Question:

I agree with Amy.  Yoga feels good!!   Eventually finding that place inside yourself where comparison no longer matters is part of the journey too.  And wondering is totally natural too.  I know someone who can do all sorts of pretzel-like contorsions and its hard believe that she was once restricted by arthritis.  I wonder at all the effort  and patience it took. Me, I have bad knees and past back problems.  Last month I totally surprised myself in a standing forward bend by touching the floor with my knuckles. I was enjoying the pose and it just happened. Keep enjoying yourself!  And let us know how it goes Annie

Response:

Hi, I am a spiritual "iron bar". I am making progress (I think / hope), but the trouble is that progress just makes me increasingly realise the extent of the "total cretinism" , of my past life and attitudes. It is too late to do anything about this now, I can only try to improve. I will not give up . I doubt this is very encouraging as such, but just don’t give up. Pathetic though I am, I have achieved a few things I thought I would never be able to do – simply by never actually giving up – close though I have come. I know that I will "succeed" at Yoga, because there is no alternative. What is your alternative ? A rusty iron bar ? . Don’t give up. Ever . Best Wishes Santashi

Response:

Hi, I desperately need some encouragement from more experienced people. I’m beginner with a stiff body, I’m like iron all around. (I’m doing Ashtanga and I’m a woman). I have experienced some progress and exercise makes me feel very good. I also know that this is my journey, my body and my progress – that I shouldn’t compare myself to others. But I can’t help wondering; have all those very flexible persons been some kind of natural wonders, former athletes, blessed with superior genes, etc. I’d love to hear a story of a former iron bar

I’m not extremely flexible myself, but I have become more so over the time I’ve been doing yoga.  When I first started, I could not grasp my ankles when doing upside down bow pose and had to use a strap. Now I’m able to muddle my way into it.  It may seem like a small improvement, but I started at about age 40 and I’m pleased to see myself improving in flexibility rather than declining (I’m now 43). Also, I had never done handstands in my life.  Now I’m at the point where I’m working on balancing without the aid of a wall. I still need the wall to go into it, but I then move my feet away for a few seconds before coming down. Anyway, I guess I’m not a "former iron bar",  because I still have a way to go.  But I was more self conscious of my limitations when I first started, like you.  As I’ve experienced these incremental improvements, I’ve found that that’s where the satisfaction lies and worry less about what I’m not able to do, trusting that more ability will come with time. -Ed

Response:

Hi Karneoli: Welcome to the newsgroup.  Each individual has her/his own journey. It’s really not relevant to your body what other bodies can do, is it? I think it’s wonderful you have experienced some progress already.  Keep reminding yourself that.  Like Bettyrubble, I also laugh at myself sometimes. What has been keeping me motivated despite my limitations, imperfections and flaws, is the fact that yoga FEELS GOOD.  I feel better doing it than not doing it.  It’s its own reward.  If as a side benefit, my ego gets gratified because my body improves its performance in the asanas relative to other people in the class, that’s fine – as long as I don’t get hubris or arrogant or forgetful of where I was when I started. Far more important than performance are the lessons of patience, persistence, gentleness, and acceptance of reality as it is.  Your body is what it is, like it or not.  Accept it with loving kindness, and work patiently to improve from there. Amy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I desperately need some encouragement from more experienced people. I’m beginner with a stiff body, I’m like iron all around. (I’m doing Ashtanga and I’m a woman). I have experienced some progress and exercise makes me feel very good. I also know that this is my journey, my body and my progress – that I shouldn’t compare myself to others. But I can’t help wondering; have all those very flexible persons been some kind of natural wonders, former athletes, blessed with superior genes, etc. I’d love to hear a story of a former iron bar greetings, Karneoli

Response:

Hi, I desperately need some encouragement from more experienced people. I’m beginner with a stiff body, I’m like iron all around. (I’m doing Ashtanga and I’m a woman). I have experienced some progress and exercise makes me feel very good. I also know that this is my journey, my body and my progress – that I shouldn’t compare myself to others. But I can’t help wondering; have all those very flexible persons been some kind of natural wonders, former athletes, blessed with superior genes, etc. I’d love to hear a story of a former iron bar greetings, Karneoli

Response:

I desperately need some encouragement from more experienced people.

Well here is some encouragement: Not all of those flexible yogis you see were always flexible. Be patient and enjoy the journey. Your body will open slowly with time and you’ll be amazed at the changes you will make. I was never a flexible person–I had short tendons, and numerous hamstring injuries and pulled muscles made my legs very stiff. Sitting in a chair all the time makes you stiff too. I also had Olive Oil arms w/ no upper-body strength. Anyway, when I first started yoga, I would laugh at myself sometimes because I’d be sitting almost straight up during forward bend. I figured I would never be able to do it like the instructor, and there were many other asanas I thought would be impossible for me. Every day I made a little more progress, and low and behold, I am now quite flexible and pretty strong too. I still have many things to work towards, but now I know that nothing is impossible. I recommend spending some extra time at home working on areas that are particularly difficult for you–doing a series of asanas for that particular area and doing long, slow holds with deep breathing. Take heart and take time. As long as you are in proper alignment and doing the breathing, you will get the benefits of yoga. Namaste!

Response:

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