Pain is a great Philosopher

Do you have a condition that makes your Yoga practice/ exercise difficult for you?  A knee injury? Stiff back?  In the words of B.K.S Iyengar : "This is your problem child. Learn how to deal with it and nurture it, as you would a child that had problems and needed extra love and attention."

We all have some condition or injury that makes our practice/exercise a challenge sometimes. We even use it as an excuse to avoid doing our practice. I was diagnosed with scoliosis (lateral curvature of the spine) at the age of 15 and learning to deal with my condition was more of a mental struggle, not so much physical. Whatever your condition, don't be discouraged or disappointed in yourself. Sometimes both body and mind yield to willpower, other times they rebel. Do your practice every day and go beyond your limitations - within reason!

To do this you must learn the difference between right pain and wrong pain. Right pain is constructive, exhilarating and involves challenge. Wrong pain is sharp, sudden and causes excruciating pain, this is the body telling us we have gone too far beyond our present abilities.

Not doing your practice doesn't lessen the pain and suffering of your condition, the pain is still there. You are just not aware of it, as if your body is in a coma. When you experience pain you come in close contact with the part thats painful so that you can adjust it and lessen the pain. Eventually you'll find some comfort even in discomfort.  Pain is a great philosopher, because it constantly think of how to get rid of itself.  Pain is a great teacher, which educates us how to live with it and eventually say goodbye...

Btw, Since I started doing Yoga religiously 4 months ago, my scoliosis went from 38 degree curvature to 27.
Create love and affection for your body, for what it CAN do for you. Love the most smallest pore of your skin, the smallest cell of your body. 

"Do your practice and all is coming"  
- Sri K. Pattabhi Jois