Below is a comprehensive list of conditions under which the practice of yoga may be contraindicated or require special medical consultation. If you have—or suspect you may have—any of the following conditions, it is advised that you consult a qualified healthcare professional before participating in a yoga class. By registering, you confirm that none of the conditions below apply to you.
• Acute infectious diseases, including acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) with elevated body temperature, as well as purulent or necrotic processes.
• Any acute condition or exacerbation of chronic illnesses.
• Severe physical debilitation (asthenia) following physical trauma, surgery, or recent serious illness.
• Postoperative period of any kind.
• Unresolved or unstable injuries.
• Organic (including symptomatic) mental disorders.
• Mental disorders and behavioral disturbances related to the use of psychoactive substances.
• Schizophrenia, schizotypal disorders, and delusional disorders.
• Mood (affective) disorders.
• Personality and behavioral disorders in adulthood.
• Intellectual disability (developmental delay).
• Inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).
• Systemic atrophies primarily affecting the CNS (e.g., certain degenerative conditions).
• Extrapyramidal and other movement disorders.
• Other degenerative diseases of the nervous system according to ICD-10 (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, localized brain atrophy).
• Demyelinating diseases of the CNS.
• Epilepsy.
• Transitory ischemic attacks (variable transient cerebral ischemic episodes).
• Syndromes of the anterior, middle, or posterior cerebral arteries.
• Polyneuropathies and other lesions of the peripheral nervous system.
• Diseases of the neuromuscular junction and muscles (e.g., myasthenia, myopathies, muscular dystrophy).
• Cerebral palsy and other paralytic syndromes.
• Other nervous system disorders (e.g., hydrocephalus, multisystem degeneration, etc.).
• Acute or subacute inflammatory conditions and ocular injuries.
• Lens dislocation.
• Vascular occlusions of the retina.
• Glaucoma with uncontrolled intraocular pressure.
• Degenerative myopia.
• Risk of retinal detachment or history of retinal detachment surgery.
• Hearing loss of vascular origin (labyrinthine ischemia or hemorrhage), inflammation of the eustachian tube.
• Postoperative period involving the eustachian tube (e.g., otosclerosis). Inverted (upside-down) poses are contraindicated in such cases.
• Rheumatic heart disease with any degree of active inflammation, accompanied by moderate to severe (Grade 2–3) valvular lesions.
• Inactive rheumatic heart disease with Grade 1 valvular lesions, on bicillin prophylaxis with rheumatologist consultation, is not a contraindication.
• Post-myocardial cardiosclerosis with cavity dilation (enlargement of heart chambers).
• Chronic rheumatic pericarditis.
• Arterial hypertension (Grades 2–3) with uncontrolled blood pressure.
• Hypertension (Grades 1–2) with good blood pressure control and cardiologist supervision is not a contraindication.
• Angina (starting from Functional Class 3); Angina Class 2 with hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis (per coronary angiography).
• Angina Class 1–2 without hemodynamically significant lesions is not a contraindication.
• Previous myocardial infarction (post-infarction cardiosclerosis).
• Ischemic heart disease (IHD) with heart failure Class 2A or higher.
• Aneurysms of the aorta, coronary artery, or pulmonary artery.
• Pulmonary hypertension with a pressure gradient > 40 mmHg (either as a primary condition or secondary to cardiovascular disease).
• Pulmonary insufficiency Stages 2–3.
• Heart failure (HF) Class IIa or higher (per Strazhesko-Vasilenko), NYHA Functional Class II.
• Arteriovenous fistula of the pulmonary vessels.
• Pericarditis.
• Endocarditis.
• Cardiomyopathy (dilated, obstructive, hypertrophic, or due to metabolic disorders).
• Endomyocardial (eosinophilic) disease.
• Endocardial fibroelastosis.
• Atrioventricular (AV) block of 2nd or 3rd degree.
• Three-bundle branch block.
• Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome without arrhythmias is not a contraindication.
• Recurrent ventricular arrhythmia.
• Paroxysmal arrhythmias (supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia).
• Sick sinus syndrome (SSS).
• Heart failure.
• Acquired septal defect in the heart.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries.
• Dissection of cerebral arteries.
• Cerebral atherosclerosis.
• Progressive vascular leukoencephalopathy.
• Hypertensive encephalopathy.
• Moyamoya disease.
• Non-purulent thrombosis of the intracranial venous system.
• Cerebral arteritis not classified elsewhere.
• Obliterating thrombangitis (Buerger’s disease).
• Muscular and connective tissue dysplasia of arteries.
• Budd-Chiari syndrome.
• Postphlebitic syndrome Grade 3.
• Compression of veins (superior vena cava syndrome).
• Venous insufficiency Grades 2–3.
• Erythrocytopenia (significant red blood cell deficiency).
• Leukopenia (significant white blood cell deficiency).
• Thrombocytopenic purpura.
• Hemophilia.
• Diabetes mellitus with neuropathy or retinopathy.
• Diabetes mellitus with nephropathy (chronic kidney disease stages 2–3, microalbuminuria > 300 mg/day).
• Crohn’s disease.
• Rectal prolapse.
• Hemorrhoids in the acute phase, especially with bleeding.
• Hepatic insufficiency in the decompensated stage (Grades 2–3).
• Cirrhosis of the liver.
• Aortic arch syndrome (Takayasu arteritis) with complications.
• Spinal canal stenosis (relative or critical).
• Cervical intervertebral disc lesions with myelopathy.
• Myositis ossificans (traumatic or progressive).
• Palmar fascial fibromatosis (Dupuytren’s contracture).
• Osteoporosis with pathological fractures.
• Algoneurodystrophy (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome).
• Paget’s disease of bone (deforming osteitis).
• Chronic kidney diseases with chronic renal failure Grades 2–3.
• Renal osteodystrophy.
• Varicocele (enlarged veins of the spermatic cord).
• Prolapse or hernia of the ovary or fallopian tube.
• Paralysis of the vocal cords and larynx.
• Laryngeal stenosis.
• Pleurisy and other pleural conditions (e.g., pneumothorax, fibrothorax, hemothorax).
• Respiratory failure Stages 2–3.
• Malignant neoplasms of any origin.
Important Note: This list aims to provide general guidance. The final decision regarding fitness for yoga practice should be made in collaboration with an appropriate healthcare provider. If you have any pre-existing condition, or if you are unsure whether any of these conditions might apply to you, please consult your physician or another qualified medical professional before beginning or continuing yoga.
