When you learn to waltz for the first time it is natural to start by taking each step deliberately and slowly. This is how our brains and bodies learn new things. This slow patterning builds neural pathways so that after awhile, the movement becomes second nature and the hesitant 1…2…3… step begins to flow and off we go to the Blue Danube.
Moving slowly and mindfully after total hip replacement reinforces healthy habits that ensure the safety and longevity of our new hips. Before total hip replacement the action of bending over to pick up a pencil off the floor or doing a standing forward fold (uttanasana) in yoga may have been a move you did without thinking about it. The movement was second nature. A total hip replacement introduces a whole new set of considerations for moving into a position like a forward fold and it is important to learn new movement patterns and create new neural pathways for the safety of the hips.
Moving slowly in your yoga practice gives you the opportunity to keenly watch and feel, and to make modifications as needed to respect your new hips. Yoga for Hip Replacement emphasizes slow and deliberate movement and reinforces healthy movement patterns so you can feel confident as you move back into your regular yoga classes or as you return to your everyday activities.
So, take your time, pay attention, calm your mind, and change your brain!
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Articles and Studies:
Neuroplasticity, Yoga, and Transformation – How Yoga Affects Your Brain
This is your Brain on Mindfulness
Slowing Down: The Power of Pausing
Hi! I have a question for you. I had a hip fracture repair with two nails into my left femur, not a total hip replacement. It’s very difficult to find specialized advice, so I’m wondering whether guidance for total hip replacement would work for me. My surgery was two months ago, and my surgeon said there are no restrictions. But I can’t yet climb stairs using my injured left side first, put weight on the clutch of my stick-shift car, or rise from seated to standing without pain. I’ve been doing physical therapy as an outpatient and at home, and I’m using a walking stick rather than a walker. My physical therapist says I have excellent range of motion. But I can’t maneuver into a lot of yoga poses and have been sticking to restorative. I want to slowly progress. Can your program help me? Thank you!
Hi Wendy, Thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are about 8 weeks out from your surgery? Typically it takes 6-12 weeks to heal from a surgery like THR so I would imagine it would be the same for your kind of surgery. Now’s the time to cultivate patiences. Restorative poses are great. They support your nervous system, promote healing and are gentle on your body. There is a free video on the site: “Yoga While Healing from Total Hip Replacement: A safe Post-op Asana Practice”. You could give it a try. I would also be very happy to chat with you if you like. I love talking hips and yoga! If you would like to chat please email me at info@yogaforhipreplacement.com. All the best for the best outcome! ~E
Thanks for this helpful information! It’s encouraging. I also just started doing some chair yoga—even as the hip heals and I’m walking more naturally spasms happen, and I still haven’t lost my fear of losing my balance due to sudden onset of pain. I’m going to try your class next time I do yoga, and I’ll reach out once I have a sense of how capable I feel. I really appreciate your time!