A hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure in which the uterus, or a part of it, is removed from your body. Recovering from this operation can take around 5 to 8 weeks and during this time, it is best to avoid any strenuous activity or exercise, including yoga. About 6 weeks after the surgery, you can start your workout sessions by practicing certain yoga poses, but only if your doctor gives you the go-ahead to do so.
Of course, you cannot practice all the poses that you could, before you had the surgery. Given below are the yoga poses and exercises, which are safe to practice around 45 days after a hysterectomy, once you get your doctor's approval:
- Pranayama (Yogic Breathing Technique)
- Savasana (The Corpse Pose), in order to relax and soothe your organs
- Virasana (The Hero Pose) to stretch the front of your thighs
- Supta Virasana (The Reclining Hero Pose), while using a bolster
- Viparita Karani (The Legs Up-The-Wall Pose) to open your upper body
- Virabhadrasana I (The Warrior Pose I) for stretching your legs
- Urdhava Hastasana (The Upward Hand Pose)
The idea is for you to move your hands and legs around, leaving out the torso movements for the time being. After the incision heals completely, you can gradually move on to poses that allow the front part of your body to stretch. These yoga poses include:
- Marjaryasana (The Cat Pose)
- Bhujangasana (The Cobra Pose)
- Ardha Matsyendrasana (The Half Lord Of The Fishes Pose)
Avoid twists and bends that put any pressure on your abdominal area. Don't be surprised if you cannot perform the above poses with the same ease, energy and flexibility as before the surgery. Your body has just been through a lot and it will take you a while to recover completely. Several physical therapists advise women to practice restorative yoga poses, after a hysterectomy. This means that you can use props such as bolsters, blankets, cushions, pillows, towels, chairs, sandbags, straps and blocks, to perform each yoga asana with ease.
In addition to yoga, you may also benefit from other gentle exercises like walking and Pilates. Avoid running, jogging, cycling and lifting weights during this time. Make sure that you do not experience any kind of discomfort during or after your workout sessions. Any kind of pain or discomfort is an indication that your body isn't ready for the activities you have been engaging in and therefore, you need to discontinue those exercises immediately.
answered by A S