Yoga Chat: Would anyone like to chat here about our daily practice?

[CoteDAzur]

... since nobody in RL is willing to listen to me talk about how I hooked on to my big toe this morning or how I might soon dare do my headstand away from a wall?

How is your practice these days? Achievements? Challenges?

Hello Cote, just got back from my (ashtanga) class as it goes. Managed to hook toe in balancing position, but kept falling over (not properly grounded with other leg, bit tired today). As for headstand, after 4 DCs, I just don't seem to have any internal locks (bandhas) which I think are necessary for inversions. Stomach muscles need a lot a bit of working on probably only surgery will help, my belly really is no man's land My eldest DD doesn't want to chat about my practice cause she loses will to live when I talk about it so I think this thread is great idea.

Love the idea of a yoga thread. I'm going to a bikram yoga this week after a looooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnggg time.

I'm doing the Yoga with Adriene 30 Day Challenge, on YouTube. Day 11 today and I'm addicted.

I can't do a press- up though. :-S

Yay - people who want to talk about yoga!

I haven't slept much last night (insomnia) so struggled to stay awake at today's very gentle and basic hatha class. Lots of resting with eyes closed in a variety of positions. It's not the dynamic Vinyasa Flow that I'm used to, but it's the best I've found on holiday so for the next couple of weeks, it's me and a few 50-something beginners.

DH thinks I've lost my marbles a bit after watching me carry my beloved 3mm non-slip mat across the European continent on two planes, so I'm trying not to talk about it to him about yoga these days. Maybe I should have called this a support thread in the title

another - What are "internal locks"? I don't think I have any of those. Mine is more of a wobbly tummy. I was crumbling like pastry the first couple of times I tried headstands, but then about six months of regular Vinyasa and especially dolphin pose built up the upper body strength I needed for the headstand.

Don't give up on your tummy, btw. About 6 months after DS's birth, mine was hanging half way to my knees when sitting and I was told at the hospital that I would probably need reconstructive surgery. Then I started running, lost 10 kgs, and funny enough the tummy went back in. Well, I still don't have a flat tummy but at least I don't look pregnant anymore.

I'm going to start the yoga with adrienne 30 day thing tomorrow.

Ive been doing some Tara Stiles YouTube videos but would be good to try something else.

I'm shit at yoga, very inflexible but am hoping to improve. I can't find any classes near me which I like which is a shame. They all seem to be sit cross legged for ten mins and meditate, then some downward dog and then another ten mins of sitting and focusing on breathing. Can't be bothered. I want to tone up and get more flexible.

Wow, Cote - that's pretty amazing. I am just back from my class - loads of mad old chanting. We are going to do some freestyling next week (excited and a bit nervous) might have a practice at home this week!

I wish I could remember how my teacher does bandhas - it's really subtle and not forced. She tells you to do things in a really focused way which quite slyly gives you the lock without you trying to achieve it. Cool! (i do realise this is no use but may be someone will come along who knows what I am talking about.

I can meditate daily but cannot seem to manage any yoga practice between classes. But I am getting closer to giving it a go.

Hi cote, I don't know about other yoga forms, but in Ashtanga, the bandhas are v significant. Like this woman says here: www.mindbodygreen.com/0-2583/Bandhas-for-Beginners-Intro-to-Yogas-Interior-Locks.html, I initially thought the idea was a bit hippy-ish, but I now realise because I can't feel my bandhas let alone lock them that they are actually the key to good practice, especially for inversions where you need core strength to remain in pose. On issue of tummy, have noticed since I started practice again that it is bit flatter though still v wobbly

Viva, I don't know if you're new to yoga, but please don't worry your inflexibility is an impediment to practice. I am also inflexible, esp on my left side, but have improved so much through practice and my teacher says everyone has their natural, anatomical limits so you just go as far as you can without forcing. I don't like sitting around breathing either but in more vigorous forms of yoga, like Ashtanga or Vinyasa Flow, there is much less of this and far more movement. I learned to deal with self consciousness in class about being less flexible than others by simply not looking at other people. I only look at the teacher and keep telling myself that it's only my practice that matters.

I'm new to yoga. I started in January going to a class in the village hall once a week. I think it's a mixture of hatha and some sequences/ flows but at a slow pace. I have really enjoyed it and can see some progress. Definitely stronger if not more flexible. Over the long summer break I'm trying to do some of the yoga with adriene. Starting with her beginners and foundations sessions so I get it right and it's not such a shock in September!

