Yoga and Muscle Twitching

[amy1021]

I've searched through the past posts to see if there was anything about yoga, but could not find much in my search. I'm hoping you guys can help me out. I started doing yoga a year ago and discovered that I really enjoy it. Before that, I had not been an active person, so yoga really helped and I started noticing a big difference in the way I felt. However, lately I've been having a lot of back, neck, head and shoulder issues and I'm worried that the yoga has made/is going to make it worse. Can anyone tell me which yoga positions are best if you have chiari?

Secondly, I've noticed my muscles have began twitching much more lately. In fact, it went from not being an issue to it being a rather big annoyance. This past week, everytime I lay down, my arms and legs will jerk and twitch like crazy. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I be worried? Thanks in advance.

[mtking]

Hi.  You may be experiencing something spiritual that is common with Yoga participants.  As crazy as you may think this sounds it sounds to me as if you have a kundalini spirit wrapping around your spine. Each yoga position is giving praise to different Hindu gods.  Yoga is a Hindu religious practice.  Many Christians that practice yoga also get this problem with twitching muscles, perhaps tics, strange pains in the body.  You can simply call out to Jesus when those start happening and He will deliver you from this if you call out to him.  Help me Jesus would be good to say to Jesus.  

Also, this same thing is happening at Bethel Redding School of Spiritual Ministry because they invite that spirit in.  You can see all kinds of crazy twitching and ticks in their students and at Jesus Culture conferences.  Stay away from those people as they will impart that spirit upon you even if they don't realize that they are doing it.

[selmaS]

  Be mindful of riding a bike as well ...the position of many put a lot of strain on the neck and shoulders...I recall when 10 speeds came out, I did not understand y neone would want to sit like that and did not want one.....

A recumbent bike at a gym may be better in the long run....

Try the Feldenkrais method for better posture and stretching....my NL and even my DD suggested it (she's a dance teacher)

[amy1021]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Selma - I have not had surgery yet. I had not had a problem with my chiari until this past year. My symptoms have been getting progressively worse, and I've been feeling progressively worse...which, come to think of it, could be a result of the yoga (?). I have an appointment with my neuro back home in Canada a few weeks from now...not sure if he'll suggest surgery or not.

I think what you are all saying is very reasonable. When it comes to doing yoga, if it feels okay it's probably okay, but don't push it. I haven't done yoga in a few weeks now due to my busy schedule, but I still find my symptoms to be bad. I think maybe I should stick to lighter activity for awhile - like walking or biking - until I feel okay again. And when I start again, I'll be more careful not to move my head and neck so much.

Thanks for all your advice. You've all be really helpful. Meanwhile, as Viva001 has asked, if you have any yoga poses that are good, please share!

[Viva001]

I was going to suggest something like that too, but it might be hard to find.  I think a good rule of thumb--maybe--might be, if pregnant women shouldn't do a posture, then neither should a Chiarian.  We're probably more delicate than that.

Can you share any poses with us?

[czpdx]

If you like yoga but are having issues with some of the positions, maybe you could consider 1:1 yoga therapy. It's like PT, but yoga-focused. I do this weekly and love it! It's targeted just to me -- my yoga therapist works with me to find positions that work with Chiari and post-surgical issues. Also, there is a body work/massage component. I was able to get this covered under the exercise therapy portion of my chiropractic benefit.
Claire

[Viva001]

I have done yoga inconsistently my whole adult life, & I can say that I do not like the way it is taught recently.  People are getting injured from being pushed (this from PTs).  Yoga shouldn't be power, hot, competitive, or extreme.  I would stay away from the young instructors, some of whom also teach aerobics..

[lynnbrook177]

Hi,  I have Chiari but have not had surgery.  I haven't suffered many symptoms and am now 50.

Earlier this year, I was doing Yoga for the first time also.  I have been back and forth to the gym all my life, but usually did more aerobic exercise.  Yoga was great for me as well, and like you, I began feeling the results.  Most of the time, I was fine doing classes, but the last few times I did some more difficult classes with a very fit, young instructor, and I came home exhausted and with brain fog. It was such a weird feeling, something that I had never experienced before! I had recently began feeling this weakness between my shoulderblades, and when I pushed it or overexerted those muscles, I would feel the extreme exhaustion afterwards.  I also got more muscle twitching during that time, not sure to this day, if it was the yoga or the Clonazapam I was on for a coulple months, but since I stopped the yoga and Clonazapam, the muscle twitching has gone. Like I said, most of the time I was fine doing the classes.  My advice would be to not push it at all!  If something feels uncomfortable for you, listen to your body! Watch the positions where you have to hold your arms out in front of you, as you are using your shoulder muscles for those, also be careful of any neck strengthening positions -- you will know when enough is enough!

I am tempted to go back and try it again, as I believe that a little exercise is better than no exercise at all!  I also have the neck and shoulder stiffness so I will have to watch it just as you will, and I definitely don't want to come home feeling like a zombi again!!  Sadly, no doctor has been able to explain these experiences.  My neuro believes that I could have the beginning symptoms of Fybromyalgia (I was extremely stressed with the diagnosis of Chiari two years ago) and I have read that aerobic exercise is the best for that condition. You might want to try an aerobic class; every type of class will incorporate some strengthening and stretching.

All the best to you, please keep me posted!  I would appreciate any new info that you learn about this, and I will do the same :)

[selmaS]

  Hi...I am sorry I  do not recall ur Chiari history, have u had surgery?

When u have symptomatic chiari some of the yoga positions can trigger other symptoms...and could be the reason u r having the twitching....I used to have a lot of twitching b4 I had surgery....not so much now...only near my eyes when I am over tired.......

Restless leg syndrome is related to Chiari and sleep apnea...have u been tested for it?

Also, it could be some of the positions u r doing, certain ones the way u bend ur neck can also be the issue....I do not do yoga as I always had issues when ever I tried some of the positions.