Going backwards to go forwards

[RubberDuck]

Wanted to share an interesting experience I've had this week and wondered if others have found it works for them in a similar way.

First some background (sorry this is a bit long!)

I'm not new to yoga. I've never been on an "official" class (I'm not really a social animal when it comes to exercising!) but I've drifted in and out since I borrowed books from my mum when I was a child, have used various videos, apps etc. Never got to any particularly advanced poses, but certainly moved beyond "beginner".

This last year, I've started a proper regular daily practice (due to health reasons stopping me from doing my beloved weight lifting) and it's really at this point yoga has started to 'click' and move beyond just something to keep some flexibility. (It's probably not coincidental that I've also had a daily meditation practice for the last two years).

Anyway, I started with a new site - YogaAnytime, which is nicely designed because it has various "shows" you can follow so it feels like a progression I can commit to rather than isolated classes. And for the hell of it, I've started at the very beginner "intro" class - Welcome to Yoga with Kira Ryder who very much reminds me of Adriene with the attitude of self-kindness and do what feels good, in a playful way.

It's been really good for me. A bit like "beginner's mind" in meditation. Because the class is slowed right down with lots of explanation, I've got out of my head and into my body so much more. And given myself permission to do the "easy" version with blocks or with a strap, even though I don't really need them, just to see what it feels like.

And it turns out, if I use blocks to lift my hands up off the floor for a simple low lunge and really take my time, I get a much deeper, gentler stretch to the muscles around my knee. Radically deeper. And I can get a much deeper, kinder stretch in my shoulders if I use a strap rather than clasp my hands together behind my back in the shoulder openers. Revelatory!

Sorry that's a bit long winded, but it was rather a light bulb moment for me and I really wanted to share it with someone who understood :) Going to spend a lot more time in the Level 1 classes and really get to know myself a lot better, now.

Interesting! I have only recently started focusing more on 'perfect' alignment of the spine rather than reaching as far as I can - in Trikonasana, for example, touching the inside of my calf rather than the floor so I can truly stack one hip on top of the other. Maybe it's time to use the strap more, as well.

I have to admit to a certain un-yoga pride in class, where if everyone touches the floor I feel I have to, as well. I work from home and (contrary to what one might assume) find it difficult to find time for yoga practice there because there is always something that needs to be done. Well done for sticking with daily meditation for years and now a regular yoga practice.

I hope you can go back to weight lifting soon, too. I know it's terrible to be benched from a sport you love because of an injury.

Yes, I totally know what you mean about the un-yoga pride! Before it's always been phrased as "if you can't reach/do X/find it hurts, try using a block or strap" and it didn't really apply, so I never tried.

Kira Ryder phrased it "sometimes it feels nice to bring the floor up a little higher with a block" and I think that was key (along with the general 'play', 'find what feels good' approach) to me giving it a go, just to see how it felt. I wish I'd tried it before, now :)

Sadly, the health reasons for stopping lifting was/is a hiatus hernia/oesophagitis and that's not going to get better. So weight lifting is permanently off the exercise menu. But, I'm enjoying yoga so much more now, so good things have come out of it!

I just looked up hiatus hernia I know what it's like to have to give up an activity you love. I have made my peace with not being able to run anymore like you, I have found yoga again after a 10-year hiatus. So something good has indeed come out of it