First Yoga Class!

[OakLeaf]

Some poses will always be problematic to some people, but it seems to me that focusing on foot loop and inner spiraling the thighs really improves knee safety. This language might be unique to Anusara and/or Iyengar, but I think any style of yoga has the same concepts of alignment? My teacher always makes sure we engage the feet, and sit on whatever we need to to keep the knees below the hips, in sukhasana.

http://www.doyoga.com/update_article...ted_update.pdf
http://www.yogatic.com/yoga/principles-of-alignment/

I know for me that I've had to work a LOT on foot strength and flexibility. It's coming, little by little. It's been so exciting to me to start seeing some movement in my tarsal-metatarsal joints, that had been completely locked.

It's a fine line, too - especially with your history of pushing too far - but for me, yoga brings blood, lymph and healing to injured areas like no other workout does. There's a kind of ouch I can tell is good, but there's definitely an ouch to avoid, too, and you're probably best avoiding anything that hurts.

[Catrin]

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.

Right now ANYTHING can mess with my knee until the supporting structure gets stronger. Some days even walking make me aware of the existence of the knee-cap

I can see some definite benefits to Yoga that I didn't notice in the Pilates class. I have developed such an ingrained habit of totally ignoring anything remotely like pain - and there were reasons how that happened - that I quite often am unsure if something is just soreness or injury. Had a broken bone once that I ignored for three weeks - I assumed it was just sprained since I could still use the thing I do like the idea that an intentional and mindful yoga practice can help me become more aware of my body limitations.

Some poses will always be problematic to some people, but it seems to me that focusing on foot loop and inner spiraling the thighs really improves knee safety. This language might be unique to Anusara and/or Iyengar, but I think any style of yoga has the same concepts of alignment? My teacher always makes sure we engage the feet, and sit on whatever we need to to keep the knees below the hips, in sukhasana.

http://www.doyoga.com/update_article...ted_update.pdf
http://www.yogatic.com/yoga/principles-of-alignment/

I know for me that I've had to work a LOT on foot strength and flexibility. It's coming, little by little. It's been so exciting to me to start seeing some movement in my tarsal-metatarsal joints, that had been completely locked.

It's a fine line, too - especially with your history of pushing too far - but for me, yoga brings blood, lymph and healing to injured areas like no other workout does. There's a kind of ouch I can tell is good, but there's definitely an ouch to avoid, too, and you're probably best avoiding anything that hurts.

I will check out the links, thank you! I need to find a different way of approaching these things and am trying to learn from my past mistakes - especially from last fall. I know that I have flexibility issues with both hips and feet - I hadn't thought that this might be able to help both of them!

[Catrin]

Went to a mat pilates class this morning to compare how my knee likes it....and I do have to admit that my knee was much happier after class than it was after the yoga class. So, at least for now, I will need to stick with pilates.

I will try it again later in the year after I've strengthened the supporting structures for my knee and see if that helps. I need to go the painless route...and for now that is mat pilates. Shame, I did like the yoga class, but pilates is fine and certainly does give me the core/hip work that I need.

[jessmarimba]

Haha - I'm having the opposite experience. Yoga was the first thing I was able to do after I was cleared to exercise and it's been extremely helpful. 7 months after my wreck and I tried my first pilates class...owwwww!! But a good ow, so I will keep going back. My back has been spasming all day though and I can't quite figure out how to make it stop.

[nscrbug]

I tried my first yoga class today. It was at my gym, so I got there at my usual time (when the gym opens) and did 75 minutes of cardio first. Then I took the yoga class. I enjoyed it very much. Our instructor is VERY pregnant, but that didn't seem to interfere at all, with her being able to teach the class. It was a very basic class, geared towards beginners...so there were no difficult or really challenging poses. I found it to be quite relaxing. Although I did have some trouble trying to relax my body at the start of the class. But this could have been because I had just come off running on the treadmill and my HR was still pretty high. The only other issue I had throughout the class, was that I was cold...as in chilled to the bone. Could be because my clothes were wet from sweating through cardio just prior to the class. I may have to bring a dry top to change into next time. I will definitely try the class again...that is, until the weather starts getting nice enough to ride again. Being out on my bike will always win over being indoors taking a class.

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, temperature is often an issue in gym yoga classes, because they set the thermostats for treadmill rats doing heavy cardio and older ladies who freak out if their foundation gets dewy. You definitely want a blanket for shavasana even if you don't use one as a prop.

[OakLeaf]

More on yoga anatomy and knees:

http://www.dailybandha.com/2011/03/s...it-people.html

[sundial]

...older ladies who freak out if their foundation gets dewy.

Oak, lol! I have to admit I would probably not enjoy "hot" yoga. I am hot natured enough without having to sweat buckets in a 90 F room.

Catrin, did you meet with a PT for your health issue?