Originally Posted by etk123

Lol, usually Tjmaxx and Marshalls have them for about $15-17. They're like fat foamy yoga mats.

So excited to get mine! Amazon is telling me Tuesday!

Originally Posted by JudieH

Do you think there's a conception that an "advanced" yogi or that yoga teachers should be able to do headstand, handstand, etc...? This question is for everyone

Originally Posted by JudieH

Yes, perception is the word that I meant. Thanks! As a teacher, I'm often asked can you do this or that or what is the hardest pose you can do. I always say savasana. Stilling the mind and the body is damn hard (for me)! I'm Facebook friends with many yoga teachers, some that are well-known, ie, have appeared on covers of Yoga Journal. Many post photos of themselves in challenging poses. One of my favorite teachers, who has been my inspiration, never does that. I have non-teacher yogi friends who also post themselves in headstands wherever they are. To me, yoga is so much more than handstands or asanas in general. I'm not even quite sure what I'm saying here. I guess I feel discomfort when I read articles like that one (although I'm sure/hopeful the writer was joking about impressing ones friends).

I think you know the answer to this. There is definitely a perception that yoga instructors and advanced yogis "should" be able to do this or that. It's sad really, because a huge point of yoga is that it's non competitive. I think it's great to challenge yourself, but I try very hard not to compare myself to others.

Originally Posted by JudieH

Do you think there's a conception that an "advanced" yogi or that yoga teachers should be able to do headstand, handstand, etc...? This question is for everyone

well - in ashtanga -which is the type of yoga I practise, the teachers would be able to do headstand, because there is structure in the way we learn things so they would have to be taught how to do it. Having said that a headstand or a handstand is not even considered 'advanced' and just because someone can do fancy stuff no one is impressed.

Asanas are meant to eventually lead you to be able to sit in meditation. unfortunately in modern day and societies we've become competitive and taken asanas as a form of "show off" of abilities on top of physical well-being. too many egos as play. I personally do not mind teachers who can't do advance or difficult poses, myself I no longer can do some poses i used to do about 5 years ago....the body changes. I say respect the body, and what is important is the state of mind and awareness in yoga, and the appreciation of philosophy behind it.

You dont need a class for yoga.Just buy the CD's/DVD's of Baba Ramdev of india.I am sure after watching it you can DIY.

Soooo, more mat drama over here.

I put my Gaiam under my new Pilates mat when I practiced outside this morning. The mat was sooo nice and soft, but it definitely doesn't have that stickiness that you need to feel confident that you wont slip.

My plan tomorrow is to lay them side by side (I practice on the driveway, lol) and do the yoga on the yoga mat, and then move to the pilates mat for the floor work.

Thanks for reading my mat drama!

Did my Bryan Kest DVD outside this morning with my mats side by side, it worked well!

Originally Posted by lanasyogamama

Did my Bryan Kest DVD outside this morning with my mats side by side, it worked well!

I'm glad it worked well for you! I've been having a hard time getting to class with the kids home from school, I need to try some on demand yoga. I forget that I can also practice at home. Look at how well it works for you! Tonight I'll be trying something out. I'm sure my kids and dogs will be right with me lol.

Originally Posted by bernz84

Okay, an update on the Manduka ProLite (if anyone is considering this mat). I just got it and washed it twice with sea salt...and I know it takes a while for it to break in, but gah, this mat IS slippery. Last night I got into hanumanasana (splits) way too quickly; it really scared me because I didn't want to pull my hamstrings (again). I had a towel underneath, but it doesn't cover the entire mat so my foot slipped on one end that wasn't covered by the towel. Thankfully I didn't hurt myself; I can get into hanumasana fine, but I like to take my time with the pose, not rush into it like I did this time. Just a forewarning....

Thanks for the update! I was considering this or the EcoLite for travel (one of the yoga instructors recommended it). I have a $20 mat right now and it's light, but SO slippery! :(

i used to dust some baby powder on slipper mats. strangely enough it improved my grip, but gotta bear with the chalky palms and feet.

I practiced at home today. It was so nice. I enjoyed a nice, long savasana.

I'm outta practice lately...not as much yoga as I'd like to. 2 of my regular teachers are on sabbatical....

I take yoga and pilates-yoga fusion classes, but only with my regular instructor.

I can't do a class where there's 15 minutes of breathing, chanting, drumming or any of that stuff.

I also need an instructor who doesn't take things too seriously and is going to just laugh if I call her a sadistic bitch.

I once did tree pose by flipping her two birds. It's now known as the "obscene tree". Trust me, it makes the pose more bearable. Hmmm ... maybe I should TM this.

Originally Posted by DrDior

I take yoga and pilates-yoga fusion classes, but only with my regular instructor. I can't do a class where there's 15 minutes of breathing, chanting, drumming or any of that stuff. I also need an instructor who doesn't take things too seriously and is going to just laugh if I call her a sadistic bitch. .

Sounds like a hoot! However I do feel the need to point out that what you are doing is not yoga at all, *but some weird adaptation of it designed to attract paying students. Nothing wrong with it - there are a lot of classes like that. ( even ones with chanting, breathing and the like) Maybe one day you ll manage to find a proper one. Good luck!

Originally Posted by etk123

I'm glad it worked well for you! I've been having a hard time getting to class with the kids home from school, I need to try some on demand yoga. I forget that I can also practice at home. Look at how well it works for you! Tonight I'll be trying something out. I'm sure my kids and dogs will be right with me lol.

Good luck! I am definitely more likely to get interrupted when I do it on the weekends, not at 6 AM!!!

I hope everyone has had a good week, full of yoga practices!

Do any of you follow Kristen McGee on Facebook? I just love her.