Wrist pain is one of the most common concerns I hear from yoga students, regardless of how long they’ve been on the mat. In fact, the longer they’ve practiced with incorrect form or with their attention displaced to their wrists, the more they might complain about how much they hurt.

Instead of asking, "What's wrong with my wrists?" a better question might be whether you’ve prepared them for what you want them to do. 

Consider this plus sign: +

Now imagine living your entire life moving only along the vertical line. Forward. Backward. Forward. Backward. That's how most of us move.

Yoga, especially in practices like vinyasa, reminds us that movement isn't just about going forward. Your body deserves to explore every direction.

Whether you’re new to yoga or not, it’s unlikely your wrists work harder anywhere else. Often, that feels confronting, especially if you spend a lot of your time at a computer or not giving your wrists any release. 

It might not feel like it, but your wrists aren’t as weak as you think. They’re just being asked to do something they almost never do. 

The goal isn't to make your wrists tougher, but rather to prepare them for the work they’re about to do.

We’re used to being good at things. Or at least getting good quickly. And when we don’t, we either push harder or check out completely. Yoga doesn’t really reward either of those approaches.

And that’s usually where the disconnect starts.