NHS Workout: (Lovingly) Struggling with Yoga

[CBDB]

🧘🏾‍♂️So I tried the 45min NHS Vinyasa Flow Yoga workout, and I really think I would love it, if it weren’t for the fact I can’t do it. 😢

🧘🏿‍♂️Link: nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitne... 😃

🧘‍♂️It’s the first time I tried a workout from the NHS website classed as beginner and failed. I feel I cannot class my workout anything other than a fail. 😫

🧘🏻‍♂️I love the flowing nature of the workout, the fluidity of moving from one posture to the other, the meditative moments of becoming conscious of every single muscle and part of your back, the slow stretches. 😅

🧘🏽‍♂️But, for most of the poses it feels like the Yoga masters have simply not thought of an overweight, stiff, old woman 👵 wanting to participate. My chin does not reach the floor when it should, my belly is in the way for most bendy poses, lying down my boobs 👙 doesn’t allow my head be anywhere near where it should and my bones and knees and spine simply don’t bend that way ... or bend at all...😡

🧘🏿‍♂️But I strangely enjoyed this fail of a workout, and as I’m typing this in my favourite chair, my back spine feels warm and cozy.🤗

🧘‍♂️So maybe not a fail, but rather an experience. 👍🏽

👩‍💻 A big win, though is that I got handed down a (very) old iPad (iPad1) but as it has WiFi it works perfectly for playing my NHS videos in my living-room workout corner. Not much use for much else, but perfect for this purpose.

💪Happy working out everyone! 🏃🏻‍♀️

[IJM1]

Doesn't sound like a fail at all! And like with running, some things get easier quickly. I like the Fitness studio beginner's Pilates. Have you tried that?

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to IJM1]

It’s on my list for next week! 👍🏽 😃I tried the Pilates for knees, and that was great. Thanks!

[IJM1 in reply to CBDB]

I think those workouts are great at telling you what muscle or body part you should be 'leading with' so you really are doing the right stretch. Also, the beginners Pilates starts with what feels like a ten minute meditation which is just luscious, and I suspect, very good for the posture.

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to IJM1]

Fab! Really looking forward to that. I have decided to delay my program a bit as I slotted in some knee workouts. (I encountered some knee pain after doing this yoga). But it’s on my plan (and I will follow my plan, even if a bit later than originally planned😉!). 💪👍🏽🙏🧘‍♀️🦵

[Shivedita]

Wow! That's the spirit. Happy workout😃👍

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to Shivedita]

🙏

[Hidden]

Be kind to yourself CBDB. Approach yoga like running: it is unique to each individual and it is a journey, just as running is. You showed up on your mat, as the wonderful Adriene says, and in all our books that’s a win. Even yogis who have been doing yoga for years still have new things to learn.

It is more a reflection on the yoga video that it wasn’t suitably differentiated for the range of levels of everyone taking part.

Keep going. You are a star 🌟

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to Hidden]

Awhhh thank you! 🙏💪 I’ll do it a second time (like my plan tells me to 😉) and then I’ll explore other yoga workouts. I am sure there is something out there as good as Laura’s Str & Flex, but for Yoga. 🙏

[Hidden in reply to CBDB]

Try Yoga with Adriene......

yogawithadriene.com

She's used by so many of us on S&F. You don't need to subscribe as there is so much open access to free yoga plans on her website. Follow the link and click on the Calendar tab at the top of her page. From it you can open the monthly calendar for November full of free yoga sessions for each day of the month. When I first did it I saved it to my favourites and now the calendar updates automatically. She offers options for different levels. I do her yoga sessions a few times a week.

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to Hidden]

Bookmarked ✔️ Great tip! thanks! 🙏🤩

[Hidden in reply to CBDB]

You are welcome. Enjoy. Namaste🧘🏼‍♀️🙏🏼

[ElleRee]

On decathlon fb page they have yoga for runners in a Monday at 6pm. It is v good. I save the video and watch it later. Keep going with yoga as it has helped my recovery after long runs

[linda9389 in reply to ElleRee]

Thanks for this - sounds interesting 😊

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to ElleRee]

That’s a great tip, as I’m embarking now on my 5k to 10k (slow) journey. Thank you! 🙏

[linda9389]

I agree with Hidden - Adriene firmly promotes what feels good for you, your body and where you are today. Some of her videos are flows, some are not. She hss foundation videos for many of the poses which are really helpful too.

I have followed her calendar every day for just over a year now - I still can't always get to the ultimate pose, but I have definitely improved from my early attempts; I'm bendier, my upper body is noticeably stronger, i am familiar with her poses and cues which make the flows far easier and I am better able to control my brathing and emotional state using her techniques whether on or off the mat. Something of a fan really 😃. Persevere 👍

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to linda9389]

Thank you. Yes, I might just have to shift something around in my plan to make way for a bit of Adrienne, so I can get to know her. 🙏👍🏽✔️

[CookieM]

Another vote for Adriene. I too tried other yoga videos, but I like the way she talks, I like the way she doesn't assume that you can do everything and gives you options. I don't always enjoy the session, but usually I enjoy some of it, and sometimes there is a session that I love!

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to CookieM]

Thx 🙏

[Hedgehogs123]

Hey that's not a fail at all, you tried and maybe when you do it a few more times it will feel easier. I used to be an exercise teacher and I remember someone once coming up to me to say she just couldn't do it. But she could and she was, it was just she was comparing herself to others, and we all do it, but we shouldn't because we are different people and have different bodies and yes maybe different abilities but that's what makes us unique! If you enyoed it and felt you got something from it, then it's not a failure and you are certainly not one either!!! 😁

[CBDB Administrator Graduate Gold in reply to Hedgehogs123]

🙏 🙏 😊