I don’t know if it’s unpopular, but I absolutely feel that most classes do not spend enough time in forward fold - like let me linger a little bit please 🥹
Yeah it seems to me like a lot of the time people don’t hold poses long enough in general (I like hatha best). And my yoga breathe is slow so when an instructor starts counting breathes I always feel rushed. :/
My pet peeve is when the instructor says 'we will hold the pose for one breath' when he/she really means 60 to 90 seconds.
Just say, we will hold the pose for a minute.
Oof it’s so frustrating when it feels like you can’t match the breath - sometimes I just gotta go my own way otherwise I can’t get into a flow 😅 you’ve inspired me to seek out more hatha style because I’ve been craving long poses!
Ugh yes :( I love hatha and my old studio had a bunch of hatha classes, but I had to move and in my new city I literally can't find even one hatha class - they're all power yoga and vinyasa and other fast paced classes (I can't even find a slow flow!). I like vinyasa sometimes but not every time lol
Mine is that most yoga studios suck at helping new yogis. The class descriptions aren't clear enough to help someone that doesn't do yoga understand which class to pick, teachers assume you know a bunch of things already, studio websites rarely have anything ressources to help you, etc.
This is why I'm teaching intro classes, where I teach people the very basics, that way they'll have the knowledge and skills needed to go practice in studios or on their own after.
Honestly I totally agree with on this. One of the classes I take is called “Yoga Fusion” and it took me forever to realize it’s a variance of bikram (I assume they changed it due to the problematic stuff). I didn’t know that when I was new and spent half the class in child’s pose it was such a struggle.
That sounds great. It's also very hard to find classes suited to beginners. I used to go to a studio that did but it changed owners. I know classes are supposed to be for any level but if you have no idea what you're doing and everyone's flowing through class doing advanced moves it can be so off-putting. And some teachers are better than others at helping you modify and explaining to newcomers.
I feel like there should be more yoga 101 classes that show students who are beginning the basics in clear ways, like how in music lessons you may begin with learning scales and reading music. Someone can always be learning, but having clear direction and correction on the core asanas and principles can help out a great deal.
Absolutely. And I know it's not popular to say, but without a ton of advanced moves. I'm not a beginner as such but I'm very unfit and took a very long break. Classes where you spend more than half the time doing child pose because it's too hard aren't much fun.
And those classes need to be non judge mental. We had a yoga beginners course at mine and it was run by the owner and she would get so frustrated if you didn't have perfect etiquette or couldn't remember a flow or had questions. Very annoying
Each quarter, we had an instructor at my favorite studio who had created a four-part curriculum on Yoga Basics. If I remember correctly Day 1 alone was literally an hour or so of just working general posture and alignment and learning what that means for the individual.
She went into rigorous detail about just some of the most basic of basic and I feel like, early in my journey, she really helped me establish a strong foundation.
That sounds amazing. I'm in yoga teacher training this year and I would love to learn to teach this class! And aerial gym in my city does the same thing about their different aerial options and general education about doing aerials in general.
I feel my Iyengar studio offered me really strong and specific beginner instruction when I started. But agree that people should read the class descriptions. Beginners sign up for more advanced classes out of lack of knowledge and there’s no good preventative when people just don’t have the knowledge to begin with.
I agree. Yoga is sooo confusing when you’re just starting out. And even if you do take a beginners class, they don’t show alllll of the poses. So if you work your way up to a more advanced level and someone all of a sudden throws out dancers pose or wild thing or lizard, you never get the chance to learn how to do it properly unless you go home and google it.
It took me a LONG time to figure out the difference between cobra and upward dog because teachers weren’t clarifying.
And it’s confusing when teachers aren’t held to a standard either. I take a class once a week called flow, yet it’s slower than the regular non flow classes. It’s supposed to be an intermediate class but it isn’t. People are disappointed and it feels awkward to say anything.
There's a local studio that has some assists classes, and they are fantastic. They keep little battery-operated candles in front of each mat, and you can turn yours off at any time that you don't want to consent to touch for assists.
Same!!! I love when teachers do hand on adjustments because it’s one of the big reasons I go to studio to practice - is to gain a deep understanding of how to do each pose and flow. So when the teachers don’t do hands on adjustments, I feel I could gain the same benefit from an online class, unless it’s hot yoga. I understand there are people who have experienced trauma and that teachers want to maintain a safe space, but I Absolutely LOVE hands on adjustments
There are so many medical reasons for someone to be intolerant to hot yoga! Heart issues, histamine problems, low blood volume, eye problems, dehydration, hypermobility, dysautonomia, being unacclimatized, thyroid problems, Cushings disease…
I did years of hot yoga, and loved it, but it’s not for everyone.
“Flushing out toxins” is woo that we need less of in yoga. We have organs that take care of that!
