:eek::lol: Have you had this happen, occasionally I get the urge to fart during my yoga class & I have to hold it in until I’m walking home…then Braaap…
this is kinda embarrassing as sooner or later its just going to bust out :eek:
It’s very normal. You might find a bit more peace during your practice if you get up and excuse yourself to umm…take care of business in the restroom. Then you can go back and enjoy the class without having to hold anything in.
It’s too bad that such a natural, healthy bodily action has become a negative in our culture.
As we begin to let go of the false self, we start to stop minding how other people judge us and do what feels right. A good yoga teacher can also create that safety in a class.
If someone farts when I’m teaching, I’ll say something along the lines of, “It’s a sign of an advanced yogi to rest when you need to, fart when you need to, release emotion when you need to, and be fully here”. That will usually deflate any sense of embarrassment.
Yeah there are a lot of poses that release gas …
I think its part of the pose and stretch and don’t really care what others think. No shame!
I have been in classes where farting has been cheered, it is kind of funny when that happens 
Some also call farting in class an ego erradicator. Next time the urge arrises, let it rip.
we are one in the same
brother neil
saturdaysun, might I suggest a very light meal of fruit or soup about 2 hours before yoga class? It might relieve that bubble you need to control.
I’m absolutely relieved that someone mentioned diet in their reply. Thank you Alix.
It is not that flatulence is wrong or inappropriate. It is, of course a bodily reaction. However it is a bodily reaction to a method of eating, chewing, digesting, or combining. It should not be confused with a bodily function like respiration and evacuation which you can not survive without.
Furthermore I’d question whether we, in our zeal to make it “ok” should really be referencing it as “farting” since that lends a certain juvenile air to the discussion.
Just as a student who is always late might examine their habits and behaviors leading up to such a thing, so too would a gaseous student look at the causes and habits leading to that. Of course if you have to, you have to and there should be no fear of reproach upon so doing.
As you know, flatulence is a natural mechanism that is affected, in part, by diet. However, holding it in can lead to pathological distension of the bowel which isn’t very good.
While “farting” is an english vulgarism, who cares? We don’t need to promote excessive seriousness on this forum (as long as the lighter air doesn’t lead to misinformation) as there is plenty of that in “real” life.
Very good point and one I hadn’t really pondered much in the past. Thank you.
Okay I’ll go another round with you David just to see your cards:-)
As you know, flatulence is a natural mechanism that is affected, in part, by diet. However, holding it in can lead to pathological distension of the bowel which isn’t very good.
Diarrhea and vomiting are also “natural mechanisms” are they not? And as you can read from my last line in the previous post I made no suggestion to hold that which demands its own release. <wink>
While “farting” is an english vulgarism, who cares?
We don’t need to promote excessive seriousness on this forum (as long as the lighter air doesn’t lead to misinformation) as there is plenty of that in “real” life.
You ask so I reply. The only persons who would care are those who comprehend that to refine the language is to refine the mind. Who cares if your kitchen sink is dirty? Only those who comprehend that one could not possible be mindful of their relationships if they are not first mindful of their dishes.
There are some things (for yoga) that while they are fine, acceptable, ok, nice, no big deal, they may not empower yoga. For example is it “ok” to grab or is grabbing ahimsa? It is “ok” to not put your mat away neatly but does that empower yoga? Should these things just pass, pun intended.
So I’d ask whether the reduction of vulgarisms empower yoga (for you, each reader) or whether the addition of vulgarisms do. I am not attached to the answer (for you) but I have the one I need for me.
As for "excessive seriousness, I suggest it may have been wholly appropriate seriousness. When we claim something is “merely a bodily function” in order to rationalize the behavior THEN use a vernacular that makes it childish we minimize the original point. And the original point should stand - it is fine to pass gas in class and it should not affect the class even in the slightest bit one way or another as it is not a joke but a bodily function - by our own admission.
Very good point and one I hadn’t really pondered much in the past. Thank you.
As are yours and I’m grateful you shared them.
Hahah, thanks! Have I told you how much I love your presence? We obviously differ yet I find myself thoroughly enjoying who you are.
Point taken.
I find myself not so much working to refine my language as letting go of my attachments or predefined beliefs as to what certain words mean.
If I spend 3 hours a day cleaning my sink to make sure every speck of dirt is gone I’m guessing I’m just as unhealthy as someone who lets their dishes grow fuzzy stuff.
I guess it depends why we feel the need to neatly put away the mat. Are we doing that because we prefer it that way, or because we have been conditioned as such. I prefer (at this point in my practice) to be mindful of WHY I feel the need for such action. I’m not quite sure what you mean by “grab” so I glossed over that 
I definitely respect that your answer differs from mine. In the end, that’s what it is about. What is yoga for each of us. As long as we’re not BSing ourselves, then we should do what is right for us.
