hi, im new to yoga…it was my new year resolution to take it up, so far im doing well, but i have a couple of questions…how often should i do yoga and should i be aching and finding some of the poses a little painful???
well its getting late here now in the uk… if anyone can help can you please leave a message on here or email me…i think you can do that on this site…thanks
phoenix, give the post some time because this is a question best answered by one of the experts. But as a general rule of thumb the more you put in, the more you get out.
I am new some what but I believe you can do yoga everyday if you want to. I also think you are pushing yourself too hard. Don’t go too far in a pose go as far as your body says to. Also when coming out of a pose go very slowly otherwise you’ll hurt yourself. I found that out in one of my yoga class. I did at la fitness club.
Sorry for the tardy reply:-)
I’ll pose the question back to you. How often should YOU do yoga (and we’re really talking about asana not yoga, right? Just the poses?).
You should do your practice with great passion and zeal but not with agression and competition - with others or yourself. If this is three days a week, fine. More importantly, to me, is that you find a discipline of practice. If you go once a week and do so for an entire year, great!
As you are new to the practice consider 2 or three times a week. See if that feels like you can maintainthat discipline.
As far as soreness, yes it is to be expected that you would have some muscles soreness the day after (or the day after that). That should diminish assuming you have a balanced practice.
Additionally some “discomfort” is also to be expected. However, you should NEVER have sharp pain in any joint. Never! If that is happening turn the intensity of effort down in those poses and seek the guidance of a well trained teacher to make sure you are part of the solution and not part of the problem.
thanks everyone for your replies… innerathlete i havent experienced any pain in my joints, just in my muscles, particularly my leg muscles when doing certain poses and just general muscle aching the next day. i think i may have slightly overdone it, i thought i had to practice every day.i am unable to go to a class, but a friend lent me a dvd to try out which is an ashtanga based yoga. as i say i am new to this and not really sure on what types are what and what is best for me, so any help would be much appreciated.
There is great value in practicing every day. Do not misunderstand that. But the reply to your question must suit YOUR practice, your place, your body. And, for the most part, the students posing the question “how often should I practice” are beginning students. Thus my answer.
You may mindfully grow into a practitioner that gets to the mat everyday. Or you may grow to be a practitioner that finds ways to “do” yoga when the mat isn’t there.
Both are good. So is two times per week…for now:-)
[QUOTE=phoenix_fire;3792]thanks everyone for your replies… innerathlete i havent experienced any pain in my joints, just in my muscles, particularly my leg muscles when doing certain poses and just general muscle aching the next day. i think i may have slightly overdone it, i thought i had to practice every day.i am unable to go to a class, but a friend lent me a dvd to try out which is an ashtanga based yoga. as i say i am new to this and not really sure on what types are what and what is best for me, so any help would be much appreciated.[/QUOTE]
what would you advise when i am finding some postions uncomfortable, sometimes even painful? the only place i am experiencing this is the back of my legs, both the thighs and calves
Which poses please?
It is “normal” to have some discomfort in poses. For some this is pain. However there should never be any sharp pain in a joint.
I’ll await your reply about the poses in question but I’m guessing you are working poses that stretch the hamstrings.
Good advise is to do the poses in such a way that you do not have Pain but that you are woking. This way you’re not just a sack of flesh resting upon the soles of your feet nor are you an agressive over-achiever heading toward connective tissue damage.
If a slight bend in your knees aleviates the feelings in question than do that - UNTIL you are deep enough in your practice to go farther, then farther.
We are moving toward the ideal pose not rushing or pushing into it. It takes a lifetime. Most begginers hear “heels down” and so they do it, even when their hamstrings don’t allow.