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Original poster

Has yoga changed your life and if so how?

109 replies

C1239 · 02/05/2020 19:32

I’ve heard from a few people and read online that yoga has changed their life. Has this happened for you and if so how?

OP posts:
OhioOhioOhio · 02/05/2020 19:33

I'm interested in this too. Also, how long it took to actually be able to do it.

Yogamad38 · 03/05/2020 08:28

My yoga class keeps me sane, it helps me manage my stress levels, I'm more relaxed and grounded. It is also a great form of excercise and gives me a good stretch out. It has also made me stronger- it gives you good core strength. I do yoga twice a week at a class- doing this via Zoom during the lock down restrictions.

beautifulmonument · 03/05/2020 08:36

It's like learning how to meditate. Once it's regular practice it's a safe space you can go to when you're feeling stressed or miserable and come away feeling peaceful.

BrokenBrit · 03/05/2020 08:40

Yes, physically I am stronger and more flexible. But it’s mentally the real change. It is grounding and calming and destressing. Wouldn’t ever stop now it’s part of my life.

EmpressLangClegInChair · 03/05/2020 08:41

It’s given me a new focus & made me stronger & more flexible. I’ve been doing Ashtanga for just over a year & can still remember the total bloody agony I was in after class for the first three weeks or so. Now I’m happily going to two (currently virtual) weekly classes & practising on my own, and it really helps my mental health as well as physical.

RandomSelection · 03/05/2020 08:43

I would LOVE to be able to do yoga properly, it looks so serene and calming. I tried pregnancy yoga. It was an unmitigated disaster. I've always been very unbendy, even as a slim youngster, as a pregnant lady I was a GIGANTIC waddler. I'm rather ashamed to say I grunted, giggled and farted through every class!! Luckily, it was a small, very friendly class who forgave me. Grin Blush

Alocasia · 03/05/2020 08:45

Hasn’t changed my life but has completely eliminated my (work-induced) back pain. I don’t even particularly enjoy actually doing yoga but the benefits including strength, toning and getting rid of back pain means I keep up with it. Every day at the moment but only cos I have plenty of time during lockdown!

beautifulmonument · 03/05/2020 08:49

@RandomSelection I'm also very unbendy but I've been doing yoga for 7 years and I love it. You just need a good teacher to help you with proper alignment when you're getting started. Flexibility increases over time and isn't essential anyway

Xenia · 03/05/2020 08:50

That is probably going a bit far. I did quite a bit in my teens at home (and also a lot of gymnastics) and just kept going. I found bikram yoga the best but never had time to go every day. Interestingly even 5 years ago I felt everyone together in one place would spread colds and germs (!!!) [never mind CV nowadays] so the group setting was never that great for me. I do some moves every day at home and when it's sunny outside in the sun. It does make me feel good although presently I would like to be under 10 stone again to feel I can bend as well!

It may be one reason I don't seem to get sick (seen GP once in 15 years and had 2 colds in last 2 colds only) or that might just be luck. I don't get things like back pain. I have always been quite bendy which I put down to all those gymnastic badges I worked on as a teenager although my children always just mention the trampoline schools competition I entered in the sixth form when I was 134th out of 134 entrants. How that makes them laugh.......

I would like to do more yoga each day but am too lazy to do more than just a few stretches.

MassDebate · 03/05/2020 08:50

It really helps me with stress, and I sleep so much better when I’m practising regularly (I only do a 1-1 class for an hour per week but it makes a real difference).

PersonaNonGarter · 03/05/2020 08:51

Does anyone have an online yoga guru they would recommend?

grafittiartist · 03/05/2020 08:53

I don't particularly enjoy it for stress relief - I am already quite chilled!
However- when I don't go, I get back ache , so I go because I know it's good for me.

RosesandIris · 03/05/2020 08:53

Adrienne.

yogawithadriene.com/

RandomSelection · 03/05/2020 08:53

@beautifulmonument
I don't think I could stand the embarrassment of going to a class... People are far more forgiving of inappropriate noises when you are pregnant! A 50 year old farting giggler isn't so cute! Grin Maybe one day when this is all over I'll put a paper bag over my head and give it a go! Wink

Hockneypool · 03/05/2020 08:58

It’s not changed my life but I’m stronger and a bit more flexible and at 54 have very good posture.

