Okay, I began going to sunstone about 3 months ago. I was ( and still am) extremely out of shape, but my balance in all of the poses was great. So , 26 classes later my flexibility is a bit better, I am definitely stronger, I have lost some weight but my balance is HORRIBLE. I can barely stand on one leg during eagle, much less getting my toes pointing in the right direction, and lets not even talk about balancing stick, again I am way worse than I was. This is the same for any balancing type pose. Is this normal??? Am I gaining so much muscle that I have not "grown" into them yet?? All I know is that before I began I could balance very, very well and now I am a wobbly mess. Please give me some feedback.

Hi Elizabeth,
I had the same issue! I have been practicing yoga for many years, but after the eight-week intensive teacher training I'd lost over 25 lbs and my body felt so different that it was like doing yoga with a new body.

I've continued my practice and my body has caught up to my practice. I found that taking the different yoga classes at Sunstone has helped. I learned the importance of the Wood classes during the training, and I notice that my body will crave that class. I found that for my balance the Water class challenged me so much more. Its the same series of poses as the Fire class, but in the darkness I find it harder to balance, because it is more difficult to set my dristi (eye gaze). I also started going to Earth classes and that's challenged my body in new ways as well as 84 Asanas. I took a break from the Fire classes for several weeks, but now when I go back I feel even stronger and I'm very proud of the progress I've made, even though there is still room to grow.

Congratulations on the changes in your body! I just remember that the changes in my body are worth the new challenges I may find

Hi Elizabeth,

Our practices are different day to day. As you gain strength and flexibility you move deeper into postures and your center of balance changes. Assuming that the balance issue is on both sides You are likely starting to roll the weight to the proper places in your feet, and are now relying on different muscles to help stabilize you.

For example in balancing postures as the weight stops rolling into the outside of the feet you start to use more inner thigh muscles as well as muscles around the ankle. Most likely these haven't been used very often.

It sounds like you are doing great and as you continue to get stronger and go deeper you will find new edges in your practice to work at - yoga is a lifelong journey, isn't it thrilling?

Take Care!

Elizabeth,

I just want to reiterate what Jillian is saying. Our bodies are organic and changable. What we can and can't do changes as we change. I would suspect you are employing more strength with your inner thighs which are currently weak (but getting stronger every day) when beforehand you were letting the weight roll to the outside. You can strengthen your inner thighs during triangle by squeezing your heels towards each other. Wood class also helps a lot! Know that we teachers LOVE answering questions and talking about yoga. Always feel free to ask us after class so we can assess you individually. We also do private lessons : )

Have fun on your yoga journey!

Elizabeth

May I throw my 2 cents in? Jillian and Andy are absolutely correct about how improvements in how you are doing the pose can affect the pose.

I look at progress in yoga as a 3 dimensional graph. The changes in how you balance that Jillian describes illustrate this. Whiile you are in fact doing the pose more correctly, those muscles are not used to the load. So, yes, you are able to balance for a shorter period of time, but as time goes by you will get that ability back, but you will be using the correct muscles. So even though to a casual observer, your balance might be 'worse', it is actually better. And using the correct muscles provides the sound basis in the fundementals that will carry you to new heights in your practice.

Sometimes if I see the chiropractor just before class, my balance is not as good - I figured out that my hips are not where I remembered them to be

oops! If you're interested, there is a book- Anatomy of Hatha Yoga (Coulter)- that has some GREAT info on the functions of the body in relation to yoga. It mentions the importance of "constructing standing poses from your feet to your hips to you torso," when becoming familiar with your body in your practice. First feel the grounding, the rest will follow. Enter class wearing a smile without expectation The next 3 months will bring more amazing changes, enjoy!

Hi Elizabeth,

I will try to offer something that has worked for me, it may be out of the ordinary but we all find different ways to focus individually.

I too started to lose my balance in balancing poses and was getting a little distraught; so I started to practice a little at home and outside and found that I had pretty good balance, but I was losing it in the studio. I don't know if it was the mirror, multiple bodies, increased pressure on myself or another influence affecting my balance; but what I figured out was, when I'm in class I have to relax(blur) my vision so I don't focus to hard at the mirror and it helps me isolate outside distractions, relaxes me inside and keeps me from staring to hard at myself. After doing this for a year now, I catch myself staring too hard, thinking too hard or forcing my poses at times and I lose my balance, but when I slightly blur my vision and look straight ahead, I feel solid, balanced and focused. I've also found that it.. seems.. to relax my breathing and the muscles to aid in the balance.

I wish I could give you a more sound or scientific cure, but I thought I would throw out what has worked for me. As an avid baseball fan, and Bull Durham being one of my favorite movies, a quote..."Breathe through your eyes"...

I know you will find what works best for you. Relax, work hard and enjoy it

John

John - softening the gaze is great advice! Try it througout class at points where you tend to get distracted, it really helps to bring the focus inside.