The number of people with a yoga injury serious enough to send them to their local emergency department has increased by almost 80 per cent in just seven years, according to a new study.

These statistics alarmed the lead researcher, Betul Sekendiz, a lecturer at Central Queensland University who analysed all yoga injuries presenting at emergency departments between 2009 and 2016 in Victoria.

Dr Sekendiz said the enormous increase in yoga injuries could not be explained by a rise in participation rates, which were only 5.5 per cent in the same period.

She did, however, have a theory.

Social media influencers

"I think people know the correct technique, but they might be pushing themselves too early, especially if you look into the influencers on social media," Dr Sekendiz said.

"There is a high focus on pictures to attract likes, so people may be pushing themselves without enough preparation or warm up to get into those poses just for the sake of a picture.

"I think on social media, the most frequent pose we see females performing is the headstand."

Yoga Australia suggests you find a qualified trainer to learn the correct technique. ( Supplied: Yoga Australia )

The result is then a serious injury — mainly knee injuries and shoulder dislocations, followed by head and neck injuries, and then injuries to the lower back and spine.

The study found 118 recorded cases of yoga injuries, and almost 10 per cent of those injuries were serious enough for the person to be admitted to hospital for further treatment.

Most of these occur among women aged between 20 and 39.

"I am not saying we should stop doing yoga, but we need to look into what's going wrong here," Dr Sekendiz said.

"Are we not doing enough preparatory work?

"Are we pushing ourselves too fast to be able to perform certain moves or stands in yoga?"

Dr Sekendiz said people needed to be careful when practising any type of fitness activity, especially yoga, and to ensure their surroundings were clear of furniture or equipment.

The preliminary study has not yet been published but it has been presented at a number of conferences.

Cautionary tale

Injuries can happen to even the most experienced yogi, as central Queensland yoga instructor Tracey Bienek discovered.

Ms Bienek has been an instructor for 20 years and has taught full time at her studio in Rockhampton for the past five years.

She sustained an injury by pushing herself too far in a pose she was normally capable of doing.

The damage was cemented the following night when Ms Bienek pushed herself even further.

After several trips to the physiotherapist she is back on the mend.

Yoga instructor Tracey Bienek knows how important it is to not push yourself too far — she sustained a shoulder injury. ( ABC Capricornia: Inga Stünzner )

"That's how easy it is," Ms Bienek said.

"I'm very upfront with my students about my injuries — what I know I can't do.

"I know I won't ever be able to do a handstand because I've got a bad shoulder, and we just have to accept that's where we are."

In yoga, Ms Bienek said it was about practising "to your edge".

Things have changed though since her injury.

"We're practising to 80 to 85 per cent and moving into the pose mindfully, with awareness of where we're at," she said.

Ms Bienek said it was vital to have proper instruction as everyone had different biological make-ups and it was important to practise in a way that was safe, comfortable and not forced.

Although there was a place for online yoga instructions and smartphone apps, people needed to be cautious, she said.

"The problem with this is you don't have anybody watching you, making sure that your joints are stacked, you're using the right muscles, you're not overcompensating for one part of the body by straining into another part of the body," Ms Bienek said.

If people were going to do this at home, they should have the opportunity to talk to a teacher about alignment, resistance and body weight in postures first.

Qualified teachers

Shyamala Benakovic, the CEO of Yoga Australia, which is the peak body in Australia and New Zealand, agreed.

"There is a practice that is suitable for anyone," Ms Benakovic said.

"And this will vary depending on who you are, how old you are, where you are in life, and what you want to use it for.

"This is where a qualified yoga teacher comes in."

Only do what your body tells you is okay for you to do, Yoga Australia advises. ( Supplied: Yoga Australia )

For some people, their physical structure meant head or shoulder stands should not be attempted, and this was also where injuries happened.

"The whole premise of yoga is to be able to understand your body and mind and work with that to bring awareness to the limits your body can take and then work from there," Ms Benakovic said.

"If you are following an online program, it's always best to check in with a teacher face to face."

Yoga Australia has developed a set of minimum standards for teachers, but globally yoga teaching remains an unregulated environment.

As for social media influencers and their impact on yoga, Ms Benakovic warned that they should think before they post, just as they have a responsibility to do at Yoga Australia.

"When we look at our social media and our publications, we are very, very clear on the images we use," she said.

"Yoga is not about posture — that's a real misconception.

"It's understanding the practice and the science behind those practices — which is what we try and educate people and try to communicate the real message as what true yoga is."

Editor's Note 10/4/18: This story has been updated after further information clarified that the study in total found 118 recorded cases of yoga injuries over seven years, not 66 over five years.