Anybody feel bad because they don't feel fantastic doing yoga?

2 replies

sniffle12 · 13/03/2017 08:51

I mean sometimes it feels good, and afterwards I'm always glad I did it.

But when I'm in a position that's really stretching me (for example any kind of standing or seated fold - I have tragic hamstrings) and the teacher is telling me I should now feel totally at ease, full body awareness, totally scrumptious, blah blah, I feel kind of like I've failed because I don't feel those things.

And yet surely if I didn't push myself at all and only did what felt completely comfortable and good at all times, I would never get any stronger or more flexible? Surely exercise is about sometimes feeling a bit uncomfortable in order to expand your comfort zone?

OP posts:

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 15/03/2017 18:43

Yoga shouldn't be forced. Its about alignment and having a flow of energy.

I'm "good" at yoga in that I work with my body and align it well. I'm horrendously inflexible though so it looks deeply unimpressive! I don't cheat on my alignment so that it looks more bendy. Being inflexible can make it harder, such as a forward bend where I'm handing inches away from the floor. Using props like blocks and bands can help ease that.

JustGettingStarted · 15/03/2017 08:41

Your teacher can't dictate how you should feel. There are poses that are challenging. There can be some discomfort.

You have to be sensible... There's nothing wrong with a slight burn during a stretch. But pushing into pain just to achieve the pose is a bad idea.

If a pose is simply impossible to do without sharp pain, then skip it. Go into something you can do that's in a similar general orientation. Modify it. Can't grab your big toe? It's fine to grab your ankle or even knee. And then you can focus on the breath, the lengthening, etc.

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