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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if you can't control your sphincter

157 replies

Brokenchair1 · 28/09/2020 14:59

You shouldn't go to a yoga class!

Fair enough that the odd trump occasionally pops out (never happened to me but can see that it might) but to fart on and off throughout the class at every change of position I think is fairly grim.

Bearing in mind we are trying to avoid peoples oral fumes, I don't want to spend 50 minutes breathing in their anal ones!

Before I get attacked by people mentioning physical problems that may cause gas, I have suffered from IBS in the past and would not attend a yoga class if I knew I was having a particularly bad day.

YABU - Everyone can enjoy yoga, even if they are tooting throughout the class.
YANBU - that is grim.

OP posts:
Marylou2 · 28/09/2020 16:23

@porolli

You've just reinforced my belief that no one would understand if I tried yoga, despite it being something I could try. I have a colostomy and severe pelvic radiation damage following cancer treatment. Have a bit of compassion and I won't inflict myself on anyone! Deal?
If you're in Warrington you'd be super welcome at the yoga class I go to. Unlikely I know. PM me if so. Thanks
DogWalkingAddict · 28/09/2020 16:23

A woman at a pilates class I used to go to would always fart really loudly during the class each and every week. If it happened to me I don't think I'd dare show my face there again, let alone week after week!

tectonicplates · 28/09/2020 16:23

@porolli

You've just reinforced my belief that no one would understand if I tried yoga, despite it being something I could try. I have a colostomy and severe pelvic radiation damage following cancer treatment. Have a bit of compassion and I won't inflict myself on anyone! Deal?
@porolli Please don't let this thread put you off. It's only here on MN that people are so appalled by bowel movements (and these are mainly women with children - goodness knows how they coped with changing a baby).

In real life, people are more understanding. Unless you're happy giving it a try online, if you're looking for a real life class, avoid trendy yoga studios as they tend to have a certain demographic. In general, people are much more down to Earth at the sorts of classes held at community centres, church halls, village halls etc.

If you feel you'd like to give yoga a try, please give it a try, and let the teacher know you're new so they can look out for you. It's not your responsibility to stay at home just because other people have toilet phobias.

randomer · 28/09/2020 16:25

I went to one yoga class with a male teacher. Very nice man, nice easy class. A few guys in there, all good. One session a new bloke, looked a bit uncomfortable but nodding and smiling. I was near him doing some forward fold thingy and he did quite an audible fart. Poor guy, he was so embarassed and never came back.
If only he had used the magic bottle.

Laiste · 28/09/2020 16:29

@Heptember that was exquisite Grin

anordinarymum - bless you for being so candid and helpful. Who cares what trolls are and aren't reading threads on here! We shouldn't be held to ransom and be unable to discuss certain subjects just because some weirdo might be getting off on it. There'll be some one somewhere getting on any of the stuff talked about here. Fuck 'em.

And as for the actual OP - how bad is it really? When i did yoga you did hear one or two during each lesson. Me, i had to stay off bread for that day and that cured any issues for me, so an easy solution. Other people are not so lucky. Should they really miss out?

hoodathunkit · 28/09/2020 16:31

I read a news article (BBC if my memory is correct) about the potential risk of spreading coronavirus through flatulence.

The news article stated that while there was definitely a theoretical risk, we protect others by wearing the equivalent of face masks over the orifice concerned, basically underwear.

The article advised against naked farting in the company of others.

No naked farting in company has always been one of my golden rules to enhance social interactions, so this presented no problems for me :)

NW2SW · 28/09/2020 16:31

Fart away, so long as you don't constantly sniff and hack up phlegm then I couldn't care less.

Branleuse · 28/09/2020 16:33

YANBU.
The occasional one id forgive, but if it was happening repeatedly, id be repulsed and probably have to leave. Especially if it smelled

pinkbalconyrailing · 28/09/2020 16:35

sorry yabu
so someone should rather suffer from cramps then?
or not do sports at all?

anyway, I would suggest less beans for breakfast

hoodathunkit · 28/09/2020 16:35

I have attended yoga classes on and off for decades and it s unusual to attend a class where nobody farts, however farting throughout a class is, I think, bad etiquette.

I can only imagine that the farter would have been a yoga novice and had attended the class without the recommended empty stomach and was too embarrassed to leave after the first emission.