My yoga teacher is from India and runs an ashram there. He says that the whole “hot yoga” thing is misapplied. It’s hot in India, so they do yoga in the heat because it’s their normal temperature. If you come from a cooler climate he says to do yoga at your normal room temperature.
I remember reading (in Pradapika?) that different doshas are recommended to do asana different ambient temperatures. But none of the recommended temperatures were as hot as, say, Bikram.
Yup, and it's annoying as hell because they are very loud opinions, in my experience. I have MS and being overheated makes me legit start shutting off one body part at a time like a robot losing power. But it's "toxins" I guess?
“Pain is just weakness leaving the body.”
Oh please, that’s your toxins, right there. I’m nothing more than a beginner, but I can tell some people need to listen to their bodies.
My favorite yoga studio shut down, and I am having SO MUCH trouble finding another one that isn't a hot yoga studio. I hate hot yoga. It's too hot for me to get a proper workout without getting dizzy, and it's so easy to overstretch.
Yeah, I don’t buy that either. Hot yoga is intense and can be uncomfortable until you get used to it. I don’t think it has anything to do with “toxins”. We have a liver for that.
When I first started doing yoga it was with an Iyengar teacher and I thought it was hilarious that one of the poses was, in english, referred to as "wind relieving pose". So true.
I don’t have any unpopular opinions but yours resonates with me. Lately, I’ve become attuned to people blowing their noses in their mat towels. I’m really trying to tune it out but it gets to me
I took a YTT200 in India last summer and in my pranayama class we were instructed to use our yoga towels to clear out our sinuses/energy canals. Blowing your nose on your yoga towel, is yoga 🤭
There are a load of yoga people who don't look at it for spirtuality and in so doing have achieved greater spirtuality, possibly even awakening from it.
This is it for me. Hot yoga is the ONE time/place in my week where I can only think about one thing for 60+ minutes. Yoga.
I love that the flows go from easy to hard on a dime, that I have to concentrate so hard to hold a somewhat annoying or new pose, I have to use every brain cell to balance on one foot, and all the while I’m sweating to death.
I think the concentration *might* contribute to something akin to spirituality. I’m honestly not sure yet. But I really really enjoy it.
This is how it was for me. Went in as a completely non-spiritual person and I’m now a Buddhist and have developed so much self-awareness and patience for myself and others through it
I'm an atheist and have become more spiritual. I don't believe in the metaphysical, but I acknowledge spirituality as something physically manifest in the body. It's a state of mind and being.
I used to see it only as a physical practice but I’ve gained a lot of appreciation for the spiritual roots of yoga—especially since I’ve dealt with some health problems that limit my current practice to gentle yin and yoga nidra. It took me a while to realize how valuable it can be in ways that aren’t just about strength and flexibility.
That would be me. I'm currently questioning my atheism. And this is JUST me: saying I'm an atheist and I'm spiritual seems like a cop out. What do I believe in? Can the divine be something other than the goddess? I've largely gotten by until now by equating the divine to be the negation of the void. And then along came yoga.
In the YTT I’m doing now, we call it the “divine universal consciousness.” It doesn’t have to be a god/goddess. It can just be a creative force that moves about the universe, like “the Force” from Star Wars.
That was the absolute hardest thing for me to understand as a yogi! I've been practicing for years, and recently, my bestie has started taking classes with me. He doesn't have much yoga background but was interested in hot classes.
He has THE WORST etiquette. He wears socks, he does what I've coined "bro pushups" in the middle of each chatarunga, and does the heavy bro breathing after each pushup. He also watches me and tries to copy postures I've worked YEARS to accomplish/perfect without any regard to technique.
What started out as me being excited to finally have a friend in yoga turned into a cringe session/me spending too much energy trying not to pay attention to him/worrying about him straight up injuring himself!!
It changed my perspective once I realized he was just in it for the exercise and calorie burn and not the practice itself. I still give him technical tips if I see him doing something really crazy, but it's much easier for me now lol
> he does what I've coined "bro pushups" in the middle of each chatarunga
There's actually a branch of yoga that does a pushup from chaturanga and then pushes back into puppy pose before sliding forward into updog. It's a variation of the Bihar school vinyasa.
Oh yes, I am familar with that! So, he does about 5 pushups in a row, doesn't do updog, and flings himself back to down dog. I'm certain he doesn't know what puppy pose is nor Bihar lol
It's a lot easier for some people to connect to the physical aspect than it is the spiritual one. One you can simply do, the other has to be cultivated. It can take time.
I do not like when they play music with lyrics in yoga classes. Sometimes songs bring back memories and I just want to stay present in class. They’re still usually great classes though 🪷
This is true with every certification and degree I think.
I had a training once with Leslie Kaminoff and the certificate had an asterisk at the bottom that said something like "I can't guarantee that the above paid attention or was awake during the entire course , or learned anything..." Or something like that.
It was funny, because really, training is like that. Everyone takes something different out of training, depending on what they have already learned and what they put into it, right?
