Yoga is not just the asana (physical) piece of yoga- it’s only 1 of yoga’s 8 limbs. How we live our life, how we treat others, how we calm ourselves and tune into our inner self are all benefits of practicing yoga in the best way. I find a sense of calm on my mat. A place where I can ‘exhale’ stress or anxiety even if I’m not ‘making’ a yoga shape. It’s a gift everyone should try for themselves. And yes- not once- it’s a practice! Namaste.
Thank you for this comment. The physical part is a good place to start and well worth it on its own, but you’re absolutely right. There’s a lot more to it than that!
But getting serious for a minute (and I'm hardly ever serious), I have had yoga moments that have brought me to tears. Before my knee injury in 2023, I was a part-time yoga lover at best. Not super disciplined about it. But after my knee injury (and gaining 20+ pounds and losing a shit ton of mobility in my knee) I had to do something that was low impact. When I couldn't walk I looked up "chair yoga" on Youtube just to feel some sense of doing something for my health. As I recovered, I'll never forget how triumphant I felt the first time I could bring myself out of a lunge and into a warrior 2 without using a table or chair to lift myself. I cried.
I'm still not 100% with this knee but I'll be damned if I'm not alllllllmost able to do a yogi squat without a block under my bum 🧡
Yoga can be life changing. I think most people are missing that point. Thanks for sharing this Tim and Kyla! I loved it!
Thank you Kristi! I’m glad you got your mobility back. I bet your dog is happy you did yoga too, the walks probably improved in quality: “Meh, short walk with this lame human. I give it two paws out of five, would still recommend though because I’m a dog.”
You are so right! It can be totally life changing. I remember my first headstand (which I humbly cannot practice now with a tender back injury) -- I was like, woah! I can do anything!
I am not constantly doing yoga, but I do realize that I feel better afterward and that my back hurts less. trying to make it a habit and include more conscious breathing!
I know how hard it can be to get going. If you want some tips on how to make it a habit, look for my next post. I’m going to talk about how I got myself to do yoga every morning- starting as a guy who hated to even get out of bed before.
But what I’m writing about applies to starting any new activity
Thanks for this Tim. I wrote a post several years ago with a slightly different take that you might find interesting. I just recently posted it my blog. It's called "Yoga Isn't for Everyone ... Here's Why". https://www.victoriafann.com/blog/yoga-isnt-for-everyone-heres-why
This is fantastic information. Thank you. It’s important to have a good instructor and/or know your limits. Be gentle with yourself. Don’t exceed your limits of motion. Listen to the body’s signals. Stop if there are warning signs. And never try to be as flexible as someone who has that super bendy body if you’re built like a log of wood like me! I’ll never do what most of my instructors can. When bone hits bone, you can’t bend any farther.
Since yoga is everywhere these days, it's more important than ever to be discerning about teachers and ALWAYS listen to our bodies. I did hot yoga once and felt awful when the class ended. It took over two hours to cool down. Obviously, my body wasn't happy with it, so I never did it again.
Yoga is beautiful for any soul. I took a yoga teacher training, vinyasa flow. Mostly just for myself... I doubt I will teach, but the experience of the training was so wonderful. Yoga keeps my lower back in order!
Oh I would have LOVED that! I went 2020-2021. Almost pushed it off as my dad had just died, but it was actually probably a gift that helped me work through the loss.
Here is my yogic poem for Happy Baby for you to read. It is from my series, A Poem for Every Pose, which intends to bring a more personal connection and presence to the asanas... They take the pose... behind the pose... https://coriefeiner.substack.com/p/how-to-become-a-happy-baby?r=1vl0c8
"At its roots, yoga has the potential to offer a presence in all moments of our lives, a richness far beyond the offerings of money, looks, and glory." -- love this!
Yoga is not just the asana (physical) piece of yoga- it’s only 1 of yoga’s 8 limbs. How we live our life, how we treat others, how we calm ourselves and tune into our inner self are all benefits of practicing yoga in the best way. I find a sense of calm on my mat. A place where I can ‘exhale’ stress or anxiety even if I’m not ‘making’ a yoga shape. It’s a gift everyone should try for themselves. And yes- not once- it’s a practice! Namaste.
Thank you for this comment. The physical part is a good place to start and well worth it on its own, but you’re absolutely right. There’s a lot more to it than that!
It is like the gateway to the rest... it is poetic by nature... and man, it can really help heal your body... especially the back!
Yes, a gateway that I would like to get a few more people through!
Asana is definitely a great place to start for anyone who is new to yoga!
It is totally a practice!