I recommend the 30 Day Challenge, Hockney

Ah more yoga mad people, excellent! I try to do 30mins-45mins when kids are in bed using Yogaglo, it's amazing how much difference a daily practice has made, rather than once or twice a week. It's become my daily therapy!

Viva Just seen your post! Cracks me up that you are shit at yoga

It really doesn't matter at all, not one bit as far as I can see. You just do it and keep doing it and then bits get stronger. I'm trying to do 2 classes- 1 mad old hippy thing and 1 super strong as I like both.

Thanks for the link another and savasana that's interesting re the daily practice - I think I might just get the mat out in between classes and see where it takes me.

another I enjoyed that article- thanks. The comments are interesting too. Someone says they tense their jaw etc while trying these locks. I think this is what my teacher is talking about. If she says pull up through this part etc as per the article it is easy to grab at it (not with your hands obv!) and tense up in other places. I think it relies a lot on other parts of your body (bit like when you ground your feet to down to the floor or earth to stand taller). Even flexing your foot or rotating a foot can affect a lock I think as it will orientate your pelvis etc.

"it's amazing how much difference a daily practice has made, rather than once or twice a week"

I'm aiming for this and would love to do it, but my variously injuries are keeping me from it at the moment. I do one session, then need to give my body time to recuperate. I've just started being able to do this without needing to take anti-inflammatories every day, so happy with the progress. Hopefully I'll be able to start daily practice, even if a little, come September.

Still I also lock my jaw and become very tense when trying to lock my bandhas and think it makes me rigid and, of course, I can't sustain the lock anyway. I'm not going to worry too much. At some point, I will 'get' it. It'll come through practice. Funny how this happens, in very small steps IME. One of my teachers is quite big on spreading the toes and I've started to do this. It's made me more conscious of my feet and how grounded I am. Never noticed until she mentioned a couple of weeks ago. Yoga is, for me anyway, the accumulation/playing out of small discoveries, minor-ish triumphs (like being able to bind), sudden insights (gosh, I do sound wanky, but you know what I mean....)

this thread is especially for sounding wanky - that is the whole point!

Do you know that your jaw is connected to your foot? when you are extending a leg or two point and flex your feet and you will feel it in your collar bone.

that bit of wisdom comes from the first episode of Shameless by the way

I started working towards a headstand at my class on Saturday, never done it before! All I managed was to get the posture of my forearms and head in the right place and tiptoe my feet closer - it'll be ages before I start taking much weight up!!

Wish I had a practice to talk about! Not done ashtanfa since fell pregnant with my 9mtg old daughter. I miss it :(

"Yoga is, for me anyway, the accumulation/playing out of small discoveries, minor-ish triumphs (like being able to bind), sudden insights (gosh, I do sound wanky, but you know what I mean....)"

Very much so. No, you don't sound wanky at all (to me)

Thank you for the 30 day yoga challenge suggestion I'm going to work towards it.

I really like the idea of daily (or more regular) practice and the difference it makes. I just need to work on achieving it!

It's good to hear about everyone's practice and experience. Very inspiring.

Didn't know that still but think this kind of connection is recognised in acupuncture/Chinese medicine, isn't it? Kitty can you not return to practice now? If it's an issue of childcare (may not be, of course) I've noticed that lots of classes allow you to take babies in now (depends where you maybe)

Well, I couldn't make it to yoga this morning because DS has a tummy ache. My rolled up mat is staring at me wistfully from across the room as I cuddle DS

Since tomorrow is a moon day, and Saturday is a rest day, I won't be practising until Sunday, which is unfortunate since I am on a roll after practising three days in a row!

I've been working towards a six-day per week practise (minus moon days and periods) for about a year now. I'm lucky that there's a brilliant ashtanga 'shala' in my city (in China) which has given me a good grounding.

I was given a new pose last week, after nearly six months of being 'stuck' at Marichyasana B.

The thing I'm working on most solidly is jumping back and jumping through, which is improving slowly but surely (despite often feeling that my arms just aren't long enough!)

One of my favourite ashtangis, Chuck Miller (although he's actually probably more of an Iyengi these days...) is visiting my city in August to give a workshop. I've signed up. Very excited. He's one of the guys on the 1993 video of Guruji leading a primary series practise.

What's a moon day?