Why is it that whenever I go into a back bend pose - especially Camel - I nearly pass out? I find this especially during a Bikram (hot) class, but even when practising at home. Is it just a pose I should avoid or am I doing something wrong?
by 
mazonqueen
ANSWERS: 2
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You are not doing anything wrong. Backbends like Ustrasana opens the chest very large and eliminates toxins, and sometimes the feelings come out. Just review your alignment in the pose, inside rotation of the thighs, elongate the spine and stay in the pose, you will not pass out. When you feel this, it's because the pose is working for you. I always feel weird in deep backbends, like Dwi pada Viparita Dandasana supported with a chair, I start to shake, my chest is burning, I only want to come out of the pose. But after a few minutes, the dizziness disapears, I don't shake no more, and the pose starts to be "comfortable". It's only a question of time.
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I am an intensive care registered nurse. It sounds to me as though you are occluding your carotid arteries in some way. Your carotid arteries carry blood straight from your heart to your brain, if they are compressed too much your body will "knock itself out" in an attempt to releive that compression. Pay attention to the bend of your neck and the degree to which your shoulders are compressing your carotids. If you continue to feel like passing out then stop doing the poses, find a variation pose to do instead. It might be a good idea to look at a "text-book" anatomy picture that will show you exactly where your carotids are. You can also find them by palpating the pulse in your neck (frequently used by runners). Continually subjecting your body to poses that cause you to pass out, or nearly pass out will deprive your brain of oxygen - God knows that is not healthy living.
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