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?

Btw reading this thread makes me realize that I've been very lucky with yoga teachers. Yanking legs? Public humiliation? All teachers I've ever come across would stress that wherever we are in our practice is the right place for us to be that day, that it is not about achieving the ideal pose but doing what feels right for us. To be kind to our bodies and not to judge ourselves if we can't do something as we feel we ought to.

Cote, tbh, it was only the once, but quite recently am still traumatized Yes, nearly every teacher I've had has emphasised that practice is not about 'attaining' the pose, it's about the process. I am just sorry that shit had a bad experience. I would encourage anyone, of any age, condition etc, to try yoga and find a style that suits them.

My office mate has just started yoga and she was saying she's found it quite a (positive) revelation to realise that some people are amazing at some things and yet can't do other things, nobody can do everything. A good teacher should respect that, I've always found yoga teachers are generally quite lovely so go to another class and see what you think. I'd also be tempted to ask for my money back and say that the class isn't suitable for you with your dyspraxia.

The only time I've ever experienced a bad yoga teacher was when I did a few classes of Bikram in Clapham when I was back in the UK for work last year. She was MEAN. Yelling into her microphone, and making me feel useless when my weaker hip wouldn't go into a certain pose.

Are there any Bikram fans on here? I really didn't enjoy it but wouldn't mind hearing some positive stories about it, if there are any.

Microphone? Even if she were not mean, I'd be at the sight of a yoga teacher with a microphone.

Hazel I had to smile at your post because I've been doing the 30 Days of Yoga with my DD (9) and so far it's been fun but I can see her getting fed up soon. It's not easy getting half an hour for something like this .
I will definitely be seeking out a new yoga class after my holidays. In the meantime it's 30 Days of Yoga for me (Day 3 today!)

Another I'm so sorry to hear you had a shitty experience too. it's awful isn't it but the great thing is, it won't put us off! I don't think I want to try and get my money back. I don't think she would give it back anyway.

Cote thank you, I really value your wisdom as I know nothing about yoga and I love Adriene's style of yoga. If it's Hatha then I will look for a class to try. I have learned my lesson though and will be trying out a few classes before committing to one in future. I don't think I could be that unlucky again. God I hope I don't get microphone instructor!!

Drinks I think your friend is right and that's what I was expecting from my class. I filled in a form when I started and she queried the Dyspraxia and I told her what it meant in terms of difficulties. So when she started getting arsey with me I was taken aback because I thought I'd explained it well enough. I can only do what I can do and I try my best but I'm always going to struggle. I only discovered I was Dyspraxic when my son was diagnosed. Growing up I just thought I was clumsy and stupid. So doing stuff like this is a real challenge for me but I love giving it a go

I love this Yoga section. There's some really lovely, supportive people on here!

I like looked at a couple of Adrienne's videos and yes, I'd call them Hatha yoga.

I think you've been very unlucky with that teacher and seriously doubt that you'll get another one like her

Oh, that's interesting CaoNiMa - I watched that video recently and it was mesmerising (it's on YouTube if anyone else is interested).

I went to my first class in a month last night, which is shameful, but at least I'm back again. I was a bit stiff, but nothing too bad that a couple of gentler classes shouldn't sort out.

I'd like to work towards a more consistent practice as well, I certainly notice the improvement when I make 3 classes a week and I just need to translate that to some home practice as well.

Hello everyone!

I've been out of practicing for a couple of years now so am about to ease myself back in - I miss it so much! Did day one of 30 Days With Adriene yesterday and Hatha is definitely where I'm at right now. I love her style of teaching, felt so good afterward. Hoping after the 30 days are up I'll be in a good place for Vinyasa Flow which is what I used to do...

Hi all. I had to take a few days off my yoga with Adriene as I got a twinge in my lower back which took a couple of days to go away. I think I might have done it by being over-ambititious with the side plank!

Fresh from Day 2 of 30 Days and I'm already a bit less stiff than yesterday. I felt amazing when I finished, I cant believe I've not been doing it for so long!

