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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be annoyed with these yoga people

191 replies

ApocalypseNowt · 19/02/2017 09:21

Ok, so the other day I went to a beginner's yoga class.

It was at this lovely yoga centre in a converted church....beautiful place and I'd heard lots of good things about it.

Anyway the yoga man teaching the class is up on the stage bit doing his thing and we all start copying him. Well, at a conservative estimate I'd say that more than three quarters of the class were sodding yoga gurus! They were flawless, bendy, did all the 'hard' versions of the poses without breaking a sweat!

These people could have folded themselves into an overhead locker had they a mind to.

The class had a couple of helpers that kept coming over to people me to help adjust poses, etc. Majority of people needed no help whatsoever. They could have run the class to be honest.

AIBU to expect there to be mainly beginners at a BEGINNERS yoga class?

I appreciate there will be some variance between people who have never done it before and people who are progressing but really, most of the ones here could and should feck off to intermediate or advanced hero superstar level.

It just doesn't seem very yoga-minded to keep to a beginners class when you're clearly way past that level.

Rant over...!

OP posts:

sniffle12 · 20/02/2017 18:51

I definitely second Yoga with Adriene, she makes it all about feeling great ('yummy' as she puts it!) and not just bending as far as you can. And she also does a touch of mindfulness and her voice is so relaxing it's a great mental workout too

Original poster

ApocalypseNowt · 20/02/2017 19:36

So many people have recommended Adriene! I'll definitely look her up.

blowmybarnacles I know! I will never be like that. The meerkat is my spirit animal in my dreams, it's really a hippo.

OP posts:

user1484578224 · 20/02/2017 19:37

mini hijack......can anybody recommend good yoga holidays/ don't think i could keep quiet though so maybe not a retreat

deste · 20/02/2017 19:38

They may be bendy but they also might be doing it all wrong. A few weeks down the line you will realise that you might be able to do something they can't and vice versa. Listen carefully to the instructions especially about positioning of the feet, legs arms and head and you will be fine. Most importantly, if they are doing it properly they won't have time to look at you.

Original poster

ApocalypseNowt · 20/02/2017 19:38

Kitty Please do! If you don't live near me you'll have to move. You won't mind this as you sound like a kind, wafty yoga type. The world is your yoga mat. Place yours near me.

OP posts:

Ta1kinPeace · 20/02/2017 19:57

I go to a selection of Yoga and BodyBalance classes
I am one of the strong and bendy people
and I'm deeply pedantic about my own posture
however
I take my glasses off before lessons so have no idea what other people are doing or whether they are looking at me.
It helps me focus because all else is a blur

expatinscotland · 20/02/2017 20:04

'I love all the posters who start new class as complete beginners and get immediately into the vibe of concentration and self contemplation and don't look at what anybody else is doing! '

I love all the posters who call others liars because they don't spend time checking other people out .

Hell, if you're that negative and nasty, why bother going? Must be a shite place to live, wanting everyone to be shit.

expatinscotland · 20/02/2017 20:08

I was too busy terrified my knee would give out, that the graft would suddenly fail and I'd be left unable to walk without a brace again when I was only 26. It took a lot to even go in there - I asked the doctor, I asked the physician assistant, I asked two physios, are you sure it's okay? I won't pull the graft out? Forgive me for being slim and bendy when I went in there and probably looked like I knew what I was doing.

PoorYorick · 20/02/2017 20:09

'I love all the posters who start new class as complete beginners and get immediately into the vibe of concentration and self contemplation and don't look at what anybody else is doing!

Pfft, this is me at pretty much every beginner class I've ever done, from sewing to pole dancing. There's always people who are miles better than I am, and I just...have never given a shit. I'm a dead beginner, I don't expect to be brilliant, if I enjoy the class I'll come back and practise and learn and get better. They were all beginners once too.

Is that really such an alien concept?

DailyMaui · 20/02/2017 20:09

You mentioned holidays - I used to go to Yoga Plus in Crete - I loved it there so much I went twice a year . You would do Ashtanga first thing and either do your own practice, a beginners led practice or an intermediate one. You could also do some Tai Chi or Qi Gong before that at sunrise. There would be a brunch/lunch (you could take a box and load up for lunch and take it with you). I'd spend several hours swimming, sunbathing or exploring then there would be other classes later in the day: I remember doing pilates, classical Greece, salsa, art, ceramics, yoga nidra, Tai chi at sunset... It was dreamy and lots of really nice people went. I was worried it was going to be full of yoga babes but there was a mixed crowd. All food was included and it was delicious and very healthy. Local tavernas were nearby for those who liked a drink (me). Lots of beaches to explore including nude ones. The beaches along from Yoga Plus towards Tripetra haunt me now (they've probably all changed. That would break my heart as they were deserted)

That was so long ago though... I'd love to go back. I can't believe that was my life. All I did was work, do yoga and party.

OfftheCuff · 20/02/2017 20:13

expatinscotland you are a brave person! I felt like that after breaking a bone - it took me a year to get back to ballet, and I was really scared. I am/was a turner, and now even 10 years later doubles are an achievement (although still getting to ballet class 3 or 4 times a week at my age is the achievement really). But the recovery from injury is long & very annoying.

