Yoga activity results in injuries at 2007 Enrichment Retreat

Source: Iva Fallin

Several Yoga participants at the 2007 Relief Society Enrichment Retreat received injuries from falling down the hill on which the exercise routine was conducted. Those injured were not immediately available for comment, but Brittany W., chair of the enrichment committee, described the events:

“Everything was fine up until the transition between Warrior I and Warrior II. Several of the girls toppled over as they reached to grab their ankles and get into the position. It was like dominos-- one girl fell into another and pretty soon we were all falling down the hill. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Due to limited space on retreat property, Yoga participants were forced to conduct their routine on an incline. Tami Segal, a certified instructor at the Washington, D.C. based Yoga studio Vida Fitness, warned that Yoga and similar balance-based exercises should never be conducted under such conditions. “Working on a surface that is not flat is extremely dangerous. Theses girls were luck to avoid serious spinal injuries.”

The triage unit set up at the base of the hill where the tragedy occurred quickly assessed injuries and sent those in serious condition to local area hospitals. Luckily, a bandage-making seminar conducted earlier in the day supplied ample material to treat those with flesh wounds.