Not unlike the situation where someone's phone keeps ringing and the owner is too embarassed to admit to owning it and turning it off. Only worse.

Palavah · 28/09/2020 16:36

@Brokenchair1 i thinknyoure missing the point of yoga

Toilenstripes · 28/09/2020 16:40

I’m so juvenile that I wouldn’t be able to contain my laughter. 😂

biddybird · 28/09/2020 16:45

YANBU if they are smelly farts.
YABU if they are only audible ones.

TreestumpsAndTrampolines · 28/09/2020 16:46

Oh god, this reminds me of a class I went to once where the teacher was doing that thing where you lie back, pull your knees up and kinda rotate them - as a kind of intestinal massage, and he let out an absolutely massive fart, then said something like 'that sometimes happens, don't worry' in his soothing hippy yoga teacher voice.

I nearly wet myself trying to stop myself from laughing, and just thanked god we were all in that position so I could hide my face (was v. serious yoga class)

biddybird · 28/09/2020 16:47

The worst thing I ever saw in a yoga class was a man whose clearly diseased toenails (think very bad fungal infection with the nails so long they were actually curling over) gripping into the communal mat he was using.
I bought my own mat after that.

Kazakaren · 28/09/2020 16:48

I give myself a quick enema using a long nosed bottle and soapy water and it makes me 'go'. I do this if I am going out to do something which may compromise me as in a yoga class or similar

🤣 Now I've really heard it all.

SimonJT · 28/09/2020 16:53

I once held a huge fart in for an entire yoga class, a fellow classmate chatted to me all the way to the car so I couldn’t let it out until I was in the car. I was genuinely proud of my bum that day.

Exercising often causes farting, if you think yoga is bad go and hand around the weight racks in the gym, guaranteed to be almost constant farting.

ImSleepingBeauty · 28/09/2020 16:53

I have a neat little trick which I have used for years which works. I give myself a quick enema using a long nosed bottle and soapy water and it makes me 'go'. I do this if I am going out to do something which may compromise me as in a yoga class or similar

Holy shit.

sadpapercourtesan · 28/09/2020 16:53

I'm one of those MNers who is horrified by toilet-related behaviours and smells to the point where I would not attend the class again! I would have left immediately if I smelled someone else's fart. Couldn't tolerate it.

I know I'm a neurotic fart fascist though, my kids think it's hilarious the bastards

lightyearsahead · 28/09/2020 16:57

I am a farty person, most of the time it is discreet but contorting my body cause one or two to escape. I don't think they are smelly - but I have no sense of smell so not sure..... But sorry it is not going to stop me doing things, so biking, walking on the beach, gardening, I am going to let one escape.

Lots of love from a windy person!

vinoelle · 28/09/2020 17:01

I’m also dismayed by reading this. I’m in my early 30s and have done yoga since I was a teenager. I love it, it’s such an important part of my life. Except I’ve just had a traumatic birth and injury from forceps and a bad tear, and I can’t even bend over to pick something up off the floor without farting or air moving from my vagina. I’m also incontinent often. Honestly it’s broken my heart. I’m appalled at the state my body is in, and when I eventually do work up to being in a yoga class, I hope people are more understanding. Think yourself lucky you have never had a life changing injury that can take away all your confidence.

PamDemic · 28/09/2020 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mykidsthinkimclueless · 28/09/2020 17:12

@Heptember Grin

I find it odd to hear adults call farting tooting and trumping!

olderthanilookapparently · 28/09/2020 17:12

@Anordinarymum

Oh Bless you :)

Is there any way you can go to the toilet first before you attend the class so you don't have stools sitting there in your lower bowel ?

I have a neat little trick which I have used for years which works. I give myself a quick enema using a long nosed bottle and soapy water and it makes me 'go'. I do this if I am going out to do something which may compromise me as in a yoga class or similar.

Honestly??????????
Original poster
Brokenchair1 · 28/09/2020 17:13

I'm actually surprised at the amount of people who think it is OK to fart throughout an exercise class but I'm happy to stand corrected.

In private I'm probably the fartiest person I know....I am just not sure I feel it is appropriate to fart throughout an exercise class. Please note that I said that this was multitude farting, not just a one slipped out occasion.

Anyway, if I have learn't one thing today is that it is perfectly acceptable to let rip in public places :)

OP posts: