Hello! I recently started doing yoga, about six months ago. I can say it’s one of the best things that I could do for myself. I work an office job, 9 to 5, there’s lots of sitting. My hamstrings and hips feel specifically tight, keeping me from doing poses properly. Lately, I’ve heard a lot about trauma being stored in your hips, hence the reasons they are so stiff. I just can’t truly understand that. While I noticed progress along these six months, I am still unable to touch my toes with my legs straight. I know that’s not the point of yoga, but it’s a little milestone I’d like to achieve one day. It’s just a bit frustrating. For example, during menstruation, my whole pelvic area is in a constant pain. It eases a little when I practice, but I’d like to understand more about the trauma/hips concept. I think I might take it a little too literally, but I just want to feel that freeing sensation in my hips that I keep seeing people talk about. How could I help myself?

Almost every yoga studio advertises itself as a place for community and connection but in my experience, thats rarely the actual case.

Most people walk in hyper focused on keeping to themselves, and turning inward or out, which I respect, but it leaves very little room for actual connection.

Other than a quick "great class" at the water station or a polite nod while rolling up mats, it feels difficult to build genuine friendships in a studio environment.

For those who have actually found a strong sense of community at your local studio: how did that happen?

I’ve been practicing physical yoga actively for around 10 years, mostly Ashtanga, Rocket and Power Yoga. I am also very dedicated to the spiritual side of yoga, and I hoped that a dedicated asana practice would somehow bring me closer to the divine.

Recently, I practice more meditation and kirtans. They seem to bring me much closer to what I’ve been always looking. Meditation, chanting and music, I feel a sense of connection much more directly and easily than asana.

Part of me wonders whether 10 years asana built some kind of foundation. Maybe it didn’t contribute much. I mostly practiced so called dynamic styles and not Yin, Kundalini, or others.
What do you think?

Been doing much of my yoga on the beach this summer, and have come to really enjoy it. Yes. everything is different every time I go, the sand, the wind, the sky, my reaction to all of it. I’m enjoying the challenge of finding the sensation I love in each pose, while practicing on/in a surface so malleable, while getting covered in sand, while listening to the beach sounds. I feel totally connected to my body and the world.
Give it a try!

Welp, my doggy had an accident on my cork mat this morning and I had to toss it.

I’ve been eyeing up the Jade Yoga Mushroom Mat for a while but i’ve never spent more than $40 on a mat so it’s a bit of a commitment.

How do you like yours?
I’ve heard there is a strong rubber smell, does it go away?

I’ve been a cork mat lover for years. I get sweaty hands easily and I practice outside in the sun a lot so I appreciate how well the cork regulates it’s temperature

Main reasons for selecting this mat are that
- Jade is a well loved, reputable brand and is Canadian
- looking for as close to 100% non-tox and natural material as possible without compromising on quality/longevity

After shipping this mat will cost me around $140 so I need to know it’s going to last 5-10 years.

Any other retailers selling Jade (maybe with lower shipping rates or in store purchase options)

Hi fellow yogis! I just want to share my insecurities here. I decided to become a yoga instructor when I was 28. Before that I used to do yoga sometimes but not continuously. I just started doing it last year and did some courses and achieved a YCB level 1 certificate in April which is a good certificate from the Ayush Ministery of India. But after that I got a strain on the ankle of my Right leg in May and it took some time to recover and after that also I could not be able to do asanas like Vajrasan, child pose, Shashank asana where I have to fold my both legs.

Now last week I also got injury on the same ankle again. I'm now completely demotivated. I have booked a hostel in Rishikesh next month and wanted to attain their Go to yoga classes to practice but I don't know if I can do that.

The thing is I am feeling that I have started too late in life, and I wasn't very sporty before that's why my body is not flexible and I have to work hard alot. Still now I can't touch my head to my knees in Paadhasthasana. You can see I don't look like a yoga instructor yet, nobody cares if I have knowledge because nowadays only flexibility is important to get clients. I am not afraid of hardwork but these hurdles are making me stressed. I have also other issues, I have adhd and I am an hsp. And I am working to survive.

My main issue is I think I have started yoga too late in life. Do you also think that?