April yoga consistency

[Yogachick]

April- we’re still trying for consistency with our yoga practice. Flow is still here, we’re just doing the best we can!

I love yoga but I’m starting to resent what my body can’t do. Will join and see if I can refind my enjoyment. My hamstrings mean forward folds are impossible and I hate my lack of progress. I’ll go back to Adrienne or any recommendations? I have three classes a week.

Welcome @TofuTuesday I feel that my body can’t do many of the poses correctly so I modify where needed. I am still benefiting as I feel better in myself when I’ve done some yoga.
I’m following Adrienne’s Flow 30 day programme and the longest so far has been 26 minutes - it works well for me as I’m less inclined to make excuses to not do a day. I’d love to make actual progress, but I’m not putting pressure on myself otherwise I'll get disheartened and give up.

I’ve just completed day 15. It was the hardest day for me as I’m utterly exhausted and I’ve not been drinking enough water all week and my body was protesting soooo much. I’m actually quite pleased with myself that I did it, as I just wanted to lie on the mat and sleep 😂

Oh brilliant I’ll do the same then and start that one. I dip in and out but really need a daily practice

@YogaFlow day 15 ! Well done!

Im only up to day 7. My abs hurt after day 6 on Sunday.

@TofuTuesday yes I adapt alot of the poses. I can’t do forward fold but can’t work out why. @Yogachick suggested an adaptation that helped. Still not a fan of the pose. Downward dog impossible so I switch that for puppy usually. I’m still feeling the benefit. And can feel improvement. Tiny ones but still.

I still haven't done Day 6 of Flow but I have managed the short YWA bedtime or lower back videos every day, so am improving my consistency anyway!

Day 8 flow. Relaxing one. I have a rotator cuff issue and couldn’t put my right arm behind me. Ouch!

Day 16 done, I had a comical moment when I struggled to complete a pose, but as it was a good few hours ago, I've now forgotten what the pose was 🙄

@Pinkfluffypencilcase my abs hurt for a few days then too. I love the small improvements I feel. And I love forward fold. To me, it's about tipping your hips and folding, not bending - if that makes any sense - and with knees comfortably bent. Puppy pose is a great move. I also do my own version of downdog, with raised heels and keeping your head in line with your arms. This could be all wrong, but it feels ok and the best that I can do.

@Trickedbyadoughnut previously, I was doing a 10 minute morning practice when I felt tight on time.

Any practice is good 🙌

I don’t think i can get my head round the difference between folding and bending. Maybe im
bending and that’s why it’s not comfortable.

Day 9 of flow.

I skipped a bit of this.

im going to practise the one legged balance (don’t know what it’s called- where you extend leg out backwards and lean forwards)

I also notice I can’t go from frog squat to plank without putting my knees down. That seems high level!

Day 10yesterday though I skipped half
day 11 today nice and short at 16 mins
including pigeon which I really wanted to do after seeing on an ad.
left easier than right. Right ouch!

Sorry for not posting, I'm still keeping up and have done days 17, 18, 19 and day 20 today. Today was challenging in a way and I think my hips will ache tomorrow - but it felt good.
@Pinkfluffypencilcase I think the one leg, bend forward was what I did yesterday, I was dreadful on my left leg.
I've been trying to think how to describe the forward fold, and I think I've come up with a different way of describing it. If you are in frog pose, start to straighten you legs and put your heels down, your tail bone will lift, keep the knees very bent, with your finger tips on the floor and feel your tummy lean on your thighs - if you then move your feet closer together, this should give you the tipped hip shape. Keep your legs bent - Adrienne often says this, but not every time. I sometimes straighten my legs more, but always with a bent knee. If there are a lot of forward folds in a session, I can relax into the pose more with each breath, I hope you can understand what I mean.

@YogaFlow youve done good!
And thanks for that description. I’ll try that.

I’ve skipped today.

@Midlifeshenanigans
@Yogachick

how you getting on?

Still doing bad yogi for my back sporadically. It’s def helping. Am most impressed with you @Pinkfluffypencilcase 🌻

@Yogachick so glad to hear bad yogi is helping your back. Long may it continue.

Day 21 finished,

@YogaFlow day 21 on day 21! I salute you

Ha ha, I know! It's my way of staying accountable. If I don't do the day on the date, I will easily give up, which I can't do as I have aged dramatically in the past two years, I'm feeling old, heavy, tired, inflexible and achy. I'm really concerned that if I don't grasp the chance to improve things now, it will only get harder and it could really affect my mobility.

Day 22 complete. At the beginning of the practice when I was emptying my thoughts, I started thinking about what programme to do next.
I've also realised that my balance on my left leg is worse than my right, and tree pose is impossible 😆

I did Day 1 of True,now I’m trying to actually be consistent to 8 th May when I go away. I absolutely know what you mean about how you feel @YogaFlow , having been absent yet again the practice was humbling in what my body wasn’t able to do. So not doing Flow but still YWA

Agree!! Amazing achievement

@Yogachick I hope True is a good plan for you. Any yoga is good yoga.
I had a long tough day at work, got home at 18.40, got changed and was straight on the mat for day 23. It was so hard, but I enjoyed it and it got work out of my head.

Day 2 of True.well done @YogaFlow , I think just getting on with it,not giving yourself a chance to talk yourself out of it is often the way. I’m glad it cleared work out so you could enjoy your evening 🌻

Day 12 of flow.
I almost gave up. I’m so stiff after a few days off and I modified pretty much everything and skipped a lot!

@Pinkfluffypencilcase Modifying and skipping meant you didn't give up, well done!

Yesterday, day 24, was the first day that I wished the practice was longer. Today however, Day 25, I was convinced it would be ending soon but it went on and on, but I did it!

I also felt a yoga benefit today, I was sitting on the edge of the bed and I could easily put my heel on the edge of the bed to cut my toenails over the bin. Normally I would groan and find it it uncomfortable - but not today. Whoop!

@YogaFlow that’s a win!

and yes you’re right turning up and trying is good enough.

Day 26, another good practice, and another thing I can't do from frog pose, spring up off the floor a little and back down again. Erm, no, my body isn't able to do that 🐸😆

Day 27 completed as soon as I got in from work. I've been shattered all day and it was then or never.
I did a shoulder stand, of sorts, but it wasn't achieved by contracting my stomach muscles, but with leg momentum. I'm so glad I did it. I'm off to bed now and hope to feel less tired tomorrow.

I hope you're all doing ok 🙏

I feel the need to keep posting, as I could give up easily but I'm determined to stay accountable.