So…yoga and barre are actually really hard if you do them right. You would think a girl who ran a bunch of marathons and loves crazy, intense heavy CrossFit workouts could handle a few 3-lb weights and some extra long downward dogs.
But I’m a wimp. I swear I am the first person in class to let go of my pose. My legs start burning in barre and I’m out! I stare in awe at the people beside and in front of me, holding their poses for the full ten-count. What the heck?
I’m not used to the burn. This is why I did did “Solidcore” once and said, never again. I hate that slow burn. At least with running, you’re going somewhere. With CrossFit, there’s always an end in sight.
Yoga is slow, long, hard. And I’m the biggest wimp in class. Teachers always have to fix my poses and I’m always sheepishly hoping they aren’t looking at me when I break a move to hit up a child’s pose.
I haven’t yet figured out how you endure through poses and long holds. Also, so many yoga classes are 1 hour and 15 minutes — which just seems so long. I’d love t know how people learn how to hold through the burn.
I feel like I’m the only wimp in yoga, but that can’t be true!
How have you learned to endure through long poses or to maintain your moves during shaky legs or burn? I NEED to learn or I’m cheating myself!
Susan says
I find myself in the same boat! You’re not alone. I’ve been trying to do Power Yoga once a week. It’s an hour and the room is about 90 degrees, which is rough for me as I don’t care for heat. On top of that, I’m pretty sure I have the worst form in class since I’m a newbie, but rarely get any corrections and that frustrates me :-/ I keep myself motivated by telling myself I’m doing this because I’m a runner and it will only help me. Anyway, just know you’re not alone!
Ericka Andersen says
Thanks! I guess it’s hard being an high activity athlete and moving to lots of yoga and barre because of my back and pregnancy. I need to learn to chill and get the benefits of this. I’m glad I’m not alone!
Annie says
Yoga is tough! I find I have a hard time staying focused for 90mins and yoga classes don’t often fit into my schedule. Instead I got an account with gaiam’s my yoga online. It’s almost like a youtube for yoga classes. I find that I use the 20min short practices the most: after a run, to relax at night or stretch in the AM. Not sure if they have pregnancy yoga specific practices. Might be worth checking out (and it’s cheaper than a class!)
Ericka Andersen says
Thanks so much! I havent’ done a ton of yoga on my own. I get so distracted at home! But…if I made it priority and shut the doors, left the phone in the other room — I’m sure I could do it. Then, I don’t have to devote 90 minutes, which is WAY too long for me!
Jill says
Yin yoga! It teaches you how to breath through poses that are pretty simple and relaxing but it helps so much in vinyasa and hatha. Also, be ok with not holding for as long as others. You are doing this for you.
Ericka Andersen says
Never heard of that but I will look it up! And that’s a good point. Thank you!
Beauty in Christ says
I have never done one, but I bet if I did, I Would be a bit wimpy. I’m not very strong, especially in the upper body, so my performance would be … pitiful. 😀
RunToTheFinish says
HA!! no it’s not just you!! there are some I can work through, but others I’m like nope doesn’t feel good, moving on 🙂
Ericka Andersen says
Glad I’m not alone. I don’t understand these people who just LOVE yoga. I want to be one but I’m just not!
Ashley says
It took me MANY years but now I love yoga. I love
Vinyasa classes because the longest (in my experience) that you hold a pose is 5 breaths. If I can get into a tough pose but can’t hold it, I will start as
instructed and then move into a modification. As time goes on and my practice
progresses. I can hold the intended pose without a modification for longer!!
Sarah says
It takes a lot of practice to hold those poses! I like doing vinyasa yoga because it it has more of a flow to it an and youyou are not stuck in the same poses forever. I also found the more hydrated I am the easier it is to last through class. It seems silly but it is so easy to be dehydrated throughout the day!
Michelle Hoover says
Oh it is not just you! I have to be going to yoga consistently for a long time to not feel wimpy about it. Crossfit is my go-to these days so every time I pop into yoga, I always feel like a wimp!