First Yoga Class!

[Catrin]

The instructor seemed quite surprised to learn that I had never been in a yoga class before, but she took it in stride. I have no idea what kind of training she had but I liked her.

To start with I met with my trainer for 35 minutes, then I had an hour break before class. I didn't want to really cool down so I just walked on the track for a good portion of that. I have a new routine about getting in one 4-5 mile walk a week anyway.

I told her about my issues with knee and hip - and she made very clear that I need to listen to my body. There was one pose where she had me just sit and watch the first time they did it, then I joined in the next time. When they did shoulder stands she had me do something different.

There was really only one pose I just could not do at all, probably from hip and back stiffness. My knee did start to ache, but that stopped immediately and is fine this morning. Of course, that may have been from the walking just as much as from the class. My trainer is very careful with things that impact my knees, so I know it wasn't from that.

I did like the class, but I am a little concerned that it might be too much for my knee right now. I do think it is a good sign that the aching stopped immediately, so perhaps this will resolve as my muscles become accustomed to the movement.

Saturday morning will head to the mat Pilates class and see if it has the same effect on my knee. I liked the Yoga class better than Pilates, I especially liked the range of movement, the slow pace and the meditative atmosphere. I also sweated a lot more than I do in Pilates, that has to be a good sign

[NbyNW]

That's great, Catrin!

Sounds like your yoga instructor took a very sensible approach. My guess is that she will be interested to know how you feel these first few days after the class and hopefully she will have some suggestions for how you can avoid aggravating the knee.

Your explorations with your hip/back/knee have inspired me. I've been living in denial of some chronic muscle soreness, mostly IT band up through my glutes and lower back, especially when I have snow to shovel! Gets me thinking that maybe I can relieve some of these problems if I change things up a bit.

[jessmarimba]

Glad you had such a great experience! I fear those really slow paced classes - my teacher last week spent so long explaining everything to all of the new people I thought my arms were going to fall off We barely covered any poses, but after 5 minutes straight in downward dog I was sweating buckets!

[indysteel]

I'm glad you liked the class, Catrin! You know how I feel about yoga; it's my weekly safety valve. Do you remember what pose or poses bothered your knee or was it just class in general? Have you seen your doc yet about it?

[Catrin]

I'm glad you liked the class, Catrin! You know how I feel about yoga; it's my weekly safety valve. Do you remember what pose or poses bothered your knee or was it just class in general? Have you seen your doc yet about it?

It was pretty much just class in general - though I do have to wonder if it was primarily from crossing my legs - I suspect that was the culprit since it puts pressure on the kneecap. It did not hurt it when I did it but, in retrospect, I probably should not have done that.

I am taking a topical medication meant to bring down the inflammation. It is much better than it was! I am going to visit him next week if it is still bothering me, we are giving it a little over 2 weeks for the medicine to work. Feels great on the bike/spinning bike though

[indysteel]

My knees and hips don't always like cross legged. At the worst of my hip pain, I couldn't sit cross legged at all.

If yoga messes with your knee then, by all means, don't do it, but I do think a mindful yoga practice can better attune you to the things your body can and can't do, which could be beneficial to you since you've indicated in the past that sometimes you can't tell the difference between soreness and injury.