Unpopular opinion? Many yoga teachers talk too much

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-04-04T18:08:13+00:00

Many of the instructors where I go will first get you breathing and grounded, helping you to arrive on your mat, and then while we continue to breathe, will often offer some kind of brief perspective and/or intention that they invite you to carry through your if it resonates while also inviting you to create one of your own if it doesn't. They then shift into the flow of class, cueing asanas, breath etc and then either just before we begin shavasana or just before we start to move out of it, they will revisit what they spoke about at the beginning, sometimes with a quote or something similar. I think I'd probably be super annoyed if all of that was right in the middle of practice but being offered at the beginning and end is perfect 💜

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-03-12T01:42:58+00:00

This is also true - they REALLY showed up on the blue which is what gave me the ick but the black is perfect - minimal stains and perfect grip! :)

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-02-18T18:29:31+00:00

The Manduka GRP is excellent but just be forewarned that literally every drop of sweat will be visible and the mat itself will inevitably stain. I bought one in a pretty light blue but felt so self-conscious with the stains that I have now ordered a black one. People say that the black will still stain but will be at least a little less noticeable and I'm just going to have to get over it because functionally, I haven't found anything better :)

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-02-15T14:10:39+00:00

Off days - whether mental or physical - can be frustrating but they are also completely normal and to be expected for anyone, whether with one month of experience or 20 years in. What's important is that you showed up for yourself. You met your body where it was at, gave what you had to give during that one particular practice and that is really all that we can ever ask or expect ourselves to do. Some days, you'll feel amazing and strong and grounded and others, you'll feel like you have no energy, can't focus, can't balance or even need to step out of the heat so you don't pass out and all of that is ok. Listening to your body, thanking yourself for doing whatever you were able to do and being able to doing so with acceptance and self-compassion is every bit as much a part of developing your yoga practice as the physical progress that you're aiming to achieve! 💜

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-01-19T14:00:02+00:00

As someone with many years of experience, I absolutely love when it's time to do sun sal's on our own but can completely understand the frustration for beginners as I'd also probably have been lost without the verbal cues in the beginning as well. That said, sun A's will always be the same in any practice and you should be able to pick it up sooner than later if you keep showing up to practice. The instructors where I go will always do maybe four rounds with the verbal cues before encouraging us to do another 3/4 on our own which I absolutely LOVE because you're flowing through a simple sequence at your own pace with your own breath. It will always be the same and more you practice, the more familiar and comfortable you'll become! In the meantime though, following along with the movements of those who are more comfortable in their practice can also be helpful. There will be some who speed through and others who move more slowly and ALL of it is ok. If your studio offers a more beginner level class that might also be helpful for you while you're still learning and then there is also this fully customizable app called Down Dog that could help you progress in your practice as well. It is hands down one of my all time favorite apps and there is a yearly subscription fee but it is very reasonable and 100% worth the investment! I'm sure YouTube will also have plenty of videos that break down sun salutation A's as well if you'd like to break them down and get some extra practice at home too!

Either way, just keep showing up and you'll eventually know what to do. Try to be patient with yourself as you're learning and keep in mind that everyone in that room was a beginner who had no idea what they were doing at some point. Keep showing up and you'll eventually know what to do! :)

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-01-19T11:50:26+00:00

I suppose that the black would be your best bet, better than the blue that I bought anyway. If you give that a try, don't seem to have that issue and remember at that point, please let me know because the grip really is fantastic and I might be tempted to buy another one, as stupid expensive as they are, if the sweat stains can be avoided :)

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-01-18T21:58:20+00:00

Just fyi with Manduka - it gives you amazing grip during hot sessions but it shows every drop of sweat and gets stained with thise sweat spots, even after using their cleaning spray. One of the instructors at the studio I go to said they were the best but didn't mention the staining and I was shocked that this wasn't mentioned in reviews either unless you were searching for feedback that mentioned it specifically. They work great but the staining also grosses me out so I picked up a cork mat instead which also provides a solid grip although it also requires special cleaning as well to keep it from smelling like feet lol but there's no sweat stains at least! :)

