The benefits of practising yoga are all but universally accepted it increases strength and flexibility, centres breathing, and reduces stress. But, like any form of exercise, it does come with certain risks.

Although injuries caused by yoga are not extremely common, they most often occur when a person is not listening to their body, said Simon Cooke, a physiotherapist at Kinsmen Sports Centre Physical Therapy Clinic.

The No. 1 injury well see is the too much too soon type of injury, where people are overly enthusiastic or overestimate what their body can tolerate and dive in with a bit too much vigour, he said.

Muscle strains or tears in the hamstrings are the biggest issue. If a muscle does become strained, Cooke said to lay off it for two to four weeks, and stick to light strengthening exercises and flexibility work.

Youre trying to gain the strength back in the injured tissue and make it as strong as it can be before you start to stretch it and pull it apart again, he said.

Injuries can also take place in the shoulders, knees and back, added Angela Zawada, owner of Moksha Yoga in Glenora.

In vinyasa yoga which connects a series of movements using breath there is a low pushup that causes problems for people who dip their shoulders too much, she said.

Students can also get hurt by over extending themselves performing back bends or failing to align their legs during standing poses.

Here are a few tips Zawada shared for being a safe yogi.

Take it slow: If youre newer to the practice, definitely take it slower. Try to put the Type A personality away and just drop the ego, said Zawada.

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Stay safe while practising yoga