Yoga - CD/SD

Yoga is not a competitive sport - that's why I like it!

Yeah, these videos definitely show an idealized version that I know I will never get close to, but they are at least helpful in laying out what to aim for.

One thing that I do in a bunch of positions that involve a bind is using a strap to make up the difference.
For shoulder stands, I've been using a block to prop up my back, which helps take pressure off my neck. Also sometimes just do legs up the wall.
I can't do headstands at all, so I do a version of plank with forearms on the ground.
For hopping forward and backward, out of down dog or into plank, I've been trying to get less forceful and lighten a bit, instead of landing like a bag of bricks, which was jarring on my neck.

I can't do most of the what that video shows, either! I don't have the flow committed to memory yet (and I've been doing this for years) so needed it for reference.

I can't do headstands at all, so I do a version of plank with forearms on the ground.

Do you mean dolphin pose?

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/68/75/fe/6875fef132455b568dc227f0206fb28a.jpg

BTW, for jump-throughs, have you tried putting blocks under your hands? That way you have more room for your legs, which I bet would help with your control. And from recent personal experience, I realized how much work my lower core needs to be able to retract my legs enough to do a smooth jump-through.

more like a plank version of that without my butt up in the air, but dolphin pose would work too

I haven't tried blocks, but I could see how that would make it easier. I think I have short arms or something.

everyone thinks they have short arms... or long legs... and we all have our quirks but it's amazing how consistent practice (and, as leee says, a lot of core work) can lengthen up those arms or shorten those legs or whatever.

Maty Ezraty says it took her eight years to get solid on the jumpthrough. Until then, blocks definitely help.

turtles actually have short legs iirc

lol true

One yoga teacher (she is just starting) said I had really long arms. Took a few classes, she was ok but as I've moved now I don't go there anymore.

Last 3 months I've been going to classes by a couple of excellent teachers at this place 5 mins from where I live, one of whom is a Senior Iyengar yoga teacher. The Capital S is earned, she is very good and strict at what she does (with a funny edge which means when she tells you off its ok), and I'm always learning. She started in her 40s "at a low ebb" and it offers hope to all of us tbh. The intermediate class is a bit of a jump for me but I feel like I am improving, and with my bits of home practice it means no bastard can grind me down no more.

The other teacher is very good too. Above all, well, she is just my type. Its just wrong really.

Iyengar is not my personal jam but any Senior Iyengar teacher is legit af.
Very serious training and not a designation you can earn just by showing up for x number of hours.

Indeed. None of this 200 hrs crap*. Iyengar teachers need to have practiced yoga for a few years then have a recommendation from an already qualified teacher to be accepted into training (or so I believe). Then its tough exams. And if you pass (and many fail) there are a few levels to get to Senior. Its quite an accmplishment for this woman. This partic teacher just pushes me to practice more (I always want to be doing yoga but fkn life man). I broke my big toe two months ago and recovered enough to go to a class after 3 weeks but not hers, just need to go back to a basic level just to keep it up.

Anyway, at my level you can definitely see the difference between a teacher that has only done it for a bit vs a Senior.

* ok not saying they are all like that - and 200 hrs is a lot of yoga.

iyengar teachers are the real deal

I am forever grateful that my first yoga study was with very legit Iyengar including John Schumacher. Having Iyengar as a foundation makes dipping into other styles safer and more meaningful imo.

^^ very much agreed. there are a lot of folks who have only practiced "vinyasa flow" who kinda have no idea

and i love vinyasa flow!

so so true. I've done a few classes of flow yoga about 6 months ago and imo what Iyengar teaches you is precision in the asanas. Really important not to fall into bad habits that are injury forming.

The one other teacher at my current studio is a former Iyengar teacher (who is also in the buddhist order) who does two types of classes: one of which is more flow based and another which is yoga+meditation (went to a couple of them as I was on my way back from broken toe) and while that didn't work for me I felt that were I ever to move from Iyengar to other practices I'd have a good foundation. But I am only interested in shadow yoga and the guy who came up with it was one of Iyengar's former pupils. No classes nearby tho'.