I like the movement and very gradually achieving a new pose/ or more likely a slightly further stretch. It has made me connected to my body more through working on my breathing.

Also for friends with chronic lower back pain it has been life changing - no more pain or pain relief needed. And that’s just with an hour a week.

Frangipanini · 03/05/2020 09:00

I took up Yoga when I was suffering from anxiety and depression about 20 years ago. I was overwhelmed with things that had happened to me, things going on in my life and no support. I ended up so physically sick I had tests for serious illnesses.

I can't remember who or what led me to a class, but I went to one and afterwards I cried my eyes out. My whole body felt like it had been caressed and cared for. The only way I can describe how I feel from a yoga class is that I am constantly giving to other people and taking care of them, but a good yoga class is like someone has enveloped you in a warm blanket and gently kissed your forehead. I even trained to be a yoga teacher years back, but more to deepen my knowledge and own practise.

Having said this, the yoga in England is awful. I did mine all overseas and have not found anything like it here. It should be shoes off, no talking, take it very seriously, lots of discipline, no getting smashed off your head the night before and it should be very spiritual.

I need to get back into it big time. I am a lazy yogi. It is very good for you physically and mentally, but it takes a very good teacher to make you feel the benefit.

feetfreckles · 03/05/2020 09:03

Adrienne is lovely ..our lockdown discovery , and it does not feel like you are not doing it right no matter what, it's all about awareness of your own body and working within it
Some are harder than others though!

WokeUpSmeltTheCoffee · 03/05/2020 09:04

I wouldn't say it's changed my life but it has surprised me how much I enjoy it and am getting into it.

I just started last year as something to do with my daughter. I'd always avoided it before thinking it was a bit 'woo' for me. I now look forward to the class so much and have started to go twice a week now (on zoom).

I feel so calm and relaxed afterwards. The breathing and meditation aspects are really good for that. I am used to gym workouts so didn't think it would challenge me but it's a different kind of challenge.

One very surprising thing is that some of the 'woo' stuff I had avoided is actually really good. Yoga is a lot about not being competitive, being kind to your body, being aware of your body and that's been good for me. My teacher also talks about things you can take from yoga into your life and that is surprisingly true.

Once we were holding a difficult pose and she said to pay attention to the thoughts its bringing up for you. Mine were all about how embarrassing/ shaming it would be to fail in front of others. That's a common thought for me in life and not something I'd usually even notice having. I think letting go of my competitiveness and fear of failure might be the main thing I get from yoga.

RosesandIris · 03/05/2020 09:05

Agree about the food teacher. I have been doing it off and in since I was 19. I’ve only had few few really good teachers. Some are really quite dire. Don’t even check posture etc. The difference
a good teacher makes is huge

RosesandIris · 03/05/2020 09:05

Good!

EmeraldShamrock · 03/05/2020 09:08

Thank you for this thread. My body and mind are so stressed I feel I'm carrying bricks all day.
Can anyone recommend a beginners yoga to look up on YouTube.
I did palates 10years ago. I'm looking for a relaxing experience to start with I'd snap in two trying palates again.

NathanNathan · 03/05/2020 09:11

I have real trouble with the breathing, which makes me feel like I'm not getting as much out of it as I could be.

I find it hard to be breathing out at the right points of moves, it's feels too quick and I like I do the move and then remember to breath after.

Anyone got any tips on how I can work on the breathing or does it just get better after you've done it a while?

Theyweretheworstoftimes · 03/05/2020 09:12

Cat Meffan on you tube.

She does 30 days of yoga and she is the only one I have managed to stick with.

ElspethFlashman · 03/05/2020 09:13

I never managed to find classes in my area around my work schedule, particularly when the kids are small. I'd love to go though and it's my aim for when they're older!

In the meantime I do a couple of sessions with Adriene a couple of times a week. I love Adriene, she's so soothing. The only thing is she has squillions of videos and it's a bit baffling to know where to start. She has tons of beginners videos though, and they're all different times so picking a 15 minute one is the best idea.

I find putting the laptop on the ground in front of you is best. Otherwise you're craning your head to look at it.

My goal for 2020 is to do downward facing dog properly, cos that defeats me every single time.

EmpressLangClegInChair · 03/05/2020 09:14

I’ve found that the more I get used to the poses, the more headspace I have to think about breathing. If that helps?

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