So you know, OP you really can't judge the other people in a class. And you particularly shouldn't judge that other people appear to be judging. They're likely not; they're just getting on with their own thing.

TheGrumpySquirrel · 20/02/2017 20:15

Bendy is genetic mostly..! Depends on body type. I've done yoga for seven years I'm strong and "good" but not flexible.

OfftheCuff · 20/02/2017 20:16

You know - this thread is really enlightening - I didn't realise there were all these people who despise those of us who launch into new things, who learn and don't worry about it.

I didn't realise there was such meanness and tall poppyism in the world still amongst adults. The cutting down of people whom you think are "good" at something - as though being good at something is to be despised.

This thread is enlightening -- and very very depressing.

PoorYorick · 20/02/2017 20:27

You know - this thread is really enlightening - I didn't realise there were all these people who despise those of us who launch into new things, who learn and don't worry about it.

Yeah, but the good news is that they all just fuck off after the first lesson and bitch instead of practise, so we don't need to see them more than once.

OfftheCuff · 20/02/2017 20:36

But that's a pity, really. Because they might learn that while starting out in learning anything is difficult, it gets easier and boy, the sense of achievement!

In terns of yoga, when I managed to balance for a nano-second in the Crow pose, I felt great!!! The rest of the time, I was falling over. But it made me realise that what was stopping me was fear and the negative thought in my mind that I couldn't do it.

Lesson learnt (although the Crow pose is still almost beyond me).

DailyMaui · 20/02/2017 20:51

Any reason to be mean to the OP? Not quite in the spirit of yoga, eh? She was being lighthearted, self deprecating and feeling the odd one out. No need to be so snippy.

Snippy was what kept me out of a class when I tried to return from a break. It didn't feel like yoga then and it doesn't feel like it now

OfftheCuff · 20/02/2017 20:57

I was commenting generally, not about the OP - I referred to the thread, not the OP

PlayOnWurtz · 20/02/2017 21:12

I get you apocalypse it's so demotivating feeling like you're behind the rest of the class

ithakabythesea · 20/02/2017 21:36

You sound too angry for yoga, try boxing instead? Well that poster delivers a killer punch in pass agg boxing!

OP, I am not so zen that I have entirely missed your light hearted tone. It is hard to feel crap and some of the yogic posters on this thread are doing themselves no favours with their po faced, purse lipped disapproval of you daring to notice everyone else was better than you. Yeah, very cosmic.

I'd look for another class personally - if you don't feel comfortable you won't get anything out of it and there is plenty of more low key 'village hall' style yoga classes out there that are not full of the beautiful and bendy.

GardenGeek · 20/02/2017 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kateandme · 20/02/2017 23:51

I think lots of yoga is done for mental health too.some woman I know or super flexi and mega skilled naturaly or because they've gained it via classes but still want to just go for the embiance,for the teacher,or comradeship with others.they don't want to go to be pushed into doing horrid new moves or things that strains.they need to go for peace and calm. so as long as they are pushing it in your face as if they know they should be ahead of you in a higher class I think that's worth bearing in mind.
and don't take no notice.if your tense and watching others it will never work for you.yoga needs you in the moment in the breath and peace of wnatin git to just come.

Astoria7974 · 21/02/2017 00:11

Beginners usually means the class is open to new starters or the pace is slow and the instructor will help strugglers. Many classes, especially in London, are only for higher levels and they will move between poses really fast.

kmc1111 · 21/02/2017 00:39

There's a big difference between being able to do something and being able to do it perfectly. Yoga is one of those things people spend decades perfecting. The point is the practice, so it's not at all unusual for people to spend years in beginners classes, only moving on when their form at that pace is absolutely impeccable. Intermediate classes, good ones anyway, are quite a step up, and if you can't do all the basics extremely well you'll be flailing about.

There are also a lot of people who just prefer the slower pace and are in it for the slow stretching and meditation and not the workout, or who are fit and flexible but have to be very careful about injuries, so more advanced classes aren't suitable.

Personally I already do a lot of cardio and weights, so although I can do advanced classes that go very fast and involve a lot of very intense strength moves, I'm already covered in those areas and do yoga for other reasons. Luckily in my area there's dozens of options so I've found classes that suit me that aren't for beginners, but in most areas the beginners class will be the only slow option.

SoOverItNow · 21/02/2017 08:08

OP why don't you try iyengar yoga. I do this style and teachers are well qualified and take care to teach you proper alignment. They walk around checking you are doing it properly and give you adjustments and support if you need it. Youre also shown how to use belts and blocks if you are stiffer. I found I progressed quickly doing this style and felt confident I was being looked after properly.

I did Astanga yoga and a bit of Sivananda too and it fun as there is more freedom to do your own thing, but I never enjoy classes where there is a remote instructor on a stage and in a crowded hot room. I found Gym style yoga with big classes intimidating, you can also easily injure yourself trying to keep up with super bendy types!

Maybe look for a yoga teacher who has smaller groups to start with?

SoOverItNow · 21/02/2017 08:21

DailyMaui I've been to Yogaplus is Crete too. 20 years ago! It was heaven.
You made me laugh in recognition, because for a year or so when I was young and single that was my life too!
How things change!

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