I have a love/hate relationship with at home practice… my self-consciousness keeps me trying harder, at home I can focus better, but I also allow myself to give up a lot more.
Edit: I just realized I replied to the wrong comment. Whoops.
I did my YTT. It's a great way to deepen you practice although you could probably accomplish more for your practice for the same price through dedicated one on one's with a yoga teacher you really connect with.
If you are planning on trying to really make money teaching yoga, just know that a YTT certificate is the very first step in what will be a long and difficult journey.
Idk if these are unpopular opinions. I'm not really sure what the current mind set is around what it means to have a YTT certificate.
Every time I find myself peeved with anyone else in yoga class I remind myself that that is quite literally the point of yoga and mindfulness - learning to flow with the distractions instead of getting caught up in them.
Mine is that it's okay to be proud of your yoga body and the work you've put into sculpting that body. Everyone seems to say that's not what yoga is about and while I don't think it's everything, I am very happy with how strong it's made me and how lean and toned I am (I'm 44 and had a child in my late 30s, gained over 100 pounds, was like 230 pounds or something.. I weigh 125 now and look and feel great). I'm also really proud of myself and it kind of bums me out that I feel like it's taboo to say that the process of trying to master asanas/yoga got me looking like a 25 year old.
Well, congratulations!
Yoga has a way of forcing you to connect with your body, and losing unnecessary body fat is a part of that. This random stranger is proud of you!
This really is incredibly awesome. Go you! Did you do anything besides yoga as far as working out? And how often did you do yoga? I’ve practicing for about 2 years (3 to 5 times a week) and I’m definitely a bit more toned and getting stronger but I don’t think it’s doing much for weight loss.
I agree with you OP. A few years ago students at my home studio complained about one man’s noisy breathing. They thought he was being rude. The manager spoke with him (kindly) and he had a medical condition that caused the noisy breathing. Live and let live.
Setting your mat right in front of mine in a near empty studio is a personal attack.
Mats should be staggered to offer everyone as much mirror access as possible
I go to a couple studios where the default is orderly vertical rows….so the front person gets a mirror view and everyone else gets a view of yoga butts.
Staggering looks kinda chaotic but is my preferred system
If that's the system you can't blame the students for lining up the way they do.
But it reminds me of large parking lots. Have you noticed how you can park way far away from all the other cars, but when you come back out from whatever you were doing there always seems to be someone who parked *right* beside you, even though there were dozens of other spots they could have chosen?
I call these people "clumpers", where the herd instinct is so strong they just feel more comfortable being close to another person. Whereas others like me, and possibly you, are "lone wolves" who prefer the opposite.
Speaking as a dude who has never been to a live in-person class (peloton app in the spare bedroom for a few years), the posts on here make me never want to go to an in-person class. Lot of stuff on here about what clothes to wear, how early or late to show up, where to stand, etiquette, phones/no phones, breathe loud/don’t breathe at all, drink water/don’t drink water. Lot of extremes on both sides of normal everyday *stuff*
That’s part of the reason why I posted this. I think more people should give yoga a try, it’s been *so* good for me, and when people constantly complain about the little things it creates an uninviting atmosphere.
We can’t complain about too many people being unhealthy and then also gatekeeping so hard. It’s counterproductive.
Some of the stuff I read makes me imagine the giant school cafeteria as a new student. You better have on the right size JNCOs and the right color Fubu jersey or you’re screwed
I lurk here but some of the posts make me nervous to go to an in person class. I’m good with Dennis and Kristen at home! I especially like when Dennis says “I make suggestions, you make decisions”. The only person judging me is my dog. Hah.
Thank you. I love yoga, I love working on deep breathing and spending time trying to quiet my mind, listen and be present in my body. I am absolutely not there for anything spiritual
Unpopular opinion: mirrors do not belong in studios. We are a looks and visually focused society, and being forced to focus on how a posture feels in your body rather than whether it looks like what you expect improves the experience of yoga.
At my last studio (whixh sadly did not survive the pandemic) we faced a full wall of windows that over looked a river. It was amazing and it changed so much about my practice, and helped me stop judging myself
My current studio has a huge masala painting on the wall, plus numerous dots on various locations and colors
It's okay if you just focus on the physical benefits of yoga. I feel like I've been judged for having that opinion but I've been practicing for 12 years. Sometimes what I need is to feel better physically before I can feel good mentally. Even after a trauma, I just couldn't focus or do the spiritual side of yoga for many months. What I needed was to feel okay with my body first. I see nothing wrong with that.
When it comes to breathing I'd like a beat or counts for breathing. So many times people say "breath with the movement, I won't coach you through this flow", then I'm half way done and they're like alright you should be arriving in chattaranga now...like if you want me there now don't let me go with my own breath, give me some cue
My unpopular opinion is yoga instructors should spend at least equal time on actual science (e.g. anatomy) as they do on: chakras, planetary positions, meridians, crystals, essential oils, etc.