No longer interested in shadow yoga. Only Iyengar and Yin yoga (a very gentle practice, no inversions which is a shame, but you hold poses for minutes at a time - so deceptively light, however I've only been for a class or two)

This is a great piece on Iyengar teaching - and the critical teaching I get from the teacher I've been with for a year now (the one I mention above)

https://yogaspy.com/2017/09/25/a-critical-teacher/

Also started a practice course with the same teacher (one session a month for 5 months). So she has given a 15 min practice to do everyday (I was practicing for about 30 mins to an hour 2/3 times a week but scaled all that back for now) and we're looking at practicing paranayama safely in the next session.

nothing gentle about yin lol. those long holds can be fkn brutal.

Yes indeed, didn't mean to downplay it...

I've had to ramp down my practice recently due to repeated injuries. Need to find a way to keep up without killing myself, but it's been tough finding the right balance.

Negotiating so I can practice intensely but with the heightened awareness to avoid injury.

Good to ramp it down, look at the asanas that are causing injury and maybe adapt so you can keep practising and looking at it.

Been practicing most days for about an hour this month, and started doing some pranayama too.

In my experience if there is an injury then - funnily enough - doing yoga is what aids the recovery. I did my back a little bit when I tried this tough twist but then I did a lighter practice the next day and that cleared it off.

yeah, i'm finding that as long as i finish an hour of running with an hour of yoga my legs are fine and if i skip even just twice, i end up with an injury.

i skipped it today but i have been going to a workplace free yoga class taught by my coworker and it is so wonderful. not only does it feel good, but stretch-bonding with my coworkers is a nice side effect.
otherwise i normally do yoga in my basement by myself. going to the class 1x a week is really nice because i don't have to make any decisions and someone else (the teacher) is in the driver's seat. not being in the driver's seat periodically is essential for people who work in emotionally draining professions imo.

Plus a teacher shows you other ways to do things and streches (no pun intended) any notions of what might be possible.

ok shit I have a groin strain on my right leg aargh - got it by doing warrior pose against the wall.

I am still practicing every day - but not that.

Has anyone here had this? How long does it take to heal up?

I had a minor car crash about 1 1/2 weeks ago and I crunched my wrist, not sure that it is a full on fracture, mire like a bine bruise, but it looks like I'm done with yoga until next year. 😣

damn sorry to hear that - my body really missed yoga for about 2/3 weeks when I broke my toe last year.

(someone I know is a piano player and has had issues practicing yoga with her wrist issues but now has qualified recently to teach yoga..)

I've had a series of injuries over the past year, mostly shoulders and neck, that have slowed me down, but this is the first one where I feel like I just need need to stop for a while.

that's crazy, i ALSO got a groin strain on my right leg this past thursday when i was climbing. It really pulls you out of running/yoga/climbing for sure.

Depending on the severity, my understanding is between a week and a half to several months will heal it. I was bouldering ten feet up on a wall when i heard a pop in my upper thigh... not a good feeling.

I believe you want to avoid static stretching while the adductors heal... they're tiny little muscles but they can bounce back if you don't fuck with them too hard. The pain from it is waking me up in the mornings but it's starting to fade a bit... unfortunately it also feels like it's pulling against my right testicle all the time, which is a very funky and unpleasant sensation.

sorry about your wrist moodles, that sucks. maybe talk to your yoga teacher and ask if they have recommendations for work you can do at home to make sure the scar tissue doesn't cause problems later?

Actually a day or two after I posted that back in November the strain cleared enough so I could walk at my usual pace and then I kept practicing. It is now pretty much gone. I didn't feel any strain whatsoever in class this morning.

