Rita Reviews

living my best possible southern life

Yoga is Hard

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I originally shared this over at A Lucky Grace. Things there are changing and I am moving some posts here. I thought I would share it with y’all today in case you never saw it. Not too long ago I thought I would give yoga a try. I felt like it would help me be a bit more flexible and help some with my arthritis. So the very first day there I was feeling so great and just knowing I was going to come away having found my workout. You know the workout that you love so much that you want to do it everyday. I was going to be like those chicks you see heading into the yoga studio all excited about what they are going to do.

Then I went through the whole workout and by the end I knew that yoga was the DEVIL y’all! Just the devil. I have never in my life hurt so much that my eyeballs ached. I expected some pain since I would be using some muscles that I didn’t normally use. What a joke! I am certain that I used muscles I never even heard of.

I didn’t give up though. I thought maybe the first day was rough and I needed to give it some time. So I went to class everyday and came home ready to cry. After a couple of weeks of this torture I decided that maybe yoga ain’t for me. I’m pretty sure you aren’t suppose to have a meltdown in your car because it hurts to much to stand up. Then one of those perky chicks I was telling you about asked if I wanted to join the hot yoga class. I remember thinking “Is she nuts?” I mean regular yoga left me in tears, hot yoga would kill me.

I politely told you no thank you that I was just too busy for that at this time. I also gave up regular yoga because it was just too much.  I do still do a few of the poses that weren’t too difficult and didn’t leave me in pain. I move a little better now but I have come to the conclusion that I will never be able to do what that chick in the picture is doing.

Which is okay with me. I am comfortable doing what my body is able to. Hopefully I will be able to advance a bit more as I get fitter but there is nothing wrong with where I am at in this moment. To me yoga is hard but to those perky chick it is a breeze and I am in awe of them. Awe, in the fact that their bodies move that way. If I looked like half of them I wouldn’t go do yoga every day although that could be why they look that way. Just saying!

Have you tried yoga? What do you think of it?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I have thought about it but no I have never tried it. I am pretty busy and not sure I have the time to dedicate to it honestly.

  2. I’ve never tried it for all the reasons you listed. If only I could find something similar for disabled people I would try.

  3. I’ve only done the basic yoga poses. No way could I do the more complicated ones! Do what works for you regarding fitness.

  6. I had tried yoga a long time ago when it was in vogue last time. Never got too far. One thing I’m surprised at now is when I started doing balance exercises I thought it would be a cinch, but much harder than they look and it takes a while to get better. I wouldn’t bother with yoga again, but balance and stretching yes.

    • I agree it is much harder than it looks. I may need to try some balance stuff. I am doing the strength part now.

  7. I have thought about doing yoga. My mom did it years ago and she liked it. My daughter does it off a kids on demand yoga program.

  8. yoga really is challenging. I enjoy it for the most part and wish I was still doing it regularly.

  9. I’m having a lot of guy friends tell me how they are starting to try out Yoga and how hard it is . I am actually going to start doing Yoga and hoping it will help me be more fit and help my posture

    • They are right it is hard. However you may be one of those people that it is easy for. Good luck with it and please let me know how you do.

  10. I see the yoga poses and they make it look so effortless and then I try and the results are hilarious. I am going to make more of an effort.

    • I’m right there with you. A simple pose, like super basic, the ladies in the class breeze through and I look like I need remedial yoga. Guess I’m just not as balanced.

    • My advice for you would be to take it slow and if something feels like it hurts don’t try to power through it. Pull back and do what is within your comfort zone.

  12. Thank you for this! I started yoga because there was a program everyone at work was doing. And I was in tears! I tried the next few days and … I thought it was just me! I actually do like it, so i want to keep trying, but I like knowing others find it difficult.

  13. Oh I agree 1000%!! I would love to be able to develop some yoga skills, but I think I need help along the way, lol!

  14. its a big deal when you find peace within its hard at first until you let it all go and think of you for once i love yoga

  15. i HAVE NOT TRIED YOGA BUT REALLY NEED TO BECAUSE i NEED SOMETHING LOW IMPACT TO BUILD STRENGTH.