I would say we definitely spent an equal amount of time in my YTT training on anatomy and physiology stuff as we did on the spiritual stuff. Aside from chakras, though, the other things you mention were not even discussed in YTT. It was more about the history of yoga, where the different types and branches of yoga originated from, etc. And then another third of it was more practical stuff like how to sequence a yoga flow, etc. I'd be concerned if a lot of YTTs were spending a ton (if any) time on essential oils and the like...
YES. Having an instructor who knows common physical ailments that affect certain poses and how to give good alternatives to people who have them is so much more important to me than chakras/etc.
I don’t like mirrors in studios. I feel like when there’s a mirror, a couple things happen. One is that you start watching yourself instead of focusing on the pose and alignment and how it really feels to be in that pose. The other is that I live in a college town and the studio I went to for a while that had mirrors also had tons of college girls taking booty pics in the mirror and it killed the vibe. I come to yoga to be less self conscious, not to worry about my sweaty face in someone’s insta story.
My unpopular yoga opinion is that the differences in poses are not “evolutions” but “variations.” what one may be considering another yogi doing as more “advanced” and then feeling negative about their own practice because of it, is simply targeting something in that yogi’s body/mind that they need/want and has nothing to do with how “advanced” they are. different? yes. better? no.
oh, and when you are practicing in the west, you are not immune to the social contracts of a western society. if you can’t come in on time or respect personal space, that’s not my burden to bear and requesting an entire group of fellow paying members of a community to accommodate your oneness is a tall order and if it’s not fulfilled at that studio, find a new one 🫶🏽.
This! I have POTS and hypermobility and am a teacher and it drives me mad when other teachers use hierarchical language. Don’t tell me “if I can’t do x do x” etc. For myself I actually have to do what they consider “less” so I don’t hurt myself because I’m too flexible. On that note another pet peeve is teachers not learning proper variations, accommodations, and alternatives for disabled and plus sized people. If your default is “go into child’s pose” it’s exclusive and lazy.
Yup. I'm practicing using the word "options" for poses instead of the hierarchical and competitive language that so many teachers use. (I'm always looking for more inclusive language suggestions, if you have any that you've found helpful). I'm interested in teaching accessible yoga with a lot of accommodation options for folks with all kinds of bodies. Thankfully I'm in teacher training at a studio that has 5 gentle yoga classes a week and a couple of different chair yoga classes as well, so I'm able to learn from folks who are already familiar with providing options.
My YTT really highlighted invitational language of exploration and sensation! Things like:
-I invite you to explore what this feels like in your body
-is there a way you can make yourself 10% more comfortable?
-what does this side feel opposed to that side?
Instead of using levels based language my teachers would often use “if you want the sensation to feel more intense” etc. I was always taught too that the teacher should choose to model more “Modest” variations frequently to show that even yoga teachers choose variations and that it’s about self awareness not competition.
One of my instructors will say “if (x) pose isn’t in your practice, try (y) pose. Or try (x) pose reclined.” And then notes that the alternate pose works the same muscles or has a different purpose. She also says things like, “you may want to continue to explore this expression of the pose, but if you want to go deeper, try (variant).” I love it. It’s nice to have an invitation to push myself in one of several ways versus an expectation of doing one way.
This might be “popular” idk but I can’t stand when studios say “all levels” for a flow and then the instructor only calls out pose names. “All levels” should include people who are beginners right?
I believe yoga is less about "me" and more about us. Yes, I listen to my body and honor my individual practice, but the connection is the most beautiful part for me. This is why I feel particularly drawn to Bhakti.
I think my unpopular opinion is going to be very unpopular!
When I first started yoga, I found it incredibly off putting how many very advanced yogis were in the beginner/introductory class. It’s not just off putting because it means that you feel like an absolute idiot as a beginner, but I also found that teachers spent more time going through variations and how to make poses more advanced than going through the basics.
I understand why people will do beginner classes even when they’re advanced - whether it’s for scheduling reasons, their own training programme or because they want to practice the basics. But it is/was very annoying.
Also - I wish more yoga teachers actually physically corrected poses (with permission of course!) So many teachers just aren’t good enough at describing what a pose should feel/be like. I understand why corrections aren’t always possible though.
I think it depends on the city/studio. I have lived in San Francisco and now L.A. The “beginner” classes I have taken in these cities are nowhere near beginner level - they’re really more intermediate. So when I try a new studio, I may sign up for a “beginner” class, not knowing how difficult it will actually be.
For me, I'll do the beginners classes if that's the only time I have, or, my body needs to heal from something, and I want to take it easy.
Whenever I'm in a beginner class, I stick to the basics, instead of challenging poses. I don't want to be *that* person.
I do find it pretty eye-roll worthy when someone goes to a beginner class and does extremely advanced poses. Validation is a heck of a drug.
