The topic is about practicing yoga when you have a stoma, focusing on how to position yourself comfortably, prevent leakage, and make the most out of your yoga class experience. Here are some helpful tips and insights:
1. Cushioning the Stoma Area:
- Consider using a medical pressure-relief donut or ring. These are generally more stable and safer than inflatable beach toys for supporting your abdomen during poses that require lying on your stomach.
2. Reducing Output During Class:
- Try fasting for 3 to 4 hours before your yoga session. This can help minimize the risk of leakage.
- Eating marshmallows before class has been found by some to slow down ileostomy output, though this can vary from person to person.
3. Added External Support:
- Wearing a stoma support belt can help keep your pouch flat and secure during movement. In the UK, options like Hiline and Supportex are available on prescription.
4. Class/Pose Selection:
- Be mindful of yoga or Pilates poses that heavily engage your core or pelvic-floor muscles, or those that require strong abdominal compression. These can put strain on your ostomy site and may increase the risk of a hernia.