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Recently a woman from out of town walked into my weekly class.
“I am a yoga teacher, just visiting,” she said bouncing up and down on her toes with a furrowed frown. “I hope you are okay if I do my own thing, within reason of course.”
She was probably in her sixties. And she told me that she’d been practicing for 20 years and teaching almost as long and knew what her body needed – and that it might not be what I was instructing.
I replied, “Sure, as long as it’s not distracting then that’s fine, happy to have you here!” I am committed to creating a welcoming, trauma informed space, and I also understand some of the typical somatic expressions of anxiety when I see them. I was happy that she wanted to practice and I wanted to offer her a safe space where she felt okay about going off script.
And mostly I didn’t want to provoke anxiety.
Sometimes students want to feel the energy of a group class, but they also want to feel okay about doing their own thing. And I have no reason to shame anyone into following my instructions exactly.
Nevertheless, whenever this situation arises (and it inevitably does), it can be a bit awkward.
It was obvious she was quite flexible. And when we started with some subtle awareness building flexion and extension movements in side lying, she decided to do side-lying crunches. When we got to down dog, she added a bunch of down dog crunches. Apanasana – became crunchasana, etc.
She created crunches wherever we went. And she alternated her crunches with very deep stretches.
I don’t have a problem with crunches (although I think the fitness world started to let them go a while ago in preference of other core strengthening practices, but that’s beside the point). Still, I couldn’t help suspecting that something else was going on – a 60-something hypermobile yoga teacher who has been practicing for 20 years who is doing a lot of crunches may very possibly have a significant amount of low back pain. Because we have been taught that “More core strength = less low back pain.”
But in many cases the solution could actually be the opposite.
Often, it’s the most hypermobile folks who suffer the most during and from yoga practice and if they have movement patterns that are dysfunctional, no amount of core strengthening is going to solve their pain problem.
But hypermobility very often gets celebrated and validated it in the yoga world.
It’s important to understand that it’s actually a disorder – typically accompanied by pain and sometimes by anxiety (hello vata!). Let’s just say Cirque du Soleil contortionists typically have very short careers.
Yogis with pain are often told “just do more yoga and your pain will subside” – which is epically bad advice…
If folks with hypermobility issues can have a safe space to slow down a little, to start to turn their awareness inside, and to feel okay about not pushing their bodies, they may actually be able to begin to re-educate their neuromuscular patterning enough to begin to reduce pain.
In other words: do less.
Unfortunately, we have been so acculturated by the Nike gods into believing “No pain, no gain” that it can be a massive mindset shift to get folks to understand that their practice is exacerbating their chronic pain.
Slowing down, nurturing the body with mindful movement, using calming breathing practices, and being happy with less range of motion are integral to reducing pain, and become even more important when you are dealing with a hypermobility disorder.
Sometimes when I’m scrolling through my Instagram feed I start feeling really sorry for the beautiful smiling women demonstrating hypermobile poses – because there’s a pretty good chance that they are in pain.
I am hopeful that this is changing.
I think we can do more to educate our students about a different way to use yoga.
The renown transpersonal psychologist, Abraham Maslow said, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”
Yoga doesn’t need to be a hammer. And you are definitely not a nail.
Reading this, Kristine, makes me think of the girl in Flashdance ( I can’t help it, a former competitive dancer myself) who finally, after all the hustle and sweat, plops down into a chair and gets the cold shower on top of her (presumably) hot head. You can stay fit and sexy, just calm down at least some of the time! Your whole being will thank you. By the way, isn’t that the most memorable seen in the entire movie that everybody seems to remember?
Just came back to fix the typo: seen to scene 😉
What a feeling! hahaha!
