I've been telling people this story for a while, but forgetting the origin of it. I thought it was my physio, but I think he's told me other dodgy stories, this one was actually from the Restorative Inversions workshop I recently blogged about (I realised this from looking at my notes) - we were talking about the risk and reward of poses, and about adjustments, and someone, I suspect Lizzie, told us about a well-known teacher who had their student in a seated twist, pushed them round forcefully and tore their phrenic nerve. The student lost use of of half of their diaphragm. You can't fix that nerve.
My physio has definitely told me stories about people suffering injuries from overdoing it at yoga, it's well known amongst my friends that yoga workshops often leave me with injuries (e.g. the locked facet joint from Doug Keller's matsiyana option, or when I seized my back doing a restorative inversion - my physio doesn't even need to try to get me to come in...) and even my amazing teachers have occasionally done things which haven't felt good to me - e.g. I once got adjusted while in a downward dog and it pinged my shoulder! At David Swenson's recent workshop, he was tugging me down and up in a intermediate series pose and it was caning my shoulder, whereas when my female partner did it after him, it was much easier - he didn't know I have a dicky shoulder, and he is a strong man with plenty of muscle! So you have to be careful. You don't know other people's bodies or what might set them off.
On the topic of adjustments from teachers, I talked a bit on my Facebook recently about yoga flip chips, which are an idea I came across through Catherine Annis at an anatomy workshop. They're an American invention and it's actually unhelpfully hard to get hold of them over here (maybe I'll have to have my own made), but the idea is great. Basically it's about trauma-informed yoga. If you want to be hands-on assisted, great, but some people might not want to either for whatever reason - maybe they just don't like being touched, or they need to know you well, or they have had past sexually traumatic experiences. Either way, it's like giving a friend a hug when you see them - wouldn't you rather know if they like that or not? When I eventually teach, I am definitely planning on having those.
I've been asked by colleagues at my new job if I'll set up a yoga class for them on the premises. Unfortunately, because I am not a teacher or training yet, I haven't got liability insurance. While our Head of Property is very keen, he says he can't sort me out a room without it. I think I can get some once I start training, because I have to go out and take classes in order to qualify, but I'm really unclear as to how far down the line that is! It's exciting, though. I just hope it happens before I have to finish my contract (I'm there for 18 months) - but I'm also super aware that right now, I couldn't 'lead' a class - I got very nervous at the thought of it, mainly from a point of safety, although definitely somewhat from a point of being able to teach other people poses.
I was meant to be visiting my friend with fibromyalgia to show her some alternative options for sun salutations etc, because she finds downward dog too much for her shoulders and wrists but enjoys practising vinyasa flow. Unfortunately she developed norovirus and so we've had to put it off to new year! But I can't wait to help. Hopefully it will be safe - just friend to friend, with everything I've learnt about being careful and staying safe, particularly around people with health conditions.