Few issues with practice... please advise

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hey guys, I’ve been doing Bikram at the local studio for nearly a year, almost everyday. I feel I’m devoted to my practice, I’ve changed my diet to completely vegan, with extra accent on greens - for extra calcium, magnesium etc… Taking some supplements and vegan protein occasionally. From 5-10 coffees a day I’ve cut down to 1 a day! I still smoke though but also really reduced it, hoping to give up for good soon.

I was kind of high on all that for couple of months. But today I feel almost frustrated as I look in the mirrors, seeing my back rounding in forward bends, and I don’t even come near the floor. And it’s not just about one pose, but most of them. My knees and legs shake, so I developed real aversion to second part of awkward pose. My feet when standing in the tree pose for a while create almost painful tension. And I’ve read a lot of advice on all these issues trying to address them. I’m not pushing to hard, not straining. But going far enough to feel the stretches. Still finding that only minimal progress is visible.

Anyway, let’s see how you can cheer me up…

#2

Slow down…

Take a step back and don’t make it about everything you not doing or can’t do.

Progress is also being able to admit your limitations and be okay with that.

#3

Hello Adam,

Since we are all fully responsible for our own feelings and conditions there really is no onus on others to “cheer us up”. That is actually part of our responsibility to ourselves on the path of Yoga.

More to your point…
You’ve discovered a way to bring discipline into your life and that discipline has helped you to make some more mindful choices regarding nutrition. However the practice you’ve selected is one where mirrors are mandated so students may gaze at themselves (and others), the emphasis of practice is placed on asana (or poses), the teachers are trained to instruct from script, the sequence and execution of the series centers around performance and competition, and effect is not in balance with safety.

Furthermore, the practice is done in high heat and done without mind in body. The former provides a temporary mobility facilitated by external rather than internal heat. The latter inhibits the creation of new neural pathways such that the body can “snap right back” to homeostasis.

Setting these things aside, there are still plateaus in the growth process AND growth warrants .consistent practice in the are your body needs them. This translates into home practice and that can often feel daunting to develop for the new student (less than 5 years of practice).

Students are likely to have all sorts of things come up through the churning tha tis their practice. For some its anger, for somme it’s woo-woo, for others its frustration. It is part of the growth, begs to be faced, and often is moved oats whentherere is a combination of intention and appropriate practice(s).

I’d also point out, in terms of applied philosophy, that I am not responsible for my brother’s feelings and therefore not compelled to cheer him up. To do so wou.ld presume that his current feelings are invalid and need to be abated and this simply is an ignorant coloring (on my part).

Gordon

#4

[QUOTE=Adam*;66277]I was kind of high on all that for couple of months. But today I feel almost frustrated as I look in the mirrors, [B]seeing my back rounding in forward bends, and I don’t even come near the floor. And it’s not just about one pose, but most of them. My knees and legs shake,[/B] so I developed real aversion to second part of awkward pose. [B]My feet when standing in the tree pose for a while create almost painful tension.[/B] And I’ve read a lot of advice on all these issues trying to address them. I’m not pushing to hard, not straining. But going far enough to feel the stretches. [B]Still finding that only minimal progress is visible.[/B] [/QUOTE]
I am wondering, does your teacher give you any feedback, or assists to rectify your posture/tension problems?

I am asking as in the two bikram classes I was, the instructor was reading (actually, he was yelling:eek:) down a script, and didn’t interact not once with the students. So I am not surprised if students are not going to progress…

As you said, you are feeling painful tension, I would stop with that immediately…and probably search for another class/teacher to learn yoga, imho.

[QUOTE=Adam*;66277]Hey guys, I’ve been doing Bikram at the local studio for nearly a year, almost everyday. I feel I’m devoted to my practice, I’ve changed my diet to completely vegan, with extra accent on greens - for extra calcium, magnesium etc… Taking some supplements and vegan protein occasionally. From 5-10 coffees a day I’ve cut down to 1 a day! I still smoke though but also really reduced it, hoping to give up for good soon. [/QUOTE]

Congrats doing all that, this is really an achievement.

#5

Hi…
Thanks for sharing this interesting information and thank you very much…