Telling Your Doctor About Your Yoga or Movement Practice

Yoga, tai chi, qigong and Pilates are exercise, so many people never think to mention them to a doctor. It is still worth doing. Your clinician knows your history, your medicines and your risks, and the person teaching you does not. This page explains why to bring it up, what to say and what to ask.

Why tell your doctor

NCCIH says that when patients tell their providers about their use of complementary health practices, they can better stay in control and more effectively manage their health.[1] It also notes that some complementary approaches can have an effect on conventional medicine, so your provider needs to know.[1] For exercise, one main reason is that your clinician can tell you whether your conditions call for changes. NCCIH lists conditions that may call for changes in yoga, such as knee or hip injuries, lumbar spine disease, severe high blood pressure, balance issues and glaucoma.[2] It also says pregnant people, older adults and people with health conditions should talk with their health care providers and the yoga instructor about their needs.[2]

Many people do not mention it

In a survey of 1,067 patients at one academic center's integrative medicine clinic, 80.1% had discussed their complementary health use with their physician and 19.9% had not.[3] Among those who had not, the most common main reason, given by 58%, was that the physician did not ask.[3] This was a clinic that already offers complementary approaches, and the survey was about complementary and integrative health in general, not yoga alone, so the numbers may not match what happens in an ordinary office. The practical lesson from NCCIH is to raise it yourself: don't wait to be asked, be proactive, and start the conversation.[1]

What to bring

Write a short note before the visit. NCCIH suggests making a list in advance and taking it with you.[1] For movement, helpful items are:

• Which practice you do (yoga style, tai chi, qigong, Pilates), how often and for how long.
• Whether the room is heated, and how strenuous the class is.
• Any pain, dizziness, numbness or other symptoms during or after practice.
• Any new teacher, retreat or travel plans. See Yoga Retreats: What to Expect.
• Your medicines and supplements, as you would for any visit.
• Questions about particular poses or movements, if you know which ones worry you. Our Yoga Poses to Avoid or Modify for Common Conditions page may help you name them.

Questions to ask

NCCIH advises that if you are considering a new complementary health practice you should ask questions.[1] Examples for movement:

NCCIH also says not to use yoga to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.[2]

Telling your teacher too

NCCIH says to talk with the instructor, as well as your provider, about your individual needs.[2] Tell the teacher about relevant injuries, surgeries and pregnancy before class, and say if you want no hands-on adjustments. See Hands-On Adjustments, Consent and Touch.

If you feel you cannot say it

If you are unsure how your clinician will react, we found no source that predicts it, and clinicians differ. If the first reply is unhelpful, you can ask a different member of your care team, such as a nurse, a physical therapist or a pharmacist. For a broader guide, see Coordinating Complementary and Medical Care and Talking With a Health Professional.

Urgent care

In the US, call 911 for an emergency. A short checklist of cautions is in Yoga and Movement Safety Quick Reference.