yogis: what pose(s) do you struggle with the most and do you have goals for working toward them?

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  • RaeBeeBaby
    RaeBeeBaby Posts: 4,246 Member
    Being in my 50's, a relative newbie and non-daily yogi, there are many I have never tried but would desire to accomplish, including wheel and crow. In my dreams (where I'm 25 again) I'd be able to do a headstand and any version of scorpion.

    I recently conquered the high crescent lunge and plow, but cannot do them every practice. It depends on frequency and how flexible I'm feeling at the moment. I did try the crow today in my hot tub. I figure if I can get the position down in the water I might be able to do it on dry land someday. LOL B) For now, I'm just happy as can be to do most of the basic poses and hold the tree pose for several minutes at a time.
  • MsAmandaNJ
    MsAmandaNJ Posts: 1,248 Member
    I've been focusing on downward dog lately, working with my instructor on my form. Holding triangle or warrior 2 results in a burning near my back ankle - not quite my calf, rather the five inches above my ankle bone. Perhaps my stance is too wide?
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    It is a fun read! Thank you for starting this OP @Sabine_Stroehm
  • cbstewart88
    cbstewart88 Posts: 453 Member
    Halasana - plow pose. Have struggled with this for YEARS. Don't know if it's my (fairly ample) boobs, my extremely large rib cage, or the slight feeling of claustrophobia....but it's a challenge. Ironically - it's supposed to be a resting pose, but I swear it gives me agita...

    I enjoyed reading the posts in this thread - don't see a lot about yoga on MFP. Found it interesting how people struggle with yoga in different ways...it was the challenge of yoga and the fact that it can really never be "mastered" that drew me to it in the first place.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    129.jpg
    Been trying to work on upper body strength
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    smile_laughter wrote: »
    I practice Bikram Yoga....been doing it for 10 months now....most of my forms are not correct, but they keep getting better.
    https://www.bikramyoga.com/26-postures/

    I struggle with all of the balancing poses, but I keep trying.
    Can't do toe stand (yet)
    Can't do locust pose (my legs go about 1/2 inch off ground)
    Fixed firm hurts my knee (but I am almost able to get my tush on the ground....this pose is getting better)
    Rabbit - I can curl up, but I can't get my legs and knees at a 90 degree angle (yet)

    I am surprised at how much I love Bikram yoga.....I have never liked yoga. But....now I am older and my flexibility is pathetic, so I need to do this. My mental clarity afterwards is what makes me keep going back.

    I only like bikram. I never liked any other forms too!
  • fostersu
    fostersu Posts: 327 Member
    May I also ask....what's your strongest pose? One that you just naturally melt into? I was in a class once and a guy who struggled in many poses suddenly did a perfect gomukhasana (seated with knees completely crosses in front- pictured in above post) and everyone was so impressed (very small intimate class) and he said that it just came naturally to him.

    While again, for me front folding and hamstring flexibility is my bane...side bends are my heaven. I can just melt deep into standing side bends and triangle is my all time favorite.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited September 2016
    My favorite "melt into it" pose is probably pigeon. I get kinda giddy when I know it's coming.
    Humble warrior comes very easily to me, though I know some really struggle with it.
    And anything that is more "core" focused I excel at, usually.
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    Natural feeling poses?

    gomukhasana I was not even sure I was doing it right, I don't feel anything. My legs do that naturally.

    butterfly, the seated pose with knees bent and feet together, probably because of years of ballet my knees go to the ground.

    And Triangle has always felt really good. Whatever that stretches, it feels nice, it feels strong, it's easy to look up, hand goes to the ground no problem, teachers always say "beautiful" but it came easy.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    robininfl wrote: »
    Natural feeling poses?

    gomukhasana I was not even sure I was doing it right, I don't feel anything. My legs do that naturally.

    butterfly, the seated pose with knees bent and feet together, probably because of years of ballet my knees go to the ground.

