Hi Siobhain
I can understand that one would be worried. I actually have a friend that has sustained some nerve damage (in his eye) from doing an inversion for too long. He won’t do headstands any more. (Yes I know, that is not a shoulder stand but I wanted to give you the example.) I know I can in no way comment on whether he had good technique or not as I was not there and it was not at my studio. And I only have limited knowledge of what is happening for you.
Have you checked that your student has enough pliable support under her shoulders so that the pressure through her neck (and shoulders) is minimized? A thick mat, towel, blankets? Maybe you can look at what she is using. Can you give her a pose of less intensity? And of course the obvious thing is to let your student opt out and not do the pose at all. If she is worried perhaps at some level there is reason to be. Every body is different. 😉
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