Just caught up with this thread and how depressing that some teachers are so mean! It's supposed to be non-competitive :(

Have to say though (and this is just an idle observation, really not meaning to be controversial), I continue to be surprised by the cult of personality that I come across within yoga, it's the only aspect of "yoga" that I am wary of. And probably why I actively mix up teachers and styles, thinking about it.

Well, aren't we a talkative bunch? Get a bunch of yogis together and they meditate rather than talk. Of course.

Anyway, because nobody wants to hear me talk about yoga in RL I'm dying to share with you all that I dared a headstand in the middle of the room (away from a wall) for the first time. I asked the instructor to be there to spot me if necessary, but it went well. I stayed up for much shorter than I would have if I had a wall to touch my toes from time to time, but still...

Well done Cote, that's awesome :)

I'm feeling like a wuss today because although I intended to practice every day for the 30 days I'm startlingly sore in my core and shoulders and I don't want to do myself an injury... At least its definitely doing something I guess? back to it tomorrow!

I'm right to have rest days when I've done no exercise for far too long a time, right?

Congrats Cote! I'm really impressed, I struggle a lot with headstands. Can you share any tips? It was was a Pilates day here so no yoga to report :)

I'm no expert, myrtle, but what helped me with the headstand was:

(1) Bring my elbows closer to my head - i.e. make the base of the 'triangle' shorter.

(2) As I'm getting ready to put my head down, pull my head up & shoulders down, as if I'm growing taller iyswim.

Yes, I realise that I'm not explaining any of this well. Still hope it helps.

My problem with attempting headstands is that I really hate the feeling of the top of my head pressing into the ground - I just get that slightly unsettled feeling like I'm about to start feeling a bit sick. I don't really know how I'm going to get past that.

I'd love to be able to do a headstand in the middle of the room. I'm fine against a wall but as soon as I try and move my legs from the wall I wobble. I'm sure there is a way of holding yourself so balancing isn't as difficult but I can't figure it out! Any tips cote? It took me ages to learn to balance in tree pose until someone pointed out to me that its as much about tension in the standing leg as the bent one, after that it became easy. There must be some similar magic to doing headstands!

Squigglehead try skipping to day 8 of 30 days of yoga if you are sore in your core muscles - I did it yesterday's and it's all hamstrings and hips, no planks or anything that's going to hurt! Also it's very relaxing and slow so good of you are tired. I'm sure that there is no rule about doing them all in order!

Hazel I suspect being able to do a headstand is about core strength. I can do one against the wall but, like you, wobble when in the middle of the room but in my case I think it's because I have poor core strength (suffered a prolapse after DD3, went on to have another DD making it worse probably also making it worse doing Ashtanga but love my increasingly toned arms ) There's a big emphasis in some yoga styles on Bandhas, internal locks, and I think if you have good core strength and control over the Bandhas, inversions are much easier.

And I have also just realised as well Hazel that balance is as much about the standing leg as the lifting one. For me, it helps to stand off the mat and really spread the toes. I think in the balance poses, lots of people forget to ground the standing leg and are over eager/bit quick trying to lift the other leg to attain the pose. I certainly was, until fairly recently.

Re balancing poses - The one immensely helpful advice I have had is that you must fix your gaze on a lower fixed point. It's no secret, though, and I'm sure you all do it anyway

magic - Re feeling bizarre about having your head down: Handstand preparations can help with that:

Sit with your back to a wall. Then get up and plant your hands to a bit further than where your feet were in the seated position. Looking down at your hands, walk your feet up the wall to end up in this position. Stay here for a bit.

This is to build up strength in your arms but also to get your body used to the upside down position of the handstand. No reason why it shouldn't work for the headstand, too.

Am mainly posting to mark place. Also to say that headstand has always been about confidence with me. Some days it works, others not. The one thing I've been shown that really helped us to start with hands gripping opposite elbows, then to move hands forwards but keep elbows where they are. This gives a really stable base. Really really helped me.

Today I managed to get my heels to the ground in downward facing dog . I'm sticking at this daily practice!