How many times a week do you practice?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi, new member here!

In July I decided to challenge myself to do yoga every day for 30 days. My prior experience with yoga was attending one class 10 years ago.

At the end of the 30 days I couldn’t believe the changes that occurred in my body, mind, communication, life skills, general happiness, etc. The rewards were countless.

I’m nearing the end of month 2, and I’m really into yoga now… its scary lol. I take a class every morning, and about 3-4 times a week I take a second class at night. I do vinyasa flow.

So, my question is, can I over-do it? I don’t feel like I am. Have some of you had periods of 2 classes a day? or maybe even 3? I’m very curious.

Thanks Ya’ll!

#2

Daily practice is appropriate but I’ve never felt particularly moved to do my practice a second time in the day. If I were to go for seconds I surely wouldn’t do the same or similar practice, which obviously rules out the static asana sequences.

However I wouldn’t advise a student not to do it. I would simply ask why and listen to the answer. If the answer seemed to indicate something that required guidance from teacher to student then I would of course provide that.

As an example, if a student said “I’m under a lot of stress in my life and I feel I need additional practice to support my coping”, fine. On the other hand if a student said “I just can’t stop, I have to go, I can’t live without my asana practice such that I have to keep going”, then I’d be concerned about the level of attachment and whether it was healthy for that student.

It is possible to burn out but that hollowness only springs up when there is nothing energetically behind the asana practice - when it is just asana. Eventually that can be a path to ego and burnout.

This having been said, I think it’s fabulous that you’ve taken to the practice in grand fashion and as long as you aren’t forcing your practice, are experiencing rather than performing, and and caring for your body with healthy sleep and nutrition habits I see no reason to be concerned.

#3

can I over-do it? I don’t feel like I am. Have some of you had periods of 2 classes a day? or maybe even 3?

Moderation is the essence of yoga.