Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with yoga

Yoga teacher training ashram in India?

hasna — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:15:58 -0800

Looking for a reputable, non-commercial Yoga teacher training ashram in India. Any suggestions? Posting for a friend:

I am looking for any suggestion for a good yoga teacher training ashram in India that is more traditional and authentic. I am a 25 year old female, so I would like it to be safe. But anywhere I look online has been commercialized and I want to be away from that.

I would prefer to be up north but somewhere off the beaten path, hidden away but still reputable training. I prefer a yoga training in traditional hatha or even some astranga is OK. I have not been through any training for teaching before but I have been practicing yoga for 4 years of all different lineages. If anyone has any suggestions I would really appreciate the direction.

I would like to go anytime between February to April, so the course can last from a few weeks to 3 months. My price is a little thrifty but $1500 (excluding flight) is the most I can pay. I understand that it might be a stretch to ask if any of these places are certified by Yoga Alliance, maybe even an oxymoron but it would be a bonus since I will be going back to the States eventually.

Thanks in advance, Mefites!

Downward Dog is not for me...

TrickyLib — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:58:12 -0800

Can anyone give me recommendations for yoga dvds that do not contain downward facing dog poses? I really do not enjoy this position for reasons I don't want to explain here. I tried taking a yoga class at my park district, but there was so much downward dog I ended up quitting after just three classes.

Where is the BEST place to learn Thai yoga massage?

LivinginYes — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:41:31 -0800

I'm a yoga teacher and have long been interested in learning thai yoga massage. 2010 is the year for it! I live "overseas" so will have to travel to take a course and it would have to be an intensive (2 weeks rather than a number of weekends over a period of months for example). I'm boggled by all the options out there ...where in the world to go - who are the best teachers? I'm drawn to Saul David Raye....but would appreciate your suggestions. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Help me get bent

mippy — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:24:19 -0800

I've started taking yoga classes through work, and am really enjoying it. What books and resources are recommended to help me continue after the sessions end? There seems to be so many out there... If it helps, the type of yoga I'm learning is sivananda (I think). I'm obviously a beginner and not enormously fit, but it would be great to have something I can do at home as well as in a class. Oh, I'm in the UK so I must be able to get hold of the books over here!

Will these muscles ever open up?

dancestoblue — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:03:53 -0800

I'm 54 years old, fairly new (2+ years) into a yoga practice. I'm unable to open up enough to successfully do many of the poses; my muscles are not only tight but also actually shorter (from what a trusted massage therapist told me) shorter than the same muscles on other people, presumably because I've carried stress by tightening up all these years. I do believe in this practice, and the possibilities of actually opening up these muscles over time -- is this just delusional? When I casually mentioned to the massage therapist -- who is also a qualified yoga instructor -- that I believed that these shortened, tightened muscles would open up / lengthen over time, she seemed surprised; I don't recall exactly what she said, but words to the effect "Hey, you've been tightening/shortening these muscles for decades, they're set this way, you're now 54, give it up" or some such. And I'm thinking "Hey, I'm hoping that my body will open up, might take years but I've got time.

Many of the poses I'm just unable to perform correctly, I'm strong but inflexible; I've had two masters tell me this -- as a general rule, when showing up to begin a yoga practice, women are flexible but not strong; men are strong but not flexible. It is very annoying to me to watch my women friends bend down and palms down on the floor, and because of tight hamstrings and butt and every other muscle I'm barely able (on a good day) to get my fingers to the floor -- and this after two years of this practice, and my women friends not practicing anything other than maybe flexing their fingers around a keyboard -- but I've seen it enough to accept that it's how it is.

So. Will my old ragged body open up over time? Will my muscles not only become more flexible but perhaps stretch out? Am I expecting the unbelievable, hoping for the unbelievable?

Massage and physical therapist and people who have (or have not) had their body open up, share your experiences please -- thanx!