The interesting thing is, I really don’t view the word “fart” as childish or all that vulgar. It has been defined as such by many in the past, but I’m guessing newer generations who are used to the word view it less so. Hurray for change, the only constant.
Thanks bud
If you think your at risk another thing you can do is to empty just before class
Very kind of you David to praise me just before you disagree - LOL. My Ego was so busy feeling inflated I was not at all ready for you.
I find myself not so much working to refine my language as letting go of my attachments or predefined beliefs as to what certain words mean.
Then my friend you must have a very well developed ability in telepathy.
If I spend 3 hours a day cleaning my sink to make sure every speck of dirt is gone I’m guessing I’m just as unhealthy as someone who lets their dishes grow fuzzy stuff.
Absolutely! I was not suggesting it would be yogic to be overly clean or obsessively clean. However there is a certain nature to prana and a subsequent value in vastu from which we can learn - if we so choose.
I guess it depends why we feel the need to neatly put away the mat. Are we doing that because we prefer it that way, or because we have been conditioned as such. I prefer (at this point in my practice) to be mindful of WHY I feel the need for such action. I’m not quite sure what you mean by “grab” so I glossed over that.
Absolutely (part II). Doing something from conditioning, because we were taught it is polite, is also “nice” but when it is not heart-felt or is not backed with an intention then it is incredibly hollow - or rote, if you will. Usually however the samskara manifests in tossing the block, the mat, the strap, the jacket, the shoes, the water bottle, the socks…off to any old place in any old way. Things go back where we got them in a better way than when we found them because we are on the path of yoga and our bar is raised such that we must leave things better than we found them. For if it is not us then who will it be and if it is not now then when?
Pavanmuktasana is meant for this.
pavan means wind
mukta means relieve from
My expereince is that there are no winds or gas, when the diet is adequate.
But because sometimes diet must be on a second place, it would not be appropriate to chastise someone because of it.
It can be a good lesson in humility, also. While we are great yogis, bearers of the universal spirit, in this body we are weak, and prone to various humiliations. To live in a body what we cannot control, is humiliating, I think.
I don’t know you quite well enough to gauge your tone or humor here but I’m guessing all is well.
Some days are better than others
“Anxiety”. What does that word mean to me? How have I applied it to myself as a feeling. What have I attached it to? Where does that come from? In the past, the answer to that was, “Anxiety is a reaction that is bad and feels uncomfortable”.
When I was 6 years old (yes, 6), I anxiously went to my father and asked, “Dad, what are the symptoms of heart disease?” I was full of fear, a hypochondriac, and very anxious. Rather than console this fearful little boy, my dad (being a physiologist) gave me the book answer. I developed a HUGE fear of heart disease. Over the years, I would experience symptoms in my chest that would immediately evoke “anxiety”. More than once I ended up in the ER scared I was having a heart attack. I was given a clean bill of health each time. Yet those symptoms continued and evoked anxiety. They became anxiety. Those feelings WERE anxiety. And anytime I felt that anxiety, I would clench up and do everything in my power to stop it.
It wasn’t until rather recently that I developed the tools to relax into and observe that feeling in my chest. What was “anxiety”? My heart trying to open.
That’s what I meant by:
Could you please elaborate? Especially regarding “vastu” as I’m not familiar with the term. Thanks
I agree. If I came across as viewing or stating that your form of mindfulness as “wrong” please accept my apologies as that was not intended. I was just sharing my perspective I get the feeling that I need to be more mindful of my choice of words Hahahah. Thank you for helping me realize that!
Or perhaps that is a reference to one of the Five Vayus?
Who can say?
[QUOTE=PatR;14190]Pavanmuktasana is meant for this.
pavan means wind
mukta means relieve from[/QUOTE]
You are loved David and all is well. <hug>
We have reached the summit, for now:-)
Vastu is the ancient Indian art/science/process which is the grandfather of Feng Shui. I suspect you ARE familiar with that term <wink>.
personally i have tried to eat perfectly, and whne trying to do so i have run into things that have given me gas even when i thought i was eating according to my dosha, etc…I believe, and i have been wrong many times before, that two people may eat the same food, one may have gas because something in their body they are unaware of is affecting digestion. just my 02
have fun
brother neil
Namaste Saturdaysun,
Wind can be very uncomfortable, I know because I had that problem also for many years and being too polite I would hold it until after the class usually, much like yourself. To help myself I did two things:
A. As a temporary meassure in the beginning I used to take 4 charcoal tablets about 2 hours before class. It really helped me a lot and I can recommend it. My own homeopath prescribed it for me.
B. I made some major changes to my diet over time and I learned which foods to avoid as they would cause wind for me.
I still have wind sometimes, but it is not during classes anymore.
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;14209]Or perhaps that is a reference to one of the Five Vayus?
Who can say?[/QUOTE]
People have different reasons for taking up yoga. What is Apaan for you, is just wind for someone.