yoginimary Member

I'm not sure what you mean by your "torso keeps pushing out" - do you mean comes forward of your leg?

Well, I have one :wink: : http://www.funwithprops.blogspot.com/ Some others: Read about my friend's trip to Pune and to the Iyengar Institute: http://teachingphilosophyandyoga.blogspot.com/ For hard sequences: http://iyengaryogainaustin.blogspot.com/ For little tips: http://myfiveminuteyoga.com/ For living the life of a…

Chances are you ate before class. This happens a lot. I think it happens in other fitness classes too, but you can't hear it because of the loud music. Try not eating 3-4 hours before class. It will help.

I still fall over. It does get better though. See if you can find a beginner's class or series.

I know there are a few apps that can help you learn the Sanskrit names of the poses. Is that what you are looking for?

Yes, straight legs is classic pose. Just like Carl said, it's easier to balance if you're legs aren't directly overhead - or at least find your balance. I've seen many people come up with their legs split and then bring them together. That works really well for the flexible. Now, I'm not holding handstand for more than a…

Well done Mona. Welcome!

I saw another one but it was with a teacher I've never heard of. You live in Boston, go with the well known teachers. The one above is an Ashtangi

Ask and you shall receive: http://www.northendyoga.com/events.html#modal-iframe

There's an entire group of yoga people to talk to on mfp: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/1484-generic-yoga-group I've practiced for 14 years and a teacher for 6 years. I'm working on a certification in the Iyengar method. I practice nearly everyday, with the goal of 12 hours a week.

I suggest going to your local library and checking out some videos. There are also good books, if you really want to delve deep into poses and not just follow along. DDP is a little gimmicky for my taste. If you want good quality instruction, find someone that has dedicated their life to teaching yoga. Patricia Walden,…

Good for you! I did the same thing recently. I wore shorts to teach class as well as on my blog. I never wear shorts, but it's standard in the Iyengar system.

Why 108: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/02/why-108-sun-salutations/ Someday I hope to do 108 drop backs.

So Carl does this in the Ashtanga tradition in about 45 minutes. I've done it in the Iyengar tradition and it takes between 1.5-3 hours - with some time for headstand and shoulderstand, some standing poses, etc, during the longer event. As far as food goes, I wouldn't eat any differently than my for my normal practice -…

Oh, here's an article that has helped me - more in pincha mayurasana than in handstand: http://yogainternational.com/article/view/handstand-balance-is-bliss

I hadn't considered it, since I'm already going to a different class that day (if you're interested, sequence here: http://iyengaryogainaustin.blogspot.com/). Maybe I'll do that on Sunday - at home, in Austin.

I really like this advice from Christina Sell. I've been working on the just getting the arms vertical. It's really helped. I was just like her, I could get it sometimes, but not always. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH88wtbbbjY

I don't think it's necessarily how long you've practice as much as how much. Try doing as many as possible at home and see how it goes. You might be surprised how many you do. Oh, I should say, careful with your shoulders doing this many. Watch your form as you go between the dog poses as well as chaturanga (if you do that…

I have very dumb cats that like to play with fire. So when I do this at home I use 12 pennies and move them from one side of the mat to the other during uttanasana

108 is fun. Is it a summer solstice celebration?

Yep, just like Carl said. It's about flexibility as much as strength. It's also about confidence. I've helped many people up into handstand that weigh more than you do, and confidence is the biggest issue I work with. Flexibility is next, then strength. I weigh about what you do and handstands are no problem for me. I also…

I've taken one and given one. It can actually range from $40-$450 an hour depending on the teacher (the $450 being a teacher that is known nationwide). I charged $75 an hour for mine because $25 of that went for rental space. If you're not using rental space, then $35-70 is about right - depending on where you live, what…

I've never heard that. Plow is the opposite direction. If I'm warming up for wheel, I do: handstand, pincha mayurasana, gomukasana (cow faced) arms, locust, side locust, bow, side bow, and camel pose - for the shoulders. I may also do: warrior 1, supta virasana, low lunge with quad stretch, ardha bhekasana, bhekasana, and…

I assume you do yoga - but if not, that would be where to start. Most people have more tightness in their shoulders, causing the limitation in urdhva dhanurasana/ backbend / wheel. Gomukhasana arms would be a great everyday pose to work on. It could also be tightness in the hip flexors. Virabhadrasana 1/Warrior 1 would be…

I took me many years before I could do headstand only because I had neck issues. Most people in my classes can do it within a year with regular practice. I've seen people do handstand on the first try, others take years. I could do wheel (urdhva dhanurasana) as well as handstand right away. The pose I'm doing in the…

My successes: 1. I'm a nicer person after I do yoga. I have a long way to go to be a nice person, but it's still an improvement. 2. I'm really flexible. 3. My posture when I'm not doing yoga is pretty good and fantastic when I'm in class 4. I let things go more often. I hold fewer grudges. I'm more content with "what is".…

Do it everyday. You'll get better at it. If you have a hard time getting started, do one pose everyday. Then when that is easy, add another pose. Go to class as often as you can - at least once a week, possibly 2-3 times a week.

I would recommend you find a really good teacher.

Welcome! Do you have 19 cats? I'm sure any beginners class would be great. I would encourage you to go ahead and go to class. You'll make fewer mistakes and are more likely to keep up with it if you go to class. Best of luck to you.

So if you can almost know what is going to come next...I think you could figure out your own practice :wink: But you could always do the primary series or another sequence that you look up online. I have a huge space for my yoga practice. My husband also practices yoga, and sometimes we do it together. We considered…