Help me find useful yoga and/or pilates DVDs.

rosethorn — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:23:37 -0800

Can you tell me about your experiences with pilates or yoga in regards to lower back pain? DVD or CD recommendations especially helpful. I have chronic lower back pain that I'm hoping can be diminished by starting to regularly practice yoga or pilates. Mostly, I'm hoping somebody can point me towards a DVD or CD that I can practice with. I took classes in college that introduced me to both pilates and yoga at a beginner's level, so I'm fairly comfortable with most of the terminology, but I would still consider myself to be no more than a beginner.

I'm also looking for experiences people have that would help me to decide which would be the best for me. What do you like about yoga? What do you like about pilates? Do you have back pain and one of the two really helped you? Right now, I'm leaning towards pilates, as I remember some of the exercises making my spine feel really good, and also because I perceive it as being easier to practice without an instructor present (I have no idea if this is true. Any responses regarding this are also welcome!). I can't afford to go to classes. No, not even the low cost ones.

I really enjoyed the few moments we would spend at the end of class, being mindful of our bodies. I am interested in any stress relief either exercise can bring, but I would probably be turned off by anything that feels too over the top hokey. I am also turned off by a focus on weight loss. I don't want to slim down or sculpt anything or lose inches in only ten minutes a day, just move and feel good about my body and possibly lessen my back pain. I am not very flexible, so something that gives alternate ways to practice moves that require more flexibility would be welcome.

Curious Yoga Novice Seeks Guidance

EatTheWeak — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:55:21 -0800

Tips, advice, recommendations, insight, cautions, suggestions and matters unforeseen concerning the addition of yoga to my fitness regimen. I'm considering adding yoga to my weekly exercises. I know very little about the practice, but what I've come to understand about it makes it sound quite appealing indeed. From what I've heard, yoga can help one build strength, burn fat, build flexibility, ease joint pain, ease anxiety and stress and is, on the whole, a tremendous benefit to one's overall health.

However, what I don't know about yoga could fill a stadium. I've come to understand that yoga is practiced in several variations and sub-variations, some of these variations call for special equipment, that there are mats and appropriate clothing to consider, that there are a dizzying number of books, websites and videos available, and, well, it's all more than a little overwhelming. I was hoping the hivemind could help me find the ideal way to add yoga to my fitness regimen.

I am a thirty-year-old male at an average level of fitness. I do, however, struggle a bit with some stiffness and inflexibility in my hips and lower back. My current workout routine includes a lot of compound-movement weight training and resistance band exercises, favoring work on large muscle groups rather than bodybuilder-style muscle pinpointing. I ride my bike everywhere and, starting in October, plan to also add lap-swimming to my routine. The weights happen 3-4 times a week and the cycling is just about daily.

My overall fitness goals are the building of muscle, the burning of fat, increasing overall energy and the suppression of sedentary hazards such as depression and anxiety. My goals for adding yoga, aside from those just mentioned and, assuming I understand its potential benefits correctly, would be to drastically improve my flexibility and balance as well as control sundry aches and pains.

What I would like to know from you, AskMe, is how shall I set about as a yoga beginner? Is it best to dive right into a formal class, or to first learn some basics so I'm not the stiff, unbalanced buffoon tipping over in the back of the studio? Which yoga variant is best-suited to my goals? What clothing and equipment will I require? What books, websites and videos do you recommend? What qualities distinguish the best yoga instructors, groups and studios? Is yoga compatible with my current routine and exercise schedule - if not, what needs adjusting? And what do you wish you would have known when you first made yoga a part of your life?

Thank you very much for your help.

Now playing at the yoga studio

philad — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:33:59 -0800

Can you recommend some movies for movie night at my yoga studio? The teachers past choices have included Gandhi, a film about Ram Dass, a film about belly dancing, and What the Bleep Do We Know. Seems like they lean towards new age stuff or movies dealing with larger issues. I would like to recommend some inspiring movies. My recommendations so far have been, Man on Wire, The Man Who Skied Down Everest, and Ikiru. Any other recommendations along those lines?

I want to start dancing...

lemonade — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:35:24 -0800

I want to start dancing---just for me, for stress relief and mood enhancement and flexibility. Recommend some DVDs to teach me routines and give me ideas for my own? I found these two dancing-yoga videos on you-tube, and I love that idea -- while I could eventually (laboriously) copy their routines...are there DVDs out there that teach routines like this? I have been doing yoga for a long time, so I'm sure this is within my capability.

