question about yoga (Read 921 times)

I'm just dabbling it in so far - no classes since I don't have the extra money. But i know I'm very good about learning correct posture and such, so I'm not worried that I'm doing it wrong. I did a class today through comcast - i think it was called YogaFusion (fused with some pilates) and I had a very bad prblem with my wrists. I can only stay in that pain in the ass plank pose ( i hate it!!) for so long before my wrists start killing me and my arms are just quivering away. however i dont feel ANYTHING in my abs when doing this. i am very careful to pull in my abs, and not use my back, but still no feeling the core working. my arms on the other hand seem to want to fall off! one particular part of the session was a very looooong set of alternating between downward facing dog and plank with some pilates leg stuff thrown in there and i literally had to sit some of it out because my wrists just couldnt handle the weight of my body for that long. is this normal???? will my wrist strength get better as i do it more and more?? and also, is it me or is it difficult to tell when you should be inhaling or exhaling through certain moves? i'm getting frustrated trying to figure this out because on the videos and dvds, the trainer talks the whole time so i dont know how she is breathing......help!

I am no expert in yoga, so do not put much weight on my words. First, in the other yoga topic someone introduced Erich Schiffmann's site and his discussion board is really good to find advices on different matters of yoga. http://www.movingintostillness.com/ When I read some topics of handstand I found a discussion regarding weak wrists. You can read it by yourself and maybe it can give you some advices. I have also included 2 other discussions about wrist pain. http://movingintostillness.yuku.com/topic/1640/t/Need-some-encouragement.html http://movingintostillness.yuku.com/topic/1624/t/ye-olde-arm-balance-wrist.html http://movingintostillness.yuku.com/topic/2173/t/Wrist-pain-carpal-tunnel-syndrom-and-Yoga-practices.html I decline to say more, because I do not have that much knowledge on yoga. I do hope that this might help your situation. EDIT: About breathing patterns. I have got the picture that many teachoers do not want to give any specific answers about this matter. Breathing patterns comes gradually easier in yoga practice when your body gets used to the effort. Basic pattern is inhale when you straighten and exhale when you recline, Just try to keep natural rhythm and you are not that far wrong with it.

Yep, pose names are quite an obstacle and I'm neither into the meditative part, at least yet (maybe after doing poses do not require that much effort any more). But, if you use search you can find good advices how to practice into more challenging poses (asanas), especially core practices. Good site for reference.

Thanks - I dont have any fav. trainers yet, I just keep checking out sessions on Comcast, or renting ones from the library until I find something I really like. I will be trying out Yoga for Athletes this week so we'll see. Another thing I noticed though - I never can stay on my stupid mat!! I always find myself off the back end of it and have to doggie waddle back up to the front of it while I'm in the middle of a pose!! How the hell do these people do it without moving around so much??! I feel like such an un-coordinated bull while doing this - another reason I won't go to a class!!

I practice regulary at www.yogatoday.com They have lots of beginner classes and give you good advice on posture.