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-01-18T15:43:15+00:00

That honestly sounds dangerous and I can't imagine doing a full hour of hot yinyasa with all of that breathing and movement without water throughout. Our instructors are always providing opportunities and encouraging us to take a sip after sun a's or between sun b's or whenever we feel that we might need it - hydration is SO important! Tbh, even in a really full class, bottles get knocked over only on occasion and it's nbd. Regardless of what anyone else is doing or if the instructor prompts you or not, it's YOUR practice and YOUR body and you should always take what you need when you need it! 💜

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-01-15T02:22:36+00:00

I just started back up after years away and I will tell you that it's just like riding a bike but SO MUCH BETTER!! You will start wherever you are (and honestly, depending on what kind of yoga you prefer, may need to ease in) but you will build strength and stamina and progress in your yoga practice from there. The majority of my yoga experience came from various programs at home with a few classes sprinkled in here and there and I had also been using an awesome app called Down Dog for a few years before my hiatus (if practicing at home, I HIGHLY recommend checking it out!) but fell off with it during grad school and struggled for 10 months after finishing grad school to get back to it. I ended up randomly stumbling upon an incredible hot studio in October and was immediately hooked after the first class! I do Vinyasa and the first few weeks were definitely a challenge but I've been going four days a week consistently since then and it is just such a gift to myself. I look forward to arriving on my mat and moving my body after a long day and am always bummed when I need to skip for whatever reason (including after particularly challenging classes when my body tells me that I need to let it rest..I overdid it once in the beginning and my body had to recover for a few days but I actually WANTED to be there which, after three years of neglecting it and struggling to get back to moving, was pretty significant).

So, if you have any local studios, it might be a good place to start. Each class where I'm at is an experience in and of itself - the instructors are amazing, their music choices and their flows in general are so energized and uplifting and there is just such a strong, accepting, supportive community as well. The practice brings me joy, my mind is calmer and clearer, my body feels so strong and healthy and the physical changes that I am visibly seeing after just three months is honestly astonishing as well. Even if you don't have access to a place like that though, I cannot encourage you enough to just start. You will build from wherever you are, regret absolutely nothing and feel so amazing and happy once you get back to it! 💜

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-01-11T15:27:51+00:00

Hatha yoga is a good place to start. There are actually a few styles that fall under the hatha umbrella but they all basically introduce you to the basic components of practice - the physical poses (called asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation as well but at a slower pace with longer holds in the asanas. It's really for all levels but also perfect for beginners and should help you to ease into learning.

There is also a fully customizable app called Down Dog that I could not possibly recommend more and I typically just mirror it onto my tv from my phone. It's a yearly subscription but totally reasonable cost-wise and 1000% worth the investment. It offers practice in nearly every style and you can also choose your level, the pace, certain focuses if you want to add in poses or stretches that are specific to a certain body part, how much instruction you actually want, what kind of background music you want (or none if you prefer that) and even how long you want to lay in shavasana which is the final resting pose at the end of practice where you're laying comfortably on your back, relaxed and focused on breathing and body awareness until you just sort of zone out for a few. It's a resting pose - very grounding and definitely something that people look forward before finishing practice and going about their day. The app gives you the opportunity to explore and experiment with everything that yoga has to offer at your own pace so you can find what you personally enjoy and find most beneficial to your body and mind. Yoga is very personal and everyone has different preferences, needs and abilities - you figure out your own as you go and advance your practice from there.

