DMGInner Chillness
Will Gadd's post on "competitive Yoga" made me laugh today:
Yoga instructors usually have no clue how to deal with competitive athletes or the male ego in their students. When I walk into a class and flop the mat down I'm just NOT there to get in touch with my inner chillness, I'm in there to bust a cap on my stiff ass, know what I mean? The problem with this attitude is that it results in "competitive yoga," which results in injuries. Touch my toes? Yeah, so I can't do that normally but the flabby-assed punter on the next mat is touching his head to his knee so I'll just try harder... Oops, that was the sound of hamstring ripping... Eventually I figured out that Yoga wasn't competitive, but I watch guys in classes do exactly what I've just described a lot. Yoga instructors should start their classes by saying, "If you're an athlete the next hour needs a mental adjustment."
It's been an interesting experience trying out Yoga. I very much enjoyed (and benefited from) the classes I took a couple of weeks ago, but these days I just run through the DVD I bought. On rest nights I do the whole thing. After Krav/BJJ, I do the last ten minutes or so.
But whether in class or at home, I approach yoga as a restorative activity, not a competitive one. I use it specifically to relax my body and mind, to "get in touch with my inner chillness." So no, no torn hamstrings. I try to make it feel like I'm lying in bed being lazy and stretching just 'cause it feels good.
(Note to self: copy the yoga DVD to my iPod!)