Emotional Breakdown at Yoga

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Replies

  • Bbuser51
    Bbuser51 Posts: 17 Member
    I would get a video or something, Daily burn is really good, and practice the positions and go back when you feel more confident.
    Dont't give up!
  • msleanlegs
    msleanlegs Posts: 188 Member
    Emotional breakdown....I walk home after yoga once and split up with my then husband of 8 years. Clarity over came me in class.
    Best decision of my life. Period!

    All that aside, there's something body, mind and spirit in yoga that I have never worked out. Don't fight it, just practice and enjoy.

    Talk about clarity! What type of yoga were you doing?
  • bailann
    bailann Posts: 6 Member
    I've been doing yoga somewhat regularly for a year and the hot yoga TERRIFIES me. I have regular yoga class days that make me feel useless - I can't imagine what would happen if I tried Bikhram - good for you for trying! I would try regular yoga so you can learn the posses and then go back to try hot yoga :)
  • info_nrs
    info_nrs Posts: 102 Member
    I'm with several on here. . . yoga is meant to be spiritual, what it may have done is got you to connect with your feelings (and yes, it's hard as H#LL!) But work with it, not against it. I'm very good at it, have cracked up at myself sometimes in how horrible I am at some of the more advanced poses, but I too, at one time broke down. Great class, went really well, started focusing and breathing like instructor said and next thing I know, I was crying---all sorts of thinks appeared in my mind. I think the instructor noticed it (during time with eyes closed) and walked over in front of me and continued the mantra. . . but it was if he was doing it directly at me because he knew something 'happened'. . . I am not 'new age-y' by any accounts and I use to laugh at people who swore by yoga, but I'm telling you, there is something about it if you really let yourself into it. There is a reason it has been around for centuries. Don't let your weight stop you, continue on with it, you will be glad you did.
  • HeinzPrincess
    HeinzPrincess Posts: 92
    This is exactly why I think people in general do a disservice by classifying yoga as "easy." It's hard. Don't ever walk in thinking you will walk away unchallenged! (Not saying the OP did that...she clearly did some preparation and was still caught off guard.)


    To the OP--I am glad to see you are going back..this could be quite a breakthrough for you!! Yoga releases a LOT of emotions, especially the ones we might not want to confront.
  • fattyfoodie
    fattyfoodie Posts: 232 Member
    I weigh 229 and I do Bikram! Trust me, you will get better at it. You will start to feel great too.

    I just want to add that some of the heart openers can bring up a lot of feelings and emotions. It's so important to breathe and let go.
  • PrincessKittenpants
    PrincessKittenpants Posts: 144
    I have not done Bikram but I practice Hot Yoga and the first few times I was very frustrated. My frustration was not so much that somewhere along the way I gained weight and could feel every little squish but the feelings that were associated with the practice. Once I focused more on my breathe I stopped caring about how flexible I was or if I have to go into childs pose, yet again. My practice is about me and my spiritual journey whatever that may be. I agree with info_nrs there is just something about Yoga that opens up every cell in your body and you just react to it. Good luck in your journey and feel free to add me if you would like extra support!
  • dmkoenig
    dmkoenig Posts: 299 Member
    Bikram is considered by many to be the most intense form of yoga, the P90X of the yoga world. As a newbie, you may be best off working in other yoga variations for a while. They are still plenty challenging and instructors in those practice areas tend to have a very supportive and gentle nature about them.
  • Shauncho49
    Shauncho49 Posts: 132 Member
    I can totally relate! Yoga is HARD! Anyone who says it isn't a workout has never done it before or is already in the best shape they will ever be. Don't give up, never give up! like all things it takes practice to get good at. I feel the inability to make certain poses has little to do with the hindrance of external body fat and rather the lack of elasticity of the muscles and other tissue inside. I started doing more stretching and couldn't reach my toes standing up. after a few months of doing it every morning I was finally able to touch my toes...with the same fat still attached to me. The body fat will move out of the way...it's your muscles that are resisting the pose...which is what yoga is meant to do, finding natural resistance in your body.

    but really, I'm clearly no expert...I just know what I've felt in my body and am hoping to use my personal experience to encourage you to keep up with it if it's something you really want to do. Yoga is extremely healthy and a GREAT way to improve your body's flexibility which will help with other exercise in the future.
  • Jessiebell527
    Jessiebell527 Posts: 110 Member
    As anyone who has ever done Bikram regularly knows, there is no worse feeling than going through your first class, but that second class.. absolute awesomeness. Honestly, it's best to do the second one as soon after the first one as possible. Glad you are planning on going back, it will be completely worth it.

    ^^THIS
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I've never tried the hot yoga because I tend to get faint if I get too hot, but I totally feel your pain with yoga in general. I am not very flexible and very uncoordinated. I literally fall over trying to get in some of the positions. I'm currently doing Turbo Fire and I cringe every time I see Stretch 40 on the schedule.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    So tonight, I tried Yoga for the first time in my life. It was hot yoga - Bikram.
    I am overweight at 190lbs and 5 foot 7 and very unflexible. I usually do bootcamp, run, crosstrainer, body weight exercises (callisthenics), Turbo Fire, etc. Never anything like yoga.

    So I read up on tips, I ate light before the class, and drank lots of water before hand.

    However, oh my god, I have never felt as useless at something in my life. It really highlighted how overweight I am, certain stretches were impossible and I could actually feel my body fat at my sides. I could probably do 20% of the positions, and those 20% I could only do a very basic version of them. I sat out a lot as I kept feeling sick. The Bikram teacher kept (kindly) correcting me and calling things out to me in the class which made me feel worse. It got to a certain point, and I know it sounds stupid, but I had the overwhelming urge to cry.

    I know, pathetic, I seriously have issues with crying and cannot cry at things that affect me personally usually, and so the feeling of crying was really strange to me.

    Can anyone share their thoughts with me on this as I'm really confused about what caused this weird emotion over reaction.

    Honesty...a hot Bikram class was not a good starting point. It's more for an experienced yogi not a first timer. I would try again with a beginners yoga class....NO HEAT INVOLVED. Here's the thing about yoga....it's a very individual practice...not a competition. In a beginners class they'll focus on that and ease you into the poses. Also an excellent DVD to try on your own is Yogaworks beginners am/pm.....basic but hits all the classic poses.:flowerforyou:
  • lawmama_
    lawmama_ Posts: 103 Member
    Bikram is not really the right type of yoga for beginners. It's really hard, even for people who have been doing yoga for years. Maybe switch to a beginner's course without all the heat and humidity?

    No one is great the first time they do any type of yoga, so please don't be discouraged! You just need to find the right class for you!
  • elainecroft
    elainecroft Posts: 595 Member
    I disagree with those saying that you need a beginner class - I jumped into an intermediate (but not hot) yoga class and loved it because it challenged me, and I would rather do 20% of something hard than 100% of something easy.

    That said, you may want to look into a different teacher. Some teachers call you out in class, some correct you individually, some are fast paced, some focus on certain areas, etc. Yoga for me is frustrating with a certain kind of teacher, and great with one that matches my style. My advice would be to try a few more times, keep your mind open, but if it is still frustrating try a class with a different teacher and see what you think.
  • JanieJack
    JanieJack Posts: 3,831 Member
    I so identify with you!! I've been doing yoga via DVD in my hotel room but decided to try a class today. I was in tears AT THE BEGINNING... while we were still sitting on our mats... before we'd even BEGUN poses.

    Edit: I went and wrote a blog about this... I'm glad I could still edit this post to add the link, and I hope you folks will take a look: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/JanieJack/view/crocodile-tears-during-power-yoga-520349

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