re: Poblems with yoga - and modifying first series to

[Guest guest]

Hi Anna,

Sounds to me like you need a new Ashtanga teacher. I

have basically the same kind of body you describe, and

have been in the beginner class at my yoga center for

3 years! I have *never* been able to jump back or up

again much, and my teacher and I are both fine with

that.

 

Yoga is not a competitive sport. It is a journey, you

do it at your own pace, for your own benefit.

Try going to a different teacher's ashtanga class. I

have two favorites at IYC in Tokyo -- Junko on Tues

and Chieko on Thurs and Sun mornings. They are both

gentle sorts, very different from some of the

drill sargent types I have encountered elsewhere!

 

Perhaps I will someday be able to do all the poses as

they " should " be done, but I am not holding my

breath...

It feels good the way I do it, and I have made

good progress. I can put down my heels now in downward

dog, that took me about a year to accomplish.

 

Cheryl in Tokyo

 

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>

> 5. Poblems with yoga - and modifying first series to

> suit my body type.

> Posted by: " dafiestychicka "

> dafiestychicka dafiestychicka

> Thu Apr 5, 2007 5:13 pm ((PDT))

>

> hi all

>

> i've been practicing ashtanga yoga for the past 8

> months or so. not

> everyday, cos i also do some yin yoga, ausara yoga

> and hot yoga in

> between to ensure different parts of my body gets

> work done on it.

>

> the prob i've got with ashtanga is this - much as i

> love it, i'm

> beginning to suspect it might not be the right form

> of yoga for a

> woman of my type.

>

> let me explain why by telling you about how my body

> is built. I am

> generally plump in size, with womanly hips and ample

> thighs and butt,

> and even though i have toned up of my various body

> parts from

> ashtanga:

> - my 38DD cup boobs and little jelly belly doesn't

> enable me to do the

> much of the postures towards the end from the plough

> pose onwards.

> - in terms of the vinyasas, both standing and

> seating, jumpbacks are a

> problemn for me too. When i do the jumpforwards, my

> wrists and elbow

> joints start to hurt. i much prefer to step forward,

> but i dont think

> my yoga teacher is keen on that cos she sees it as

> laziness and starts

> to bark from her end of the room.

>

> My questions are as follows

> - do you think i should try a different form of

> yoga? (i hope not!)

> - how can i modify the poses to make me more

> comfortable? I've started

> talking to my teachers about modifications and she's

> given me some

> suggestions, but i'll also like to hear your

> thoughts, since many of

> you are teachers or experiencd student.

>

> In my opinion, I shouldn't have to give up yoga on

> account of my size,

> but my lack of progress has greatly frustrated me. I

> recognise that

> the first series takes about 2 years to learn. but

> here in asia, where

> it is terribly competitive even among students of

> yoga, they pretty

> much get it within a couple of months, by pushing

> themselves real

> hard. I don't want to push myself too hard. But it's

> getting harder to

> shut them out and focus on myself.

>

> Anna, Aged 32

>

>

 

Cheryl

 

 

camtosh

skype: camtosh

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl and everyone who have responded to my post!

 

Thanks so very much for your advice.

 

Allow me to talk about my teacher, cos a couple of you raised concern over her

being too drill sergeant like.

 

Frankly, I find that her style of teaching suits me well cos I have the

tendency to be lazy and slack during class on days when I'm feeling tired or

stressed.

 

I have tried teachers who have a more gentle approach but I found I didn't

progress much. More importantly, my passion for ashtanga hasn't been as strong

as when this fiery teacher teaches me. I'd liken her to a strict but loving

parent. She does motivate.

 

Also, her own teacher has a rather strict style as well, so i guess it's

pretty much passed on to her.

 

To a large extent, one's own mind plays a huge role in their journey with

ashtanga. I am struggling with this journey now, due to two things - my ego and

my competitive nature. It's definitely not doing me any good. Also, I know I

need to come to terms with my own body. Yoga has helped me a lot in this aspect

- i'm slowly learning to accept my strengths and limitations, what I can and

can't do.

 

I love this forum for the simple reason that in times of struggle I realise I

am not alone, there are so many kind words and so much support, I truly

appreciate it.

 

Namaste

Anna