Yoga Contents Archive

I attended my first class at a new studio yesterday - is this normal?

Hi all. I’m super new to yoga, as I’ve only been doing yoga at home with YouTube and Apple Fitness. I took my first class at a studio near me and overall it went fine. But my question is-does the instructor usually do the poses with you to an extent? The instructor at my class did none with us, and just said which pose to do. It was a class that was for all levels and I don’t know what all the names are, so I had to look at what others were doing and try to replicate. The music was a little loud so it was hard to hear the instructor at times. If this is normal, and I just have to learn over time, that’s totally fine. Just not sure and would like some input :)

Help with Working Through Triggers

I made a salad the other day and my partner didn’t like it because he doesn’t like fruity dressings. I took it so personally and it literally felt like being stabbed in the heart. I had a full blown panic attack over it. I ruminated on it for an entire night and still think about it. It seems so ridiculous and silly to me but I couldn’t escape. Obviously there was a trigger there. I want to get down to the heart if that and heal that aspect of me. I’m looking for guidance if some sort. I know I struggle with not feeling good enough and have abandonment issues from childhood. Looking for communities, books, guides, etc. to help with understanding these triggers and working through them.

How to not beat yourself up about sitting out of postures

I usually do hot yoga a couple of times a week, I’m due on my period and really struggled through most postures today and had to keep sitting out. My teacher is awesome and encouraging, and made me feel so much better within myself, but I feel (and I know this isn’t what yoga should be about) kind of disappointed in myself for not being able to do much. I and then also feel shame in not being able to let go of my disappointment! Maybe it’s the hormones. Just struggled today!

Three healthy and important herbs that help you maintain mental and psychological health.

A common cue—decoded. https://t.co/swGc271qQn

Thoughts on prenatal yoga

Have you heard of consent cards?

I recently visited a local studio for the first time. At the beginning of class the instructor introduced herself to me and handed me what she called a “consent card”. It was a small laminated paper. One side was green, and the other side was red. All the students in class had one. Basically its for the instructor to know whether or not you would like them to physically touch you for corrections/adjustments. Instead of them having to ask you in the middle of a pose, they can glance at your card next to your mat to see if you want adjustments or not. Maybe this is a common thing, but i’ve never seen it until now and I think its such a good idea! I always feel awkward when i’m halfway upside down and can’t tell if the instructor is asking me or someone else a question, then having to answer out loud. Have you seen something similar to this before?

It only takes one pose. https://t.co/gGtEhXjYuM

If you have trouble sleeping, this is for you. https://t.co/4D9n3oCh2a

Hypermobile hips

I’ve been practicing yoga about 6 months now, pretty much daily. I have pretty hypermobile hips at baseline and originally had paradoxically tight calf/hamstrings. I have loosened (and strengthened) my leg muscles significantly…I can now bring by head flat to my shins in forward fold. I essentially feel nothing in a full expression of shoelace. However I really struggle with one-leg balancing poses and find a more “advanced” bound expression much easier (ie sugar cane easier than half moon, standing hand to toe easier than standing knee to chest lol). I think I might cut back on deep stretching for a while (even though stretching feels sOoOoOoo good) to focus on stability. Any poses/exercises you’d recommend?

Another yoga student corrected me during class...

I was in yoga when another student came in 5 minutes late and set up beside me really close. I figured this was fine as this yoga teacher was very popular so it's a bit squishy in the classes. She kept watching me when we went into each pose. She's a much more advanced yogi. When the yoga instructor said to walk your hands to the back of the mat, I absentmindedly, walked my feet to the front. She then said to me, "no, at the back of the mat like he said". During the rest of the class, she kept trying to make eye contact to further correct me in other poses (e.g. she was trying to tell me to out my feet flat down on the ground in squat pose). I'm a fairly newish yogi so I know I don't know everything. I don't know how to tell someone not to micro yoga teach me without it ruining the class for myself and everyone else?

Can't even do beginners yoga

Hello friends. I have been weightlifting for years which has made me incredibly tight in my lower body and back. I can't even do most of the beginner yoga poses, for example I can't put my hands down to my feet and in general I struggle with anything that requires lower body flexibility. This makes me kind of demotivated but I really love the effect yoga had on me so far. If anyone has tips for me or some ultra-beginner yoga videos that would be great! Thank you.

Man’s got one hell of a lizard pose going on

[OC] Try out this strong and flowy yoga sequence and lmk how it goes 🩷

This is my yoga connection

I live in a yoga-poor section of the country. I’m a working professional. The 3 yoga-including exercise businesses around here cater to a crowd that apparently don’t work at all or have self-hours jobs; all classes are during my job hours (basically M-F 7-5), and there’s nothing on the weekends open to me if I don’t have a $200 yoga-joint subscription, and they’re all 30 miles away and popular, aka tough to get a spot. The one place that offered evening/night classes closed down because the owner sold it and relocated, the new owner turned it into a food joint. I’ve found that commenting here gives me a little feeling of connection. Too bad I can’t actually DO anything with people, but at least I can share knowledge and feel a kinship to others of my kind.