Yoga Positions

Yoga A No No

by J.B. - 2011-02-05 04:02:12

If the Dr didn't qualify his "no" I say find some other way to exercise and do whatever else it is yoga does for you. Based on what I have seen, yoga involves some pretty serious body, muscle movement and stretching. Considering that the pacemaker leads are under or on top of the pectoral muscle on their way to the blood vessel that directs them t othe heart, I have to say yoga is a no-no for people with pacemakers.

uhmmm

by pacergirl - 2011-02-05 07:02:28

I do yoga and I am on my 2nd pacemaker. I would suggest that you consider speaking to another dr. about your exercise program.

I try to limit the use of my right arm when in certain poses. If I get dizzy or feel any pain at all I simply back off the pose. When the class is in a pose that I know I cannot do I go into "mountain" pose. Speak to the instructor, speak to your dr. as well. Then let me know what they tell you. There are modified poses and your instructor will be able to help you there. I would not recommend a website to gather information. You should speak to a qualified instructor and your doctor.

Namaste,
Pacergirl

Typical Doc Response

by ElectricFrank - 2011-02-05 09:02:40

I suggest you get another opinion, but don't mention the word Yoga. Simply show the doc the position you place your arm in during the exercise. What you are doing with the rest of your body has nothing to do with it.

Anytime you mention what is considered a "New Age" practice you will get anything from a smirk to outrage.

A couple of years ago I decided that at my age I should be taking B12 with either a patch or injection. My doc ridiculed the idea and even tried to tell me of the serious side effects I could have. A year later when I went if for a general checkup he suggested that I should have a B12 shot, and I also was notified by my insurance that they had added an annual B12 shot for anyone over 65. It didn't seem to bother the doc at all about his previous response.

frank

Ignore The Doctor

by J.B. - 2011-02-05 10:02:39

That's right, I'd pay no attention to what that doctor said as I'm sure he doesn't know what he is talking about. Especially, if he is the one that implanted those leads and has seen you have trouble with them before. After all he just knows how the leads are situated and how well they may withstand the movements you will make doing yoga.

Or we about the fact that sometimes we have to give up things we enjoy due to our current circumstances.

Ignore Doctor?

by ElectricFrank - 2011-02-06 01:02:24

I need to clear that one up. If the doctor is a knowledgeable professional who understands the reason for a particular instruction, then he/she should be able to give an understandable explanation. Simply acting as if the patient is crazy and ordering them to stop is not a reasonable way to deal with it.

I am very willing to give a doctor respect and listen to his suggestions as long as he makes sense. I would want to know how the leads are routed and exactly what type of motion would cause the pectoral muscles to put stress on them. My guess is that Yoga isn't the only activity that qualifies.

There may be a clue this whole thing in the answer I received from my cardiologist after my initial implant when I asked him about some of my activities. He suggested that I go a bit easy for a few weeks, but that he always secured the pacemaker in the pocket and left plenty of slack in the leads. There was no reason I couldn't get back to my usual (and unusual) activities. It may be right to say that "he is the one that implanted those leads" and I would add that knowing this he is aware they weren't implanted in a way that protects them.

frank

I haven't given up anything that I did before.

by pacergirl - 2011-02-06 08:02:49

did before, It was recommended that I "Give Up" 2 things since having my Dual Pacemaker implanted in 2005. :)

1.) Tuning up my car and working under the hood with the engine running. (Not a problem, I always take it to the shop)

2.) Arc Wielding. (i don't look good in the hood) so this isn't a problem.

Now, these are my cardiologist instructions to me when I got my 1st pacemaker. "After a few weeks the leads are firmly attached to your heart" my reply; What can't I do now that I have a pacemaker? his reply "Anything you did before" Just use your head. If it hurts.. STOP doing it. That didn't mean that I couldn't try again as I became stronger, it meant to not overdo it when healing.

Each person heals differently, each person has different levels of strength, flexibility, and different attitudes. Do things as they are most comfortable for you. Electric Frank says it well...
"I suggest you get another opinion, but don't mention the word Yoga. Simply show the doc the position you place your arm in during the exercise. "

Best of luck to you,
PG

Yoga

by tgbarb - 2011-02-07 09:02:42

I have done yoga for many years off and on with no issues whatsoever. It has not interferred with any type exercise I've done.

Thanks

by dcapers - 2011-02-08 05:02:11

Thank you all for your responses. Let me add that I can't do the hard core, heat inducing yoga that is so popular. My heart defect just won't tolerate it. I do the basic yoga to stretch the muscles and keep me centered. The classes in my area move much too quickly for me to be able to participate which is why I was looking for a way to practice on my own, without using that arm.
At 48 yrs old I still see a pediatric cardiologist for the defect and the EP for for the ICD which he placed "as a precaution". The kid doc tells me to do whatever I feel like doing, including the yoga which he feels is good for me. The EP won't let me do anything. I'm just trying to find a happy medium without ignoring either one of them.
Thanks again for your help!

Yoga and the poses

by gbarger - 2013-05-23 01:05:04

Hi,
I just got my pacemaker in last week, and I'm a yoga teacher. I scoured the internet trying to find another yoga teacher who also had a pacemaker put in, and found one. She is also a yoga teacher who works with the heart yoga program that Dr. Dean Ornish does in reducing heart disease.

So here is what I learned:

This other teacher had a deeply implanted pm, under the muscle, as she was young when she had her pm/icd installed. After a vigorous yoga practice, she says that she probably pulled out both of her leads. With the second pacemaker/icd lead installation she is more mindful about her practice.

Instead of Chataranga when coming out of plank pose, one shifts back into extended childs pose. Then the next pose is either easy cobra/or sphinx (not straight arm cobra, nor updog). Or alternatively move into cow pose instead of the cobra/sphinx, then into downdog.

Those of you familar with sun salutations in yoga, will recognize these pose names. I think later on, I'll do a blog post on my yoga site with photos/illustrations, on how one can do a safer sun salutation, when one has pm/icd surgeries.

Also bringing the arm back behind the mid-line is a no-no, example lying on your stomach, doing bow pose with the hands grabbing the feet. Instead, do bow pose with two straps.

More later, if y'all think this is information that you think is useful.

Of course, you really have to listen to your body, and think about where the leads are coming out of, and try to lessen repetitive actions, that might pinch this area.

Big learning process.

Gaileee

Your Blog??

by Fatty - 2016-08-25 15:34:15

Hello, I just found your comment and I am excited to have found that you are a yoga teacher. I hope you are still active on this site because I could use your guidance.  I am 8 weeks from having my PM implanted and I would like to return to my yoga practice.  I would love to read your blog and continue with your thoughts on accomadations for the poses.   Please send me your site or please let me know any information that you may have discovered.  Thank you so much.

Facebook group for Pacemakers/ICD & Yoga

by gbarger - 2017-02-26 14:45:45

I've created a support group on Facebook with regards to ICD/Pacemakers and the practice of yoga. 

Send a request to join.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/691963750892696/

Gail Pickens-Barger

Registered Yoga Teacher