And how about your favorite DVDs for dance routines in general--belly dancing, latin, hip-hop?

I found this thread and plan to try the videos, but please give me more -- I'm not necessarily looking for good cardio here, just some fun.

Help me incorporate weight lifting into my current fitness routine.

reticulatedspline — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:03:37 -0800

How can I successfully incorporate weight lifting into my current fitness routine? Backstory: was overweight for much of my adult life. Was around 220lbs at the start of '07, and dropped down to 160 since then. Mostly this was done through dieting but I have been doing yoga about 2 to 3 times a week for the past year, and about 6 months ago I upgraded to hot yoga (hot vinyasa flow, to be specific).

In terms of how I want to look, I'm pleased weight-wise, but I'd like to have a bit more muscle mass. Nothing insane, just a slight increase in bulk to help me more pleasantly fill out those size small tshirts I can now (finally) fit into.

That in mind, I wanted to start doing some weight lifting.

A few questions:

-I've been told I need 48 hours minimum to let the muscles repair in between sessions. Does this mean no yoga during this time, or just no weight lifting? I have tried to research this, but have heard a lot of mixed things. Some are saying yoga helps restore some of the lost flexibility, some say it actually hinders the muscles getting bigger. Does anyone have anything scientific that puts this issue to rest?

-Is hitting each muscle group once a week (i.e. like chest/shoulders/back on one day then arms/legs on another) enough to see results in any reasonable time period, or should I be doing 4 total days a week, hitting each group twice?

-Diet-wise, I'm still hoping to shed a bit more of my body fat. I'm currently at 10% (down from 24%, boo-yah) but I'd like to get that down another 1-2%. I've been on a diet of about 1300 calories a day (with weekends off) for a long while, but I understand that calorie restriction can hamper the repair process. What's a good amount of calories to aim for to continue to lose the fat but to still supply the muscles?

-Protein. I know I'm supposed to have a big dose of it in the 30 minutes or so after I work out, but do I need to also up my protein intake throughout the entire 48 hour recovery period? I've also heard one or two people mention extra protein leading up to a workout. Is this essential or just for the hardcore?

What's the secret to loose-limbed happiness?

Cool Papa Bell — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:03:02 -0800

You know that loose-limbed, joints-fully-lubricated feeling you get after a massage or a jacuzzi? I want that feeling all the time. What's your secret? Yoga? Pilates? Some other wacky stretching technique you learned in a Himalayan monastery?

Is it a drug? A vitamin? A secret herbal supplement stolen from a race of giant, intelligent apes?

This is my brain on no vacation

messica — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:38:32 -0800

Help with productive vacation ideas? Of all the things to avoid, I have been putting off taking vacation and now suddenly the summer is slipping away... I've now committed to taking off the first week or two in September, and I need a plan! I've got no traveling companions in sight, and while in the past I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of solo travels and adventures, this time I'm not feeling it.

Ideally I would like to be in a relaxing, outdoorsy setting while doing something productive: developing a new skill, creating something tangible, or pursuing one of my existing hobbies (which include playing fiddle, singing, yoga, crafts, baking.) I mention those to give an idea of my interests, but I am very open to exploring something new. I do public interest community work by day, and much as I love the idea of a "volunteer vacation," I'm looking for something a little more...oh, self-centered :)

Hanging out in a cabin by a lake and playing fiddle for the geese has its appeal, but really I'd love to be in at least a semi-structured environment where I can learn with and be around other friendly people. I don't require much in the way of accomodations; the simpler the better, really. Given these (admittedly somewhat vague) criteria, does anyone have recommendations for a nature-y yoga retreat/music camp/craft collective/fill-in-the-blank in early September? Or, since I probably missed the boat on some great camps and retreats this summer, ideas for next year? I am in Brooklyn and would prefer to remain within a 5-hour driving radius.

