The journey back to yoga can be an empowering yet challenging experience, especially after gaining weight. A recent post by user Sapphire_Bombay on a yoga subreddit echoes the struggles many face while reconnecting with their practice. Having previously thrived on power yoga before the pandemic, their return to yoga post-COVID comes with increased challenges. Sapphire shared how certain poses, like child’s pose, have turned into exercises in frustration due to their significant weight gain—about 60 pounds—during lockdown, leading them to inquire about adjustable techniques to promote better breathing in these challenging positions.
Summary
- Sapphire_Bombay discusses the difficulties of returning to yoga after significant weight gain, particularly during child’s pose
- User feedback is overwhelmingly supportive, offering practical advice and adjustments to facilitate easier breathing.
- Common suggestions involve using props to relieve pressure and create more space.
- The general sentiment in the community revolves around compassion and understanding, emphasizing that yoga is about personal growth rather than perfection.
Struggles in Child’s Pose
Child’s pose, a staple in the yoga repertoire, is usually a restorative position aimed at promoting relaxation and deep breathing. For Sapphire, however, this restorative pose has become a point of contention. They expressed frustration: “I can’t breathe in the pose, even with adjustments!” Many users empathized, recalling their own varying challenges while transitioning back to yoga. One comment from user ‘Wendy613’ pointed out that positioning “knees apart” is often a helpful technique to create space for the belly, enabling better airflow. Yet, the struggle remains real for Sapphire; their attempts haven’t yielded the expected relief, revealing a universal truth in yoga: every individual’s body responds differently. This difference can feel isolating, but it also encourages a spirit of innovation when it comes to solutions.
The Power of Community Support
One of the most heartwarming aspects of the Reddit discussion was the overwhelming support from users who chimed in with suggestions. Comments like “be kind to your body and play around with props” remind us that yoga isn’t a race, but rather a personal journey filled with exploration. User ‘erinburrell’ offered thoughtful insights into the use of a bolster, suggesting methods like laying on a bolster lengthwise to increase comfort and expand breathing capacity. This communal knowledge reinforces the idea that learning from each other’s experiences can lead to beneficial practices that enhance our individual journeys, leaving behind the competitive atmosphere that sometimes clouds yoga forums. The warmth in the community, as users share their wisdom and experiences, offers a reminder that yoga is as much about connection and support as it is about the physical practice.
Adjustments and Modifications
As noted by many users, incorporating props and making modifications is key to overcoming obstacles after significant weight gain. Suggestions from the community revolved around experimenting with how to position the body to encourage better airflow. User ‘impishme’ highlighted an interesting idea by recommending placing a folded blanket behind the calves, which helps create room as the hips settle back toward the heels. This modification can mitigate the discomfort that can arise during a pose like child’s pose, preventing feelings of pressure. The prevalent advice encourages a playful approach to finding an optimal position; yoga should be about exploration, and not full compliance to set forms. As various suggestions flood the thread, the creative strategies discussed reveal yoga’s adaptable nature, reminding individuals of how personal and flexible the practice can be.
The Role of Mentality in Yoga Practice
The mental barriers that come with returning to practice after body changes can often overshadow the physical aspects of yoga. Sapphire’s post uncovers a significant underlying sentiment: the journey is also about mental health and healing. Many commenters emphasized self-compassion, reflecting on how critical it is to forgive oneself during these transitional phases. User ‘LilRed78’ succinctly put it, “Honestly for me I have had to just keep doing it when it gets hard and eventually, it gets easier.” This highlights a valuable lesson in perseverance, setting an example that daunting challenges can lead ultimately to growth and ease with time. Yoga, often depicted as a serene practice, is just as much about confronting one’s own struggles as it is about the physical execution of poses. This narrative adds another layer to the journey, showing how mental resilience can strengthen physical capability.
The conversation ignited by Sapphire_Bombay’s post on their struggles with child’s pose resonates with many who have faced similar challenges on their journey back to yoga after weight gain. The supportive and constructive feedback from the community brings to light not just possible adjustments for making poses more accessible, but also emphasizes the importance of patience and kindness towards oneself. As individuals navigate through their practices, whether confined by physical limitations or mental blocks, the collective wisdom displayed in these threads serves as a reminder that yoga is inherently a personal experience. It’s about finding what feels right, being open to adjustments, and most importantly, embracing oneself amidst the changes. In the end, it reinforces the idea that every yogi’s journey is unique and paved with its set of challenges, triumphs, and supportive friends along the way.