New to Yoga

Hi again Darcy

Yes, we all have different bodies so some postures will be easier than others for different people, I found downwards dog hard too at first because I have short hamstring muscles, it is just the way my body is. It will definitely come with practice, just do not force your body as you will injure yourself, it is best to just give it time and patience and let it all come naturally. I have been doing yoga practice for nearly 10 years on and off and I still have trouble with head stands! But there are a lot of advanced postures I can do perfectly now, which I couldn't master for the first year or two of practice.

I love Yoga too, have been practicing for years now and believe me you will be amazed at the changes it makes in your body, mind and spirit. Things just click and fall into place, it is beautiful. Just practice with joy, never force or push or be too hard on yourself, yoga should lead to a sense of peace, unity and well-being after all! I see too many people in classes trying to force things to happen, or getting worried that they are not doing something 'right'. Do not worry, it all comes with time and every time you practice will be different. Just be mindful of the present moment and listen to your body.

Hi Darcy and welcome to the Healthy Page forum.

I know little about Yoga and i am think of taking some classes from a friend of who is experienced. However, i didn't reply to talk about my self :022:

I would like to suggest you a website that i came across and provides free online yoga classes! it is yogatoday.com and it worths visiting 🙂

Hello again curious george thanks for your advice. Wow 10 years is a long time you must be very experienced. I went to yoga practice last night and i just enjoy it soo much. I have always been interested and cant believe i left it so long to try! I think it could be addictive (a good addiction of course LOL). I see what you mean about just taking it easy, i just relax and do what i can and i am surprising myself. I still have so much to learn and obviously need to really loosen up lots but i feel like it flows a bit none the less which is great, it is so relaxing although fairly strenuous. I cant wait to see my body change from it, its amazing how much strength you use for some of the poses - i had no idea, so it must be great for toning...

Thanks feelinghealthy for the webpage i will definitely take a look. You must definitely try it.

You are so right about not pushing yourself - we all have very different bodies and degrees of flexibility. My yoga teacher always says that yoga should not hurt if it does you are trying too hard. I take her advice and do what my body allows me to do. As by chance my friend who's a yoga teacher just phoned me and I asked her what yuo can do about tight hamstrings. She has suggested sit with back straight and left leg parallel to
a wall and swing legs up the wall so that the body is in an L shape with the back along the floor. It is a very comfortable position and gently stretches the hamstrings. After a while you can let the legs slide apart gently to stretch more. I hope you get what I mean.

So please be gentle with yourself your flexibility will improve with patience and practice.

Love and Light
Binah
xx

Hi Darcy, I agree with Curious George and Binah.

With regards to your heels, accept that you may never get them down to the mat. Some people are naturally more flexible that others without ever practicing Yoga, and others have to work at their felixibllity so gettin your heels down may be a long way off. I happen to be "Hyper Mobile", which means some of my joint are over flexible making it easy fot get my heels to the floor or touch my elbow together behind my back.
No every one will master every posture, take into account your bones structure. When you look around at others in their asana it is all to easy to judge ourselves next to them, but we are all differnet shapes, sizes and flexiblilty. I'm 5 foot one, nothing do will make me 5 foot 6 - and that is what I tell people when they appear to be struggling with a posture, aaccept yourself as your are today and simply observe the way your progress over your life time of yoga.
I've been practicing Yoga for over 12 years now but it took me ten years before I could do the crow.
The beauty of this wonderful practice is your never stop progessing, mind, body and spirit.
Om Shanti
Purplewolf

Hello Darcy,
Glad you are enjoying your yoga classes. I did it many moons ago and am hoping to find a class to join in the new year - I'll just have to remember I'm not as supple as I used to be (actually, it would be hard to forget these days)!
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I keep meaning to start yoga. The advice on this thread is great - it'll remind me to take things steady and listen to my body, just need to find a class in the New Year too.

Hi Darcy, I agree with Curious George and Binah.

I've been practicing Yoga for over 12 years now but it took me ten years before I could do the crow...

Om Shanti
Purplewolf

Wow, there is hope for me yet with headstands then!

I've fallen out of my daily yoga practice this year, so new years resolution for me will be to get dedicated and make time for this again, to create my own peaceful space to enjoy every day.

Hello again Curious George, the new year is upon us and I'm just about to roll out my Yoga mat - my peaceful space. That's it really, I just wanted to say they were ever you lay your mat, that's your peaceful space.
Best wishes to all of you in the new year and your personal practise.

Om Shanti and Bright Blessings
Purplewolf

My yoga teacher went on holiday for a month only back on 14th Jan, so i got a dvd to practice with at home. It doesn't go too much into depth which is great seeing as i am still pretty new to it. I coped ok on my own. I just did some now. I feel better for it.

Start the year off as you wish to carry it on.

Have a great 2009.

Hi Darcy

When you are in the pose, try lifting onto the balls of your feet and turning your sit bones (bottom of your pelvis) towards the ceiling as much as you can, then exhale, lengthen your spine so there is no curve in the lumbar region (waist area) and let your heels drop towards the floor. Push into the hands but keep the shoulder blades down your back so the head and neck are free and loose.

They still might not get right down but should get a bit lower. As your hamstrings stretch you will get closer to the floor over time - yoga isn't for 'I want it now' but 'I experience now' so just enjoy it. Experiment with how close your hands and feet are i.e. the distance between your right hand and right foot, left hand and left foot, with your feet hip width apart, or heels together. Don't think about the perfect posture, think about the perfect experience (whatever that might be!)

above all, observe, don't judge, and most importantly of all

ENJOY!

Hi again
Just thought I should also add that some people will never get their heels down, not because of tight hamstrings but because of the ankle joint which affects their ability to dorsiflex the foot (pull the toes back towards the shins). You will know if this is the case if you feel the restriction in the ankle but no stretch in the back of the legs. (e.g. if you can do a seated forward bend and lie 'flat' across your legs with your toes pointing up towards the ceiling it is unlikely to be your hamstrings restricting your movement). Difficult to say for certain without seeing someone in action. You might be able to improve ankle flexibility slightly but some people's bone structure prevent the movement.

The beauty of yoga is that this doesn't really matter as you will still be stimulating your energy channels.

Blessings

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Yoga makes me dizzy

Does anyone know why I get dizzy in my yoga class when my head is down?

Lou Ann

This is great. I have major trouble with downward dog too, and get frustrated as it's one of the main poses - I have to really concentrate on not getting stressed that I can't do it. Partly why I'm attracted to yoga in the first place - too much perfectionism!

I have short/tight hamstrings and flat feet too. The great thing is that I have really good balance and very bendy hips so there are several more 'difficult' poses that I don't find so hard. It all balances out in the end and it's just good to bear in mind that it's not a competition.