Cosmic clichés - is that all they are?

forallmankind — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:07:44 -0800

Every time my (Sikh) yoga teacher talks of enlightenment this and infinite wisdom that and cosmic love the other (ie often), I have to turn a mental blind eye because I don't know what these things are and they kinda defy definition and as such I don't think I ever will know. And part of me feels alienated by this - here is this teacher and this class; the teacher claims to know of these mystical things, and the class (I'm guessing) is divided into (a) those who pretend to also know of these things, and (b) those who know they don't but wish they did. From a distance this seems absurd. Am I missing something, (perhaps something awesome)?

All things prenatal in NYC

defreckled — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:54:43 -0800

We're expecting our first baby in January 2010, and I'm looking for recommendations for all things prenatal in NYC. Anything you can recommend from midwives and doulas to shopping and yoga would be greatly appreciated! We're happy with our obstetrician for now, and if we decide to deliver with an ob, we'll definitely want a doula there and ideally it would be someone who is a midwife/doula. There are so many of them in the city that I have no idea how to wade through all the names.

I've been looking for groups of expectant moms to meet in the city but it seems like most of the groups are geared toward new parents with babies. I have found some group exercise classes, but I'm only 15 weeks and not showing at all and I wonder if it would be weird for me to attend.

I'm sure I'm not asking all the right questions, so I would love advice from anyone who has gone through this.

You're not supposed to get injured from yoga!

Eudaimonia — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:18:06 -0800

How do I nurse a wounded shoulder back to health? Sooo...I seem to have blown out my shoulder, in some way. I've been doing Ashtanga Yoga as my primary means of exercise (and have had a lot of success...I love it. A lot.), but we do many many chaturangas during class (around 50 or so). Chaturanga Dandasana is a push-up like move, where you start in plank pose and descend downward as you do in a push up, keeping your body in a straight line, but with you elbows in towards your body (instead of splaying out).

I've spoken to my yoga teachers countless times about form and modifications but I keep getting a LOT of pain in my back and shoulder blade, near the side and bottom edges of my shoulder blade (a brief perusal of wikipedia tells me its near the intersection of the bottom of my trapezius and infraspinatus muscles and the top of my lats).

I don't know if I've done any permanent damage (...yet) but I'd like to do whatever I can to heal/strengthen/prevent this from getting worse so that I can get back to my yoga asap. Any advice would be *much* appreciated!

Big man workout system?

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:44:40 -0800

I need a workout system for a BIG man. So, I'm 6'8" and about 380lbs. I'm most certainly overweight, but not as much as those numbers would make it seem. The best shape in my life was when I was 18 years old and just 300lbs and I was wrestling and running many miles a day.

I'm looking for a programthat will help transform my fat into muscle. I recently quit smoking, so my cardio is pathetic at the moment. I'm also open to any SAFE supplements.

I have a membership to a very, very nice YMCA with full weight room, nautilus, pool, track, and aerobic center. They also offer pilates, spinning, and step classes.

I've started taking yoga in the mornings to increase my flexibility and core strength. My goal is to see a marked improvement in around 2-3 months. I have a long vacation planned and would really like to see some results.

Could doing power yoga 2 - 4 times a week for 1.5 hours be hurting my joints?

whoaali — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:51:54 -0800

Could doing power yoga 2 - 4 times a week for 1.5 hours be hurting my joints? I'm one of the lucky few people who has had almost no problems with my joints ever. I have some issues with my lower back, but that's really it. That being said I'm not much of an athlete, so that may explain why my knees and hips are in such good shape.

I started doing pretty intense power yoga about 2 months ago. Since then I've noticed my knees and hips are bothering me more. Mostly this is in class while I am doing the poses, but sometimes my knees and hips feel weird/painful outside of class. Not exactly sore, but like things aren't really lining up quite right and it definitely hurts.

I know yoga is supposed to be great for your joints, but I feel like the intense power yoga is hurting mine. The yoga I'm doing is definitely intense and they really push you. Could the yoga be hurting my joints? Am I just experiencing the normal aches and pains of getting back in shape?

For what it's worth I'm very flexible, but not very muscular. I've also gotten into yoga after about 6 months of minimal physical activity and about a 10 pound weight gain.