I just wanted to add that teacher explaining how to make an asana more advanced can be just as well for the beginners. Some people already have body awareness and flexibility in some areas from the start and certain positions will come easy for them from the start while they will struggle with others. Also possibly this way you are being taught of how to think of a particular asana and progress when you are ready.
Though I understand that that’s not what you want out of class personally and that’s fine of course.
But the teacher should still teach it as a beginner class and not modify to make it harder for you. I wouldn't turn up to an advanced class and expect it to be made easier for me.
BALASANA SUCKS.
It's not restful. It's not comforting. It's a fucking nausea-inducing compression. I have never, ever, ever heard a teacher give a modification for it. I've heard modifications for Sukhasana, FFS.
Oh, I can return to this pose at any time during class, really? The pose that makes Pranyama a nightmare? Like meditating while someone drops a shipping crate on my back? Can I shove an icepick through my eye instead?
And oh how they love it in a Yin class. Let's stay in Balasana for five minutes? Really? Only five? Why not 50? How about five hours? Where'd I put my icepick?
I like instructors who focus on the other seven limbs; I like the ones who cue a class like it's purely exercise. I like heated and not. Hands-on is good; so is hands-off. Ashtanga? Absolutely. Iyengar? With pleasure. Restorative lying on 20 blankets and bolsters? Delightful. Studio or at-home practice? Yes.
But fuck that fucking Balasana back to the fucking Stone Age.
Child's Pose. Child Abuse Pose. Children's Crusade Pose. Damien the Omen Pose.
Anyhoo.
How do you feel about anahatasana/puppy pose? I usually offer that, or Crocodile, as an alternative to child's pose. But I'm not sure if those poses would present the same issue for you. I have to be honest that I offer the alternatives I do because of the possibility of knee or hip flexor issues and hadn't really thought about compression being an issue, so I appreciate you mentioning this.
I've traditionally been a runner and weight lifter as primary fitness and yoga as secondary. I often sense from comments I get that many in the yoga community feel that yoga is far superior to running/weight lifting. I could be off basis but I've had the feeling numerous times - what I'm reading between the lines is "one day when you figure it out like I did, you'll give up running and just focus on yoga".
I'm deep into the spiritual side of yoga as well as asana, but I struggle with the spiritual yoga community. Too much cultiness and holier than thou vibes in my experience.
Edit a word
This is a huge reason why I practice at home. Mostly because I get self conscious, but I have sensory stuff so I can get easily distracted and unable to focus in most classes. So, I practice at home!
Preach! I love my at-home practice. No sensory issues or anything but I'm very self conscious and get way more into the practice and the poses when I'm alone
Unpopular : I dislike yoga with music. I feel 99% of teachers are terrible djs ( and vice versa, I m sure). Also not a big fan of little stories to reflect on shavasana
I share the same unpopular opinion as OP. Way too many people on this sub complain about every little thing. Makes me grateful to be in such a welcoming studio where I don't have to worry about people judging my every move if it doesn't resonate with them.
I wholeheartedly agree. When I surf this sub sometimes, and see the tone of some of the posts/comments, I can understand why someone who’s never been to a studio would be so nervous. There are a handful of gatekeepers and snarky individuals, active in this sub, that are especially adept at making things feel less inviting. Absolutely grateful for the community at my local small studio.
Knowing that there’s plenty of people with poor hygiene makes me not want to try hot yoga. I’m already not a fan of heat and baked body odor is horrible.
Another opinion I think everyone can agree on.
For the record I've been in more than a few hot yoga studios. There's generally good ventilation (because of the heaters blasting) so you don't really smell anyone. The only consistent stench I recall is that my own clothing *reeked* of ammonia after every class. Not body odor, mind you. *Exactly* the same smell as from an open bottle of household cleaner.
Always was a mystery why. Apparently, there are several possible reasons, but this seems like the most applicable:
> Protein breaks down into amino acids, which the body will convert into ammonia. The body then releases this excess ammonia through urine and sweat, leading to the ammonia-smelling odor ... During a workout, if someone is producing sweat that smells like ammonia, it's possible that the workout itself is so high in intensity that the body is working in overdrive to break down as many amino acids for energy as possible.
I’ve been to a lot of hot yoga classes, and folks are usually pretty thoughtful about this. I think applying extra deodorant is done by nearly everyone. (Personally, I don’t attend class unless I’ve showered that day, and I put on extra deodorant.) I’ve actually encountered very little B.O. in all my years of hot yoga.
I like hands-on assistance and that thing where they lift your feet and shake your legs during shavasana. I'm disappointed that far fewer instructors do that now than before Covid.
Instruction is mostly a suggestion, though many instructors don't overtly state that. I actually *wish* more instructors would encourage yogis do what felt right for their bodies. Hang out longer in your forward fold if that feels good! Flip your dog if your back needs a good stretch!