Greetings Kristine,
Thanks so much for sharing this perspective! I have lost people in my classes because once they realize my gentle style requires more slow, subtle awareness and practice, they bail. And that is there choice, but it is sadly the ones who need slowing down the most that resist it (thank you greater culture of pitta/vata). And these are the folks who often only slow down when they get injured, and sometimes even then they won’t slow down or temper their practice. As a fellow teacher I am curious if and how you were you able to approach this woman about bringing balance into her practice? Always delicate to broach the subject… Just a perspective share from me: I have tried to talk about integrative movement for a safe, balanced practice that brings delicious results, like a slow cooked meal (if people are willing to take the time for a slow, simmered pot of yumminess). Thanks for your commitment to this approach and your continued courage to keep doing this practice in this way and teaching it to others, especially other yoga teachers…one slow cooked meal at a time in the kitchen of yoga:)
Yes, I love your simmering pot in the kitchen of yoga metaphor Beth – that’s a great one! I see a lot of similarities between the slow yoga movement and the slow food movement. When I know someone is coming from out of town and will only be there for one class I just let them be. No need to stir that pot! But if someone signs up for my training or keeps coming back, then they start to get the recipes, slowly and compassionately, over time. I have many dedicated students who are so grateful for the permission to slow things down. The whole world needs this, but whether or not they are ready is another story. We can only do so much, but if we don’t offer it, then they’ll never know it exists!
This is a great article Kristine, thank you.
I’m a new yoga teacher however have been a yoga participant on & off for 15yrs.
I’m body is hypermobile & I do suffer anxiety. I’m always in pain w/ my lower back & left hip
I’m 51 w: curves shall we say hahaha
My teacher mentor also trained in Krishnamacharya tradition (I attend two of her classes a week) runs slow flow & I moved to that class earlier this year it has made such a huge difference to me, my body, my mind. This is why I want to now teach slow flow.
Thank you this really made sense and a great clarification 😊
It’s wonderful that you have found your path and are sharing with others. Lots of people need lots more slow!
Thank you for this. I have found that hyper mobility is not the same as pushing and that lots of people who are hyper mobile and know it and do not push or work too hard. But it takes them a tremendous amount of effort to contain their flexibility and they don’t know how to do that in an organized and beneficial way. It’s an important topic!
Hey Cindi,
Yes, because the muscles may be so tight and weak while the joints are loose and flexible. It’s takes a lot of effort and control – mind and body, and I don’t think it has been taught very often. You, however, are a maverick and an inspiration. Thanks, very honored to have you here.
My partner and I are mature Yoga Instructors who, like you, teach classes that allow the student to feel the poses without pain. Sometimes the gentlest poses can be the most challenging as we have to stay still and just breathe. I’m not sure I would be so tolerant of someone having their own gym class in my yoga studio! Subtle Yoga is self-explanatory. I think maybe the lady was into ‘ego’ yoga and one sees that in many classes. Like you, I trust that with knowledge, comes change.
I used to think when this sort of thing happened that it was all ego, but now I see that there’s usually some amount of anxiety as well. We are all works in progress!
Yes Kristine…thanks for this piece and i really resonate with your comment about seeing it as anxiety rather than ego. The more i learn about trauma and the nervous system the more i see nervous system deregulation as the thing to compassionately address. Helping people to shift to ventral vagal dominance is such a valuable skillset we can develop and use as yoga teachers. When we re in vv other behaviours which might be challenging fall away.
I read your article and these comments yesterday and this morning the words helped me so much. I teach a sponsored community free outdoor yoga class twice a week 40 weeks a year in Australia. At 7am today, a man I had not met before in his 30s arrived not having registered or booked (which is a requirement), ignored everyone including me as I set up my flag. And proceeded (while others gathered and chatted) to perform a very strong one-legged squat balance that made him look like a frozen Cossack dancer about to pop a piston with the effort and the held breath. I instantly thought “anxiety” and proceeded with renewed calm and confidence with my slow, aware. breath-centred class. If I hadn’t had the benefit of your perspective yesterday, I would have likely thought “Ego” and possibly reacted by not feeling “enough” for him and his expectations and tried to be “more” by going against my intuition for mindful ‘less is more’ for the ensuing class. It really helped thank you. (And him too I hope)
Oh my goodness Leanne your comment make me laugh out loud! “A frozen Cossack dancer about to pop a piston.” LOL! I am glad you found some perspective and were able to stick to your own principles and enjoy teaching your class. He can pop his pistons elsewhere next time, or who knows? maybe he’ll show up again and book first. Good on you!