How to cure my lower-left back pain.

jasonmdennis — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:38:41 -0800

I have pain in my lower-left back and occasionally in my left groin area. Does anyone who has had a similar problem know stretches or yoga techniques that will permanently alleviate this pain? I've been to urologists and they tell me that there is a nerve that goes into my lower-left back and curves around my hip into my groin and that this is causing both pains. All possible serious problems have been ruled out with ultra-sounds and CT scans. One doctor suggested that bad posture is to blame. I have tried being more diligent about sitting up straight but I haven't gotten good results. I admit I spend a lot of time sitting on couches, buses, subways, etc. Does anyone know of stretches or have any other ideas of how I could strengthen my back and alleviate this pain. Any resources (websites, podcasts, video series, your own personal techniques) that you could refer me to would be a life saver. It's killing me! Thanks for the help.

Will this help me jump-start my creativity?

wholebroad — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:21:42 -0800

Have you done a workshop with Julia Cameron and/or have you spent time at Kripalu in Western Mass? I'm thinking about signing up for Julia Cameron's Artist's Way Workshop at Kripalu next week, but money is tight and I want to make sure this will be worth the $500. I'm totally stuck in my creative work and need something to sort of help me get myself jump-started. I read Cameron's book years ago, and liked it, but never managed to get myself to stick with the morning pages.

I was thinking about doing a yoga/meditation retreat to clear my head and saw that Kripalu is offering this program, which seems pretty serendipitous. But I'm currently unemployed and would be paying for this with my tax refund. I set aside $500 to "do something nice for myself." So it's not like this money would otherwise be going towards food or rent. However, I want to have some assurance I won't be completely wasting this money.

Also, any other retreat suggestions in the New England area are welcome.

Where can I practice yoga in Paris?

Schismatic — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:15:35 -0800

Where is a good place to practice yoga in Paris? I'm asking for my girlfriend, who will be moving there at the end of the month. She says:

"I'm look for a place to practice yoga (preferably vinyasa or ashtanga) in Paris. I'll be living in the 10th, right next to the metro Belleville. The cheaper the better (or places with student discounts), but I'm willing to pay if it means a good atmosphere and a good teacher — ideally someone who's into the spiritual aspects, not only focused on the exercise/strength building side of things."

So I've mastered Sitonmyassana

Eudaimonia — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:57:42 -0800

I'm losing the stress with yoga, but how to lose the pounds, too? Similar to this thread, I’m wondering if my Ashtanga yoga practice is enough to get healthy and lose weight (I’m 5’4’’, around 160ish – I’ve lost almost 15 pounds since the beginning of the year with Weight Watchers and moderate exercise, but have hit a solid plateau for the last few weeks. I need the scale to MOVE. Yes I know that weight isn’t everything, I feel better, look better too, but 160ish is still too heavy and I would like to get healthy.)

Reasons I’m not a fan of “traditional” forms of cardio: gym membership + yoga membership is COSTLY, especially to someone unemployed and fresh out of grad school. I tried to do C25K and start a running program, but I have bad knees and am in pain for a good 2 days afterwards, at least (yes, I have special running shoes purchased from a specialty store, and I stretch a lot). Kind of a Catch-22 as I get the feeling that once I lose more weight I can run again with less pain (less stress on the joints?). Plus running seems to counteract the effects of my yoga practice and I’m pretty devoted to my yoga as it feels like I’m actually learning something, and its keeping me sane while I search for a job.

I’m going to yoga 3-5x times a week and although my heart is racing for a good part of class, I don’t know if its enough cardio. Will hot yoga (Baptiste or Bikram) be useful cardio alternatives? I’m never sure that the kind of elevated heart rate you get from being active in a hot environment is the same kind of elevated heart rate you get when you’re engaged in something like jogging or interval training. Basically, are all forms of cardio equal?

And if any of you have managed to lose weight with yoga, how did you do it? If you think I should just suck it up and try out running again, what is an appropriate way to incorporate both yoga and running without overdoing it or hurting myself?

Weak wrists and yoga pain

Sweetie Darling — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:32:27 -0800

New to yoga and my wrists are killing me. I started taking a yoga class (Anusara, if that makes a difference) a few weeks ago and I love, love, love it... except for the fact that my wrists hurt like hell when I have to put weight on my hands.