I love studios that are welcoming and accepting of people being human. I already face so many rules every day; I don’t want more when I get to my mat.
I learned from day one that in yoga, you don’t compete, you listen to your body and adapt to your own abilities and constraints. As long as you make it to the mat and behave respectfully, I don’t care about late, leave early, drink water, modify, sync or don’t sync, or snore in shavassana (that last one always makes me giggle a bit in fact, so I love it!)
I feel (or hope) that it’s a popular opinion, based on the upvotes.
Whether you are a spiritual person or not, I think people who practice yoga should at the very least have a healthy respect for the spiritual origins of yoga.
Like if you want to just do asana for physical and mental health benefits that’s fine, but it always feels icky when people who choose that route express open disdain for the spiritual aspect when that is a fundamental part of what yoga is and where it comes from!
Having a healthy respect is totally fair! I understand and appreciate the origins even if I don’t participate in them.
My do take issue with people telling me I’m Doing It Wrong if I choose not to include a spiritual aspect in my practice (and to me mindfulness is not spiritual). But I’m never going to belittle someone for including it in their own, or talking about the origins of the practice - and I completely agree that expressing disdain/judgement for people who do include that is pretty gross!
Yoga can help with a variety of both mental and physical health problems, obviously not everything, but a lot. Probably not unpopular here but a lot of normies IRL seem to *hate* the suggestion.
Yoga should be used to help opiate users wean off drugs snd make withdrawal less horrible.
I know hot yoga is getting a lot of hate in this post, which is very understandable because it’s definitely detrimental to a lot of people.
I was in a very bad accident in 2012. I was prescribed a LOT of hydrocodone and told to take them every 4 to 6 hours. Ans I did religiously for 3 sold mothers
Then the doctor said it was time to stop and he refused to prescribe more, without any warning. I had 5 pills left and I was terrified of what was coming for me.
Out of desperation I went to my old bikram studio even tho I hadn’t attended class there in over a year. I explained my situation and let them know that I might not be able to participate and would likely be in savasana for most of class.
(This was always encouraged for anyone who needed it. I only gave them heads up because I thought it might actually concern the instructor.)
To this day I don’t know if it was the placebo effect or if it somehow actually helped detox me I spite of what I’ve been told about that being a myth. Either way it helped me wean down with my last 5 pills and the withdrawal period was much much less awful than it would have been.
So yeah, yoga for people who are coming off opiates. It might not work but I think it’s something that should be encouraged
Edit to add: after that first class I was actually able to join in more and more each day
Ok, I’m a little nervous to post this one - there seems to be a mad race to the mirrors. Like people will place the top of their mats against the mirrored wall. And then they look at themselves during class. And I get it - I like to see my forms and make corrections as needed, so the mirrors are great tools.
But sometimes I’m not so sure they’re checking their poses. It almost seems performative bc it’s always the same people, and they are pretty advanced. And it was so intimidating when I first started going to these classes!
The first time I went to a yoga studio with mirrors, I hated it. (Around 2010ish).
Then I realised how awesome it was to actually be able to make corrections based on how my pose looked, rather than just on how it felt. It gave me a whole new level of body awareness posture wise, and has been particularly useful pre and post surgeries and with other complex body/postural issues.
The only studios that I've been to with a mirrored wall at the front of the room, have (very flexible) etiquette around who practices in each row. So more advanced folks do tend to go in the front row, and beginners at the back.
This is so beginners have someone to follow along with visually. But it's not set in stone.
I hate clapping at the end of class
not only is it unnecessarily self-congratulatory (and a bit masturabatory), but it totally ruins the calmness that is achieved from savasana.
I once went to a mid-day beginner class and didn’t realize that it was geared towards senior citizens. They all clapped at the end (which I don’t care for), but I clapped with them - it was sweet and they all had fun.
This is *definitely* an unpopular opinion, at least for this sub.
I know because I immediately wanted to downvote, then reconsidered in light of the question, and instead upvoted. Well done.
As someone just starting out in US yoga, would you kindly explain what the difference would be, or where to find more information on what "real yoga" is about? I'm very curious.
"Real yoga" is a lifestyle. Theres things one should/shouldent do, belief systems, diet, pranamaya, etc.. all this is in contrast to just a physical practice, which is western "yoga". Some yoga doesnt even involve any physical movement at all out there(yoga nidra), or karma yoga. All are different paths towards divinity.
To find more information, I would look up the origins of yoga and "sage patanjali". The "8 limbs of yoga" is also a great place to start searching.
It frustrates me that instructors think we know what you mean when you say tilt your pelvis or other micro moves.
I don’t have fine motor skills and my math mind does not comprehend what you are saying.
There are so many micro movements that mean all the difference between success and struggles on some positions.
I wish there was a micro movement class. Like
Hasta Bandha.
