Yoga Builds Bones by Jan Madden

Jan Maddern. Yoga Builds Bones was published by Element, 2000.

The books offers "easy gentle stretches that prevent Osteoporosis" and a bonus section, "stretches for Menopause Symptom Relief". The author says that no props or special equipment is needed for her program.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

  • Chapter One: Beyond Calcium
  • Chapter Two: Getting Started
  • Chapter Three: Routine One - Upper Body
  • Chapter Four: Lower Body
  • Chapter Five: The Ovaries
  • Chapter Six: The Aderenals
  • Chapter Seven: Parathyroids, Pineal and Pituitary Glands
  • Chapter Eight: Special Yoga Techniques for Menopausal Symptom Relief

There have been a number of studies that show yoga can be useful for persons with bone loss, even those with kyphosis of the spine (back hump) BUT studies have also shows that there are yoga poses that should not be done by those with kyphosis.

See: Kyphosis and yoga postures

Still I have concerns about using this book if you already have bone loss.  Madden's book,  like many books that emphasize stretching, includes a number of postures that should not be done by persons with Osteopenia or Osteoporosis of the spine.

Never, ever put pressure on your veterbrae. Do not bend from the waist or roll your spine eg. fron neck towards your navel.  These movements can cause 'crush' fractures - where the edge of a vertebra crumbles because of the pressure exerted by the vertebrae above it.

Crush fractures are painful and they lead to the condition called Kyphosis or Dowagers hump. 

Yoga Builds Bones has been a popular book - so popular that in 2002 Jan Madden expanded her work. With the help of Glenda Wolchuk and Ihab Nayalshe she published an updated version of the original book.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931412057/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1931412057&linkCode=as2&tag=ihaveseve00-20&linkId=Y2UDMET52P325RZ2">Yoga Builds Bones: Easy, Gentle Stretches That Prevent Osteoporosis</a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ihaveseve00-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1931412057" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

I note that both these books are about preventing Osteoporosis , not treating or dealing with it once you have the condition.

Again, I note that many exercises/postures included in the book are worth while and can be done , even by persons with bone loss.

Just avoid those noted above or covered on the page: Osteoporosis Exercise Warning

I do not mean to harp but more than one person with Osteoporosis has suffered a hairline fracture or crush to a vertebra when doing certain yoga poses.  Please, please read the Exercise Warning