Has yoga changed your life and if so how?

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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?

I dream of feet flat on the floor in DD, has anyone initially inflexible managed this?

Flat feet in DD were never a problem for me but I dream of being able to sit cross-legged on the floor instead of on blocks... or being able to hold the balancing poses without one hand on the wall!

I don't think it's research either... It wouldn't take much searching online to find plenty about yoga benefits.

Traditional yoga has strong links with Hinduism so, yes, some churches have an issue with it. Most are open minded though in my experience and I'm sure the income for hall hire is welcomed.

Also, traditionally, yoga (the 8 limbs from the sage Patanjali) is about non-judgement and setting one's ego aside.

So, flat feet in downward dog or sitting on the floor without blocks is secondary... We are all built differently. 🧘

Even as a teacher, there's loads I can't do with my short arms and various old injuries!

The original aim of the asanas, or postures, is to be fit enough to sit comfortably in meditation - which can always be done in a chair or even lying down.🕉️

Indeed, that is the nice thing about yoga - you can be utterly useless at it but still not get it wrong as there isn't really a competitive thing going on that you have to be able to do XYZ.

I still can't do downward dog without bending my knees let alone having flat feet! But I don't care, any way I can do it is more than enough.

I don't think you are supposed to achieve flat feet in downward dog. You are stretching your hamstrings, so you press your heels down until you feel a nice stretch. Don't go mad, you don't want to snap anything important.

This is a lovely Yoga flow from PsycheTruth to target Core strength and belly fat. Probably not good for real beginners but she explains why you are doing certain moves and is big on getting the breathing right.

I thought the eventual goal was flat feet in down dog? I am nearly there with it!

The thing I can't do though that everyone else seems to find easy is flat feet in the squat pose? I have to go on tip toes?

I'm an old, larger woman and have been doing yoga for 5 years. It hasn't had any amazing benefits but it does mean I have the knowledge to be able to do it at home whilst lockdown is on which is stopping all my joints from seizing up.

I'm doing a 20 minute session just about every morning.

Joeexotics I am very flexible (can do splits, deep back bends, heels to floor in downward dog, belly to floor in straddle). Never been able to get heels to floor in squat position! I think I have v short Achilles/calf muscles, possibly due to lots of high heels in the past. I suspect I get even more benefit from the pose than most because of that though!

I’d also add that it looks like I am ‘good’ at yoga because I can get into challenging poses, but the longer I’ve been doing yoga the more I’ve realised that this is a complete misconception, alignment and balancing strength with flexibility is the real challenge!