  17. Ive tried yoga inthe past. i find it hard bothmentally and physically.i love cardio and thngs that move quickly but holding a pose is so much harder for me.

  18. I used to do yoga, but then I got injured and had to stay off my feet. I could still do some of the yoga but none of the lunges. basically just stretches and ab work. I’m almost back to 100% and hope to get back to it!

  19. I haven’t tried yoga yet but i really want to. I would like to tone up and become more flexible.

  20. I found yoga to be very boring. I need fun to motivate me to workout & unfortunately for me, yoga is not that.

  21. I think yoga is wonderful for exercise and meditation; my main problem with it is that i tend to get bored, which is a shame since it has so many benefits. i’m glad you made it through a couple of weeks. It’s totally fine if it’s not for you, and now you know you made an honest effort and can focus on fitness you actually enjoy.

  22. My niece teaches a yoga class and I am in awe of her!! Of course, she is young and fit but some of those poses…I’d be happy to do any of the basic poses! Good for you for trying!!

  24. I did yoga a while back and loved it until I hurt my back during one of the sessions. It’s important that you get a good and qualified instructor. Mine pushed me too hard. She kept barking at me when I couldn’t get a pose right.

  25. I’ve heard that yoga is one of the most difficult ways to exercise even though it looks so serene. Of course, it leaves you in amazing shape if you can get through it. I doubt i could, lol.

  26. I’ve never tried yoga, it looks difficult! i’ve seen some poses and i’m just like how?? lol

  27. i tried yoga once for a week or so thinking this looked like something I could do even if it took a while to do the more advanced poses. it was the hardest exercise i have ever tried in my life. needless to say i gave it up.

  28. I have not tried yoga but have always wondered what it is like. I have read it is relaxing.

  29. I prefer pilates to yoga, but haven’t done either in years (pre-baby…and the baby is now 14 years old.) I definitely felt better when I did it, though!

  30. I gave yoga a brief try. I have a balance issue, so it was tough. It is not for me either. Ialso tried pilates, which for some odd reason I found easier after awhile. I have found good old walking is the thing for me. It is low stress and no equipment (besides shoes and comfortable clothes) needed. Plus we have a dog, he likes that choice too.

  31. I have thought about it. I’m just working myself back up to regular exercising. I would love to try some of the easy poses if there are any. I meditate and that helps me feel relaxed, the perfect time to try it. I would get into a class or have someone expert to help me.

  32. You’re right! Yoga is hard. I have never even thought about doing yoga. The different positions are kinda weird and look hard to do. I have seen fitness trainers do the “yoga challenge” and it was very hard for them to do. If you know how to do yoga, then consider yourself lucky. It’s just not for me!

  33. I have never tried yoga. I am not flexible at all! I have wanted to start though.

  34. I am not a huge fan of yoga, but I do enjoy trying a few of there poses, I find it help me with my stretches , I won’t push it on myself, I don’t think thats the whole idea of doing yoga, so a few poses and back to meditation.
    @tisonlyme143

  35. I use to do yoga, but I have some disabilities now. I need to study up on what I can do. I loved it when I was doing it. It’s so relaxing.

  40. I use to do Yoga then life became to hectic. I know I should try and do it now because it will help stretch me & possibly help with pain.

  41. I did yoga after my son was born, but haven’t done it in a lot of years, lol. I remember enjoying it, but not being very good at it. I felt rather clumsy. Might not be a bad idea to give it a try again

  42. Yoga is recommended for my epilepsy and COPD.. I don’t know how to get started.. Thank you for posting.. It really IS hard!!

  43. I have been to 3 yoga classes with my coworkers but to be honest, I prefer to do the elliptical machine.

  45. It’s challenging for me too both mentally and physically! But I love a good challenge 🙂

  46. My daughter is a devoted practicer of yoga and has been after me for years to get into it also, to help with some of my chronic back problems. Never really appealed to me, though.

  48. I love yoga but I started with super easy beginner’s yoga in the comfort of my own home and never pushed myself to the point of being in pain. Mostly just stretching and simple flows. It took so long and a lot of determination to get where I’m at (which is really still just a beginner) but I feel better than ever! 😀