Course finished last month - we went through a variety of approaches so I am using that plus getting whatever bits and pieces I learn in class. I make notes (though not as much as I should) from class and try and incorporate with the practice the week after too.

In May it will be nearly four years since I've started - and given what has been going on personally I have to say it just makes things a bit better. Any bit of daily practice gives me 'space' and strengthens my nervous system for the challenges ahead. I will need it.

I'm back at Hatha Flow now even though my hand hasn't healed up at all after 3 months. Using a block to prop up my right arm for stuff like down dog and plank. I'm really feeling the lack of exercise for 2 months, everything seems way harder than I remember.

Alabama may lift a decades-old ban on yoga in public schools, but the greeting "namaste" would remain on the forbidden list. Under a bill in the state House local school systems could teach yoga, but moves and exercises would have to have English names. https://t.co/sttgfCylZv

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 8, 2020

do they allow French in ballet classes?

Funnily enough I tried this power yoga class run by an Indian teacher yesterday.

Looked him up and he has a decolonising yoga project and he seems really left-wing (judging by his twitter). He is very much into demystifying yoga for complete beginners.

I'll go now and then as we don't often get to practice arm balances in Iyengar yoga.

Anyone got recommendations for YouTube yogis? I can’t see myself going back to class for a while

A couple of teachers I know are doing zoom classes. Not ideal but this is all that is available to me.

I have used this time to actually practice using the sequences at the back of Light on Yoga. First time I have really engaged with it, the photographs of Iyengar doing advanced postures always put me off.

I started doing yoga for the first time ever to counteract the effects of working from a kitchen chair all day, just using that Down Dog channel. It's ok, I like it fine, nothing overly challenging and it's easy to follow. I have nothing to compare it to though.

Anyone got recommendations for YouTube yogis? I can’t see myself going back to class for a while

― badg, Thursday, 2 April 2020 bookmarkflaglink

A lot of studios are doing online classes. Do you mean specific YouTube only ppl?

I believe the place I had been going to, Black Swan Yoga, has a daily livestream on YouTube. Can't vouch for their quality. They also have an app you can subscribe to that has a bunch of content.

"Black Swan Yoga" is a bit on the nose, no?

I like EkhartYoga and Fightmaster Yoga on YouTube. I avoid classes with music (just no) and instructors I find irritating (obv).

There's a lot that's unfortunate about their branding, tbh. I'm hesitant to fully endorse them because their vibe is a little offputting in general, but I at least get solid workouts from their routines.

xp

I avoid classes with music (just no) and instructors I find irritating (obv).

yeah i'm permanently scarred from having a beck song come up on some instructor's playlist.

The studio where my wife teaches is streaming live throughout the day On IG and archiving on FB. I highly recommend a Bikram class with Gary or Power with Claudia.

https://m.facebook.com/ashrambellevue/

I use this for Ashtanga:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJzfZ6w0s4g

Though there's also this class from K Pattabhi Jois too, which I haven't checked out.

I like this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Krp4W0TlAU

yeah i'm permanently scarred from having a beck song come up on some instructor's playlist.

Lol! This happened to me too w Beck but it was a free class my coworker was giving and I let it slide, she’s nice and I like her. The only music-containing yoga class I’ve enjoyed that wasn’t self-directed within the last 15 years was a metal yoga class. I love the immersive loudness and now I just do metal yoga at home.

Strongly recommend the track “Catharsis” by YOB bc it’s 23 min long (perfect for warmup) and has a spectacular ending.

Most of the non Ashtanga classes I've attended have had some kind of music, ranging from unobtrusive to painfully cringe inducing. The best ones lean heavily towards balearic bliss. I will credit one teacher, who mostly had terrible taste, for once having a playlist that featured "Tears in the Typing Pool" into "Parallelograms".

I sort of expect & enjoy fairly cheesy songs at class but an instructor played Bill Callahan once which was a pleasant surprise.

Thanks for the recommendations they were exactly what I was looking for.