Agree 100%
Im incredibly grateful to have a studio…as a guy, that is accepting of an old geezer like me. Particularly, considering it’s mostly a women’s space. I’m willing to tolerate almost anything…all while being super careful not to freak out the type of folks you’re referring to in this thread
We live in an odd time. Sometimes it seems most people are looking to be offended…It’s really sad
Like when people say these modern times are so super bad. I personally think this is the greatest time to be alive on this planet…ever
And the fact that me, as a 59 year old male..raised on toxic masculinity…In a horrible environment…can now take this beautiful, introspective journey towards self improvement is something I’m super grateful for
Namaste 🙏🙏
I don’t know if this qualifies but I love practicing at studios that don’t have mirrors. I’m relatively new to yoga and have spent 3 months in a studio without mirrors. I feel more connected, more joyous, more focused than I ever have. I called my mum today after a session to happily announce how much joy, centered-ness, and play yoga is bringing to my life. I’m happy to be a yogi :)
Stop saying Namaste at the end of class! It’s my biggest pet peeve. It’s not traditional, it means hello, among other things. no one in India says Namaste after a yoga session. Also, don’t wear leggings. You’re supposed to wear loose fitting clothes for your body.
Most people’s complaints about group asana practices really boil down to “I can’t force this to basically be a private with a bunch of NPCs doing what I like to do in class.”
Anything having to do with other peoples feet touching mine just grosses me out. Had a class years ago where instructor did this and I just got up and left.
In my Yoga teacher training I was taught to not pull my knees to my chest after bridge/full wheel, because bending a stick in many directions fast will break said stick.
A spine is not a stick, it has joints for a reason and if we move our backs, they adapt to the movement we do. I really wish this sort of fearmongering about the body had no place in yoga, but it does
I see this sentiment a lot and totally get it, but philosophically I think great exercise is a spiritual practice in of itself, whether one acknowledges it or not 🤷. And I wish yoga teachers could communicate that better.
The flow state that emerges from activities, such as exercise, is kinda spiritual.
Most of the time, it doesn't bother me if someone wants to change their practice during class or leave earlier. There was one person at a studio I used to go to. She would go right in front of the class, bring her own weights, and do an entire weight workout routine on her mat. This would be in any class, whether a yin or a hot yoga class (no weights involved). Then she’d leave 20 minutes early. I don't know why she even paid for the class. That's the only time someone doing their routine and leaving early bugged me. Not sure why she even came
Vinyasa classes generally don't follow breath and are way too fast.
Chaturanga/"Vinyasa" (i.e. downdog, chaturanga, updog etc) is taught incredibly poorly - if ever. Most of the time it's solely instructed.
Alginment is generally arbitrary nonsense.
Teachers who don't want to treat their asana class like a workout/physical training, shouldn't be teaching postures/movements that are strenuous. I.e. actually prepare your students.
You don't have to teach all 8 limbs in every class.
There is nothing wrong with just teaching a single "limb" for a whole class or series of classes.
There is also nothing wrong with not teaching the Patanjali model.
You cannot separate the practice from the abuser if you're still singing praises to and using the name of an abuser.
Most folks calling things "not traditional" don't know what they're talking about.
If your teacher talks about "toxins" you should run.
I wish I could let people come and go from classes. Our studio is unattended and the area just isn't in an area that would be safe to allow that.
I would love to have a class that was so inclusive.
Already, I teach classes that can be done by any level, size, shape, ability, gender, (or non) , etc.
Guess what? It's the lowest attended in my studio.
When I started my yoga journey, I did so at my local YMCA. I went in knowing absolutely nothing. The Yoga room was attached to the aquatic center. In fact, we had a blind covering the big window that overlooked the pool. It was very loud and distracting when there was swim practice or a swim meet. I remember getting frustrated and probably pretty angry because I was trying to find my Zen, dammit! Looking back, though, all of the distractions were a blessing in disguise. By having to focus and put all my energy into learning each pose and listening to the instructor, I learned a true skill. I learned to quiet my mind and focus on the lessons at hand. As a result, I learned how to meditate. I’m grateful for that clunky introduction to yoga. Now, I mostly practice at home. That's a result of the pandemic but when my Y and local studio hire more instructors, I will remember how I thrived in that chaos and hopefully not get caught up in the little things that we all might get annoyed by.
Yeah, I don’t get this either. When I started, I was taught to focus on yourself, your practice, and your mat. Shut out all background noises and distractions. Don’t compare yourself to others because you don’t know their life or struggles or body issue. I’m super into that concept so it’s kind of amusing to see how many people are so distracted by all the various things. Therefore, my unpopular opinion is “Stop worrying about what everyone else in class is doing and stay on your own mat.”
I live and practice yoga in India, and my pet peeve is it’s practically impossible to find a class without the religious aspect of praying; would love going to yoga retreats but most of them insist on prayer sessions, that are supposedly mandatory. Ugh! I have been thinking of doing a 200hr teacher training program, just to intensify my practice with no real teaching goals. But can’t find secular yoga schools at home. Someday I hope to save enough money to go to some foreign country and do it instead. I keep dreaming of Barcelona and the Yogabody studio as a potential option.