Okay, first of all....those MEMES! 😆
But getting serious for a minute (and I'm hardly ever serious), I have had yoga moments that have brought me to tears. Before my knee injury in 2023, I was a part-time yoga lover at best. Not super disciplined about it. But after my knee injury (and gaining 20+ pounds and losing a shit ton of mobility in my knee) I had to do something that was low impact. When I couldn't walk I looked up "chair yoga" on Youtube just to feel some sense of doing something for my health. As I recovered, I'll never forget how triumphant I felt the first time I could bring myself out of a lunge and into a warrior 2 without using a table or chair to lift myself. I cried.
I'm still not 100% with this knee but I'll be damned if I'm not alllllllmost able to do a yogi squat without a block under my bum 🧡
Yoga can be life changing. I think most people are missing that point. Thanks for sharing this Tim and Kyla! I loved it!
Thank you Kristi! I’m glad you got your mobility back. I bet your dog is happy you did yoga too, the walks probably improved in quality: “Meh, short walk with this lame human. I give it two paws out of five, would still recommend though because I’m a dog.”
Yeah it was a long ass recovery for sure! She seemed to be fairly tolerant of my slackness lol.
You are so right! It can be totally life changing. I remember my first headstand (which I humbly cannot practice now with a tender back injury) -- I was like, woah! I can do anything!
I wrote a poem about it here: https://open.substack.com/pub/coriefeiner/p/how-to-turn-your-world-upside-down?r=1vl0c8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Corie, I still can't do one so I applaud you, even if you can't anymore.
I am not constantly doing yoga, but I do realize that I feel better afterward and that my back hurts less. trying to make it a habit and include more conscious breathing!
I know how hard it can be to get going. If you want some tips on how to make it a habit, look for my next post. I’m going to talk about how I got myself to do yoga every morning- starting as a guy who hated to even get out of bed before.
But what I’m writing about applies to starting any new activity
nice! will totally look out for it
This is good and affirming Tim. Just started some yoga classes myself and really enjoy that inclusive nature. Hope you're well Tim.
I’m fantastic, thanks for asking!
Thanks for this Tim. I wrote a post several years ago with a slightly different take that you might find interesting. I just recently posted it my blog. It's called "Yoga Isn't for Everyone ... Here's Why". https://www.victoriafann.com/blog/yoga-isnt-for-everyone-heres-why
This is fantastic information. Thank you. It’s important to have a good instructor and/or know your limits. Be gentle with yourself. Don’t exceed your limits of motion. Listen to the body’s signals. Stop if there are warning signs. And never try to be as flexible as someone who has that super bendy body if you’re built like a log of wood like me! I’ll never do what most of my instructors can. When bone hits bone, you can’t bend any farther.
Since yoga is everywhere these days, it's more important than ever to be discerning about teachers and ALWAYS listen to our bodies. I did hot yoga once and felt awful when the class ended. It took over two hours to cool down. Obviously, my body wasn't happy with it, so I never did it again.
Discernment is key!
Yoga is beautiful for any soul. I took a yoga teacher training, vinyasa flow. Mostly just for myself... I doubt I will teach, but the experience of the training was so wonderful. Yoga keeps my lower back in order!
I want to take one of those- for my own use as well.
I took mine through ISSA.
What is ISSA?
ISSA is International Sports Sciences Association.
Hello, fellow IIN-er! My back was a mess before I did yoga and now, mostly, it is so much more attuned!
It’s a game changer isn’t it! Go IIN!! When did you graduate?
I went IIN from 2005-6 when it was still live.
Oh I would have LOVED that! I went 2020-2021. Almost pushed it off as my dad had just died, but it was actually probably a gift that helped me work through the loss.
I had a fantastic practice with my husband called Thriving Health, which is going well until he became the CEO of the school for a couple of years.
I can feel I don’t belong there, which is why I should give it a try.
This is already the second time I’m saying it under one of your posts.
I need to find a way to integrate it with exercise, cardio
One way to turn yoga into cardio is hot yoga. It can be surprisingly brisk!
There are plenty of yoga flows that get the body working pretty hard.
https://manflowyoga.com/blog/how-to-use-cardio-and-yoga-to-take-your-fitness-to-the-next-level/
Thank you for the suggestions, Tim
Thank you and Kyla for sharing this and reminding readers that yoga is for every body!
thx 🙃🙃🙃🤗🤗🤗😘😘😘😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰
Thanks for the comment, so uplifting!
Here is my yogic poem for Happy Baby for you to read. It is from my series, A Poem for Every Pose, which intends to bring a more personal connection and presence to the asanas... They take the pose... behind the pose... https://coriefeiner.substack.com/p/how-to-become-a-happy-baby?r=1vl0c8
"At its roots, yoga has the potential to offer a presence in all moments of our lives, a richness far beyond the offerings of money, looks, and glory." -- love this!