    And Triangle has always felt really good. Whatever that stretches, it feels nice, it feels strong, it's easy to look up, hand goes to the ground no problem, teachers always say "beautiful" but it came easy.
    Triangle does feel right!
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    I love warrior poses; they feel strong and comfortable.
  • scr183
    scr183 Posts: 49 Member
    Most backbending/heart-opening poses come pretty easily for me -- bow, dancer, and wheel are among my favorites. But sometimes there is nothing better than just breathing in crocodile, you know?
  • MlleKelly
    MlleKelly Posts: 356 Member
    @smile_laughter I LOVE Bikram!!! I struggle with those same ones...locust and full locust, fixed-firm, and camel. I think it has to do with the flexibility in my shoulder and hip joints. I can't do toe stand because my knees are seriously messed up.

    I really don't get to practice Bikram anymore because I moved to an area without a studio (WAAAAAHHHH!!!!!), but I do get some yoga in at my local YMCA and I have the Bikram recording. It's just not the same doing it at home with the dogs sniffing at my face, lol.
  • jbee27
    jbee27 Posts: 356 Member
    Love this thread, and how it affirms so much of yoga being unique to each person!

    Plow was crazy easy for me, I couldn't believe that people struggled with it, whereas simple crescent lunges have me wobbling alllllll over the place.

  • tiny_clanger
    tiny_clanger Posts: 301 Member
    Adho Mukta Svasana for me. The pain in my shoulders and triceps is immense sometimes. I've been warming up with Anahatasana rather than going straight in to Downward Facing Dog and that seems to help/
  • AlisonH729
    AlisonH729 Posts: 558 Member
    cerise_noir wrote: »
    The wheel and the crow.

    Downward dog I cannot do without a wide stance without my feet flat. Ugh.

    All of this!

    Physically I have the ability to do wheel, but something in my back tightens up and makes it very painful. I get this same pain sometimes when I stretch with my arms over my head at my desk... but not really any other time, so it's strange.

    Crow just hurts. I feel like I'm going to end up with bruises on the back of my arms from my boney knee caps.
  • scr183
    scr183 Posts: 49 Member
    AlisonH729 wrote: »

    Crow just hurts. I feel like I'm going to end up with bruises on the back of my arms from my boney knee caps.

    Yeah, I have what I've started jokingly referring to as "crow brands" on my triceps from practicing it. I bruise very easily, so while it's not painful for me, it always leaves a mark. I wouldn't mind so much if I could actually hold the dang pose for more than a split second...

  • denversillygoose
    denversillygoose Posts: 708 Member
    I'm slowly getting crow. My biggest focus is just gaining flexibility. Someday I hope my heels can touch the floor on a downward dog. I have already gained enough flexibility to do a forward fold and touch the floor. This was a MAJOR victory for me. I have never been very flexible.
  • smile_laughter
    smile_laughter Posts: 3,682 Member
    @MlleKelly - Awww....that is a bummer that no studio is near you. Maybe you should become a small business owner and open your own. ☺ I got a class in today. I've tried to do the yoga poses at home, but like you said.....dogs keep licking me and my room isn't hot and have humidity in it.
  • KiyaK
    KiyaK Posts: 519 Member
    I love yoga! Yin is certainly my favorite style. But I love arm balancing & anything that pushes my flexibility.

    Right now I'm very limited in my physical pracrice, though. My right shoulder is injured, so I've been banned from putting my full body weight on it or backbending. My physical therapist said my shoulders are very flexible without being very strong, so it puts me at greater risk of injury.

    I'm also recovering from a mole being removed from my lower back. I'm trying to avoid a weird scar, so no forward bending for 2-3 more weeks! Between all that, my current yoga is about zilch. Boo...

    But if you want to improve wheel, work on your shoulder & anterior hip flexibility. But make sure you're supporting it all with your muscles, not just dumping into your joints! (Reminder to myself as well lol)
  • tbuttorff
    tbuttorff Posts: 4 Member
    I really love pigeon, one legged king pigeon...any hip openers. I also really love humble warrior as it reminds me to bow to the divine. :smile: It's hard to hold onto stress and negative thoughts when you prostrate to something bigger than you.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I have to say: this thread really motivated me to try a few things I thought I couldn't do. Thanks all!

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