have only used it twice maybe 3 times. I'm doing all my hobbies again except running as knees knackered including yoga but didn't go back to that for about a year after . I have got myself back to fitness but not on the same level but definitely good for you. And well age determines what I can and can't do. 😂😂 But feeling good and training to do the Glasgow kilt walk in April with a few friends. I also got a dog that has helped me keep going. Always remember slow and steady wins the race. You'll get there but don't rush things. Good luck ❤️❤️