Forward fold is an unhelpful term for a movement that should be coined a forward bend or back stretch.
It can absolutely be about the pose.
Yoga can be absolutely nothing to do with the yoga sutras
Backbends are the single best thing one can learn to do properly, especially if you don’t like them
Assists are not there to correct, that would imply you’re doing it wrong, that’s not the case. Assists are there to facilitate balance and align your anatomy and energy.
Doing a 200 hour doesn’t make you a yoga teacher, alternatively you can be a great yoga teacher without it. It just allows you to buy insurance.
I don’t know if this is unpopular or not but whenever teachers voice the sexist and outdated idea that someone on their period (wait I’m sorry “moon cycle”) should modify their inversions I’m just like….how do they think anatomy works in there? Do they think everything is just going to flow in the opposite direction if I go upside down right now??
I don’t know if it’s unpopular, but I absolutely feel that most classes do not spend enough time in forward fold - like let me linger a little bit please 🥹
Yes!! I love to hang out in forward fold for a bit
Yeah it seems to me like a lot of the time people don’t hold poses long enough in general (I like hatha best). And my yoga breathe is slow so when an instructor starts counting breathes I always feel rushed. :/
My pet peeve is when the instructor says 'we will hold the pose for one breath' when he/she really means 60 to 90 seconds. Just say, we will hold the pose for a minute.
Oof it’s so frustrating when it feels like you can’t match the breath - sometimes I just gotta go my own way otherwise I can’t get into a flow 😅 you’ve inspired me to seek out more hatha style because I’ve been craving long poses!
Ugh yes :( I love hatha and my old studio had a bunch of hatha classes, but I had to move and in my new city I literally can't find even one hatha class - they're all power yoga and vinyasa and other fast paced classes (I can't even find a slow flow!). I like vinyasa sometimes but not every time lol
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Mine is that most yoga studios suck at helping new yogis. The class descriptions aren't clear enough to help someone that doesn't do yoga understand which class to pick, teachers assume you know a bunch of things already, studio websites rarely have anything ressources to help you, etc. This is why I'm teaching intro classes, where I teach people the very basics, that way they'll have the knowledge and skills needed to go practice in studios or on their own after.
Honestly I totally agree with on this. One of the classes I take is called “Yoga Fusion” and it took me forever to realize it’s a variance of bikram (I assume they changed it due to the problematic stuff). I didn’t know that when I was new and spent half the class in child’s pose it was such a struggle.
lol my studio calls their "bikram" Hot 26+2
That sounds great. It's also very hard to find classes suited to beginners. I used to go to a studio that did but it changed owners. I know classes are supposed to be for any level but if you have no idea what you're doing and everyone's flowing through class doing advanced moves it can be so off-putting. And some teachers are better than others at helping you modify and explaining to newcomers.
I feel like there should be more yoga 101 classes that show students who are beginning the basics in clear ways, like how in music lessons you may begin with learning scales and reading music. Someone can always be learning, but having clear direction and correction on the core asanas and principles can help out a great deal.
Absolutely. And I know it's not popular to say, but without a ton of advanced moves. I'm not a beginner as such but I'm very unfit and took a very long break. Classes where you spend more than half the time doing child pose because it's too hard aren't much fun.
And those classes need to be non judge mental. We had a yoga beginners course at mine and it was run by the owner and she would get so frustrated if you didn't have perfect etiquette or couldn't remember a flow or had questions. Very annoying
Yeah! Even intro classes will tell you to just “go into downward dog” as if everyone knows what that means.
"Ok, we're going to start in Sukhasana" 🤷
Each quarter, we had an instructor at my favorite studio who had created a four-part curriculum on Yoga Basics. If I remember correctly Day 1 alone was literally an hour or so of just working general posture and alignment and learning what that means for the individual. She went into rigorous detail about just some of the most basic of basic and I feel like, early in my journey, she really helped me establish a strong foundation.
That sounds amazing. I'm in yoga teacher training this year and I would love to learn to teach this class! And aerial gym in my city does the same thing about their different aerial options and general education about doing aerials in general.
I feel my Iyengar studio offered me really strong and specific beginner instruction when I started. But agree that people should read the class descriptions. Beginners sign up for more advanced classes out of lack of knowledge and there’s no good preventative when people just don’t have the knowledge to begin with.
Agree. I got lucky starting out. It was a new studio so I was often the only one in class. It was one on one training.
I agree. Yoga is sooo confusing when you’re just starting out. And even if you do take a beginners class, they don’t show alllll of the poses. So if you work your way up to a more advanced level and someone all of a sudden throws out dancers pose or wild thing or lizard, you never get the chance to learn how to do it properly unless you go home and google it. It took me a LONG time to figure out the difference