Temporary memory loss after yoga

[Crumpled]

I have recently started an Iyengar yoga class, which was a shock to the system, but it is working, I have improved in only two classes after three years of illness.

One thing I have noticed, is right after a class, like within the first ten minutes of finishing the class, I seem to have lost some memory, like I couldn't remember the combination to my hold all, a simple three figure combination I use every day, Also I just cannot remember what I was going to do after the class. Is this normal, any ideas ?

[Hubert]

I'd go and see a physician. Yoga practice should not have effects similar to alcohol intoxication.

[yogabond]

Not normal. Go see a doctor as soon as possible.

I do sometimes get dizzy spells during yoga. I'm rather sure it is just from blood rushing in and out of my head.

[xela]

Originally Posted by yogabond

Not normal. Go see a doctor as soon as possible.

I do sometimes get dizzy spells during yoga. I'm rather sure it is just from blood rushing in and out of my head.

Does it usually happen after forwards folds?

[InnerAthlete]

Crumpled,

could you kindly share some information about you and your practice beyond the sliver you've posted? It makes it very difficult to respond to a therapeutically oriented question when we do not know if you are a feeble 90 year old man or a supple 20-something. Likewise I've no idea about your current health, meds, lifestyle et al.

So more info about you and more about the practice - though I am quite familiar with the Iyengar practice; are you having a significant savasana to end each practice?

[Crumpled]

Originally Posted by InnerAthlete

Crumpled,

could you kindly share some information about you and your practice beyond the sliver you've posted? It makes it very difficult to respond to a therapeutically oriented question when we do not know if you are a feeble 90 year old man or a supple 20-something. Likewise I've no idea about your current health, meds, lifestyle et al.

So more info about you and more about the practice - though I am quite familiar with the Iyengar practice; are you having a significant savasana to end each practice?

Yes, fair point, perhaps I should say more, but it was just a general question, as I was unfamiliar with real yoga practice.

I am 40 years old, and health wise, not the best as I am coming out of three years worth of illness due to PTSD and depression. I am on medication, SSRI,s, which I am hoping to tail off come the new year.I was hoping the yoga might help me get off the meds, something which I do believe might well be effective.

I am not overweight, but what doctors would call underweight, have been so for the past twenty years. The reason for the depression was due to head injuries sustained in an assault which has left one eye photosensitive, (can't handle bright light). Diet, well, I only eat when I am hungry, and then it is soya, linseed, beans, rice, fish, pasta, no red meat at all, unless I can get hold of organic.

Exercise besides the yoga, plenty of walking in hilly terrain, pilates and Middle Eastern dance practice.

What it is when I finish a yoga session, we do the savasana for about ten minutes, something I am finding beneficial, but struggle to stay awake, and notice the light in the room which is evening light changes colour, switching between violet and green. On leaving the room, I am bumbling about yes, like I have just woken up and I cannot remember anything, speech is slury too.

The instructor believes it is due to the depth of relaxation I managed to achieve, like waking up in the morning, the mind not quite with it for a few minutes.

The yoga session included, tadasana,utthita trikosana,uttita parsvakonasana,virabhadrasana,parsvottanasana,utta nasana,virasana, of which being new to all this, I struggled with the first session, but come the next session, there was a marked improvement which caused the instructor to mention that improvement, though he was kind of miffed when I mentioned home pilates. My answer to that, was that I will not attempt Iyengar method at home until I am au fait with how to do it safely. I have had a slipped disc twice in the same place, I wish not to have a third injury.

[InnerAthlete]

Ahhhh thank you. That's so refreshing.
Nature of question determines nature of answer

With a ptsd diagnosis and meds I'm a bit surprised you can close your eyes in Savasana without concern. You can try keeping them open and see if a) that prohibits sleeping and b) mitigates your wooziness.

There is simply no way to gauge exactly how a nervous system disorder AND medications for same might intermingle with an asana practice. Since you are doing standing poses I'd expect a more grounded experience for you after class though that varies.

I would not worry too much about this post-class feelings. Nor would I spend too much time initially trying to figure out what it is. Noticing it, for now, is enough. But do consider NOT rushing out into the "real" world rapidly. Take your time and spend a few minutes after class just being still. Your asana practice may be charging up pitta nature, one of the three auyurvedic constitutions or doshas.

That's Nicole's realm and perhaps she'll weigh in and offer something. You may consider a diet that balances Vata dosha. Here's one you can scan though I don't favor the internet over a skilled ayuveda consultant.

[Pandara]

If you read the advisory leaflet that comes with your medicine, you will somewhere most probably read that memory loss is a side-effect of some of the medicines you take. Look for the culprit there.

[justwannabe]

if by chance you one day figure out how it is that your forgetting, and the yoga postures do have something to do with it, please let me know which postures they are cause there is a lot I would like to erase from my memory
If normally you need to know that three digit code shortly after the class, then just write it down somewhere. seems like the rest of the gang covered the other bases, my initial thought is maybe you are in a deep state of relaxation or you have trigured a part of the brain with the asanas chosen. Not sure what doctors could tell you cause if they knew what they think they know then medications would not have side effects?
just thoughts
Neil