Your article definitely touched a cord for me. I always broach this question in teacher training modules that I facilitate on the ethics of yoga. The idea of an experienced teacher coming into another teacher’s class and wanting to do her own practice is, for me, unethical and unnecessary. It distracts the class from their own practice with you. At some point her needs, whether she is anxious or not, are superseded by the needs of the group and the ability to provide them with a focussed class. In my own classes I do not create a culture that allows other teachers to “do their own thing“ and in teacher training I address that message to my trainees as they head into the world of teaching themselves.
Thank you Kristine again for another wonderful article. I too have lost clients because the class is to slow and not enough action. I see these ladies coming out of another class all red faced, sweating, breathing hard and walking slow and wonder what are you doing to your body and mind. I had one lady state to me “if yoga isn’t moving fast I won’t do it. Slow is boring I need to move.” I tried to correct her idea of what yoga was about nope it had to be fast or nothing. I just shook my head. It’s difficult at times to get people to see the importance of being slow and mindful, even in yoga. I will not give up. I have learned a lot with your class and it has especially slowed my own practice way down. Thank you thank you Kristine.
What I like to say to those complaining of being “bored” is that there is so much in that boredom to look at! Why are you bored? Where is that feeling arising from? You can learn an immense amount about yourself from your boredom. Please don’t give up Karen – more and more people are opening up and there is so much healing to be find in the slowness, the silence, and the stillness. xoxo
I find that most students that are new to me….. experiencing my class as you have described….. are missing so much. I get, knowing your limits…going only where you feel is right for you… but changing your teaching… and skipping a Master’s guidance…. makes for definite injury 🙁 I have gone to classes where the teacher is fresh off the press, not really understanding their clients differences, guiding all to do the same ego driven posture that even Master Yogis don’t do. Or giving no guidance to prevent injury…. BUT myself, being in your class at Heaven on Earth in ON, Canada…. even if I think I know my body…. I am in your class to learn from you, because I know you are there to honor me, and guide me to that positive place of wholeness. I feel as yoga teachers, that is our purpose. Namaste Sweet Lady! Thanks for the wonderful note….keeping our eyes open.
Thank you Marietta – we are always learning from each other! xoxo
I had my first yoga class in 1958. I was in college and most of us were accustomed to having “hypermobile” phys. ed. options so this mindful movement class was a revelation. In the 60’s as I found yoga classes here and there, ALL of them (even those where we concentrated on inversions) were relaxed and oriented to WHAT our bodies could do simply and EASILY. Things changed in the 70’s but I see us returning now (in substantial though still small ways) to what you are promoting. So HOORAY. I teach a “super” gentle class though I still participate in yoga at levels and for those who have done yoga for a long time. I’m almost 82. Please keep up your meaningful work. This was a wonderful blog.
Thank you Beth Cole,
for your deft timeline for us; wonderful to feel the western direction and know that we are exactly where we need to be.
Kaoverii, seus ensinamentos têm me ajudado muito como professora de Yoga. Os fundamentos da neurociência, os argumentos à favor da Yoga lenta e consciente que tem passado para nós, tão generosamente! têm sido fundamentais para que os alunos permaneçam nas aulas … ainda que alguns não fiquem, realmente. Mas, isso sempre vai acontecer … creio eu. A “cultura” da “Hot Yoga” ainda está muito forte aqui no Brasil e, talvez, no mundo. Essa mudança de atitude na prática de Yoga, para consciente e lenta, só virá com o tempo e com nossa persistência (dos professores) … ainda que haja ansiedade, como foi citado, em certos alunos, há também muito ego, sem dúvida alguma. Muita gratidão por doar seus ensinamentos!!
Kaoverii, his teachings have helped me a lot as a teacher of
Yoga. The fundamentals of neuroscience, the arguments in favor of Yoga
slow and conscious that has passed to us so generously! has
It has been fundamental for students to remain in class … yet
some do not be, really. But this will always happen …
I believe. The “culture” of “Hot Yoga” is still very strong here in
Brazil and perhaps in the world. This change of attitude in practice
Yoga for conscious and slow, will only come with time and with our
persistence (teachers) … although there is anxiety, as
cited with certain students, there are also a lot of ego, no doubt.
Gratitude for donating his teachings !!
Thank you Isabel! I agree, it’s very difficult and the culture is still quite strong in many parts of the world – but I also think there are so many people who are beginning to understand and that consciousness is shifting. Thank you for being a part of that shift!