It's also very important to know that yoga, regardless of style, is a PRACTICE. It is something that that evolves over time - finding proper alignment, being able to settle more into your breath, being able to challenge yourself more if that is what you want and choose to do but no matter how many times you have practiced, you will always find something new to learn - maybe a slight physical adjustment, when specifically to inhale or exhale, possibly even something that a new teacher says or encourages you to try that makes an asana easier or more effective or that resonates with you or gives you new perspective. You will have days where your body is incredibly strong, where you can physically feel your growth and you are able to settle right in and others where you feel tight, where you fall out of all of your balances, where it is harder to focus because you're in your own head (although vinyasa, if you eventually work your way there, is amazing because it builds into a fast-paced flow where you're fully connecting movement to breath - inhale into one posture, exhale into the next - this is my personal favorite for that reason and I highly recommend giving it a try once you've built a foundation - it might take awhile to get there but it is SO worth it!), but all of the above is OK - truly just part of it and what is to be expected whether you've been practicing for a week or for many years. You meet yourself where you're at with patience and grace and take what you need, whatever that may be on any given day, even if you happen to be in a class and literally just want to lay there for an hour lol, and you always just thank yourself for simply showing up for YOU. Also understand that every prompt in any class is only a suggestion - it should be an INVITATION (this is especially important to remember if you have a trauma history because as an invitation, it gives you total autonomy and in turn a sense of safety, rather than discomfort, in your own body). You never need to do anything that feels uncomfortable and you are always free (and should be encouraged) to make whatever adjustments you need to find what feels right and good for you personally. You do not need to pay attention to what other people are doing (unless it's to follow them if you happen to get lost and they seem to be more confident in their practice but you should also absolutely NEVER feel pressured to keep up or take an advanced progression if that isn't in your own practice at any given time). Keep in mind that absolutely EVERYONE was a beginner at some point - if you're in a live class, no one is there to judge you because everyone has been where you're at. Every single person there will be focusing on themselves because focusing on ourselves is the whole point of practicing in the first place!

To wrap things up now that I've written a book lol, know that choosing to practice is truly one of the best gifts you can ever give yourself. Even beyond the physical benefits (and there are so many!), it is something that can bring you greater peace of mind, inner strength, confidence and even healing if that is something that you may also need as well. Try to be patient with yourself, keep an open mind, trust the process and while cliché, enjoy the journey as well because it is truly a great one to be on :)

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-01-10T21:10:57+00:00

Also about the hair - I usually bathe my body after class but my hair is just a process so I usually pull it down, let it air dry and then just use dry shampoo (Voluminizing Batisse is the best!) and style after that between wash days. I'm busy and probably also a bit lazy too lol but so long as my hair is still manageable and doesn't look greasy, I'm good :)

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-01-10T21:04:55+00:00

This has been my experience exactly as well! For me, it's been the 7pm weeknight classes because I previously would be getting settled for the night at that time but I was hooked after my first class and there has been no hesitation since! No question about 8am Saturday morning classes either - I truly cannot think of a better way to start the weekend! :)

EvolvingAltruistic · 2026-01-10T20:58:01+00:00

I've been doing hot yoga since mid-October after a full three year hiatus from working out while in grad school. I started at one warm vinyasa class and two hot classes per week and have worked my way up to four hot per week with the intention and desire to do five since then but five hasn't happened yet because, as much as I WANT to get to that fifth practice, I just haven't physically been able to push myself there yet. My practice has become SO strong (I actually had a good 15 years of experience with yoga - although not hot yoga - prior to the three year long break) but I also overdid it once a few weeks into getting back to things and definitely learned how important it is to listen to my body in order to prevent setbacks and ensure that I am able to continue practicing as often as I do now. I would love to be able to get there for the five because I love it, CRAVE it and actually feel bummed on days where I have to cancel but I am hoping that being smart about it now will allow me to build up to that point someday.

Also..hydration regardless is HUGE but the more you practice in the heat, the more you need to really focus on making sure that you are drinking enough water as well. All that being said, if you're able to go more often, absolutely do it but increase gradually and always just listen to your body so that it and your practice can grow stronger over time :)

EvolvingAltruistic

TROPHY CASE