I sprained both wrists in a fall in college (more than 20 years ago) and they've never quite been right since. For a few years after, I could re-sprain either wrist just by flicking my hand too quickly.

So now, in yoga, I'm fine in Table pose but Downward Dog and others like it really hurt, and I can't sustain the pose. I try to focus on the "four corners of the hand" but I can't seem to shift my weight away from the wrists and forward onto the pads at the base of the fingers. My wrists hurt, and then I start to think/worry about it, and then I'm not in the moment... which kind of defeats the purpose.

Google shows several different devices that claim to reduce wrist pressure/pain but none are free, of course - so I'd appreciate any advice/testimonials from MeFites. Thanks!

Yoga teacher training programs, possibly compatible with Bikram yoga?

erigeneia — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:12:40 -0800

What are some yoga training programs or traditions that might be compatible with the Bikram yoga teacher training I've already done? I'd like to be able to teach classes beyond the 26-postures-2-breathing-exercises, and I'd also like to be able to teach a style of yoga that isn't as highly regulated in terms of restricting where/what you can teach. I'm a certified Bikram yoga teacher, and I've been teaching for almost 3 years. I feel confident teaching the standard class, but I've taken a bunch of other non-Bikram yoga classes, and I'd like to expand my knowledge of yoga in general and how to teach other postures and styles.

I don't need to learn how to present myself as a teacher. Although I'm fairly introverted in everyday life, my studio director and the students tell me I look confident in class and my explanations are useful and clear.

I do need to learn more anatomy. We did basic anatomy at Bikram training, but I'd love to be able to know exactly which muscles/joints/organs/etc are working, and how, in yoga postures.

Currently, I'm not as focused on the spiritual aspect of yoga as I am on the general health impact. I'm certainly not adverse to learning how to teach yoga for the elderly, or children, or the physically impaired.

I'll be moving to the Bay area (around Mountain View--boyfriend will work at Google) in a couple months, and that will limit my options for at least the rest of the year. So, I know about Jimmy Barkan's training, and it does sound somewhat compatible with what I'm looking for, but Florida is (financially) out of my reach for a while. I'm hoping that since California is fairly yogafied, I'll be able to find something more local. But if you know of something non-local, add it anyway, and I'll keep the information for the future!

(I've heard just a bit about Feldenkrais therapy, and while it isn't strictly yoga, it sounds intriguing. If you've been to the training, I'd love to hear about your experience.)

Thanks!

Becoming a true Yogi....

unexpected — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:26:54 -0800

Yoga Experts: Help me navigate the world of Yoga... I've recently decided to try to become more flexible and stable. I run (30-40 miles a week) and lift weights a lot, but I still can't touch my toes!

I'm looking for yoga that'll really work me over. I'm also interested in yoga that'll correct posture imbalances over time- I'm slightly bowlegged and I have a subtle forward tilt to my frame. Anything that helps me towards this would be preferred, or alternatively, if this is hocus pocus and yoga can't fix these, tell me that too.

I'm looking for the functionally strenuous- I consider myself to be in really good shape, so I wanted to be streched and strained- that said, I wouldn't have a preference towards something like the "hot yoga" unless it helped me accomplish my other goals.

So guys, where should I look? What styles of yoga should I be looking at? Extra bonus points for a good place in Dallas to go to.

Hot Yoga Advice

roxie5 — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:46:47 -0800

How can I not feel light-headed in Hot Yoga class? I went to my first Hot Yoga class last week, and will be going to my second tonight. Last week, I had to leave to get some air (I thought I was going to get sick, but didn't) for about 10 minutes half way through the 90 minute session.

I was fine on the floor, but every time I had to lift my arms above my head in a standing pose, I felt light-headed. No one else seemed to have a problem. What can I do to improve my chances of making it through the whole class tonight?

I've read conflicting articles online.... some say eat beforehand and others say don't. I know I should be drinking more water, and I'm doing that today. Anything else? Is this class dangerous for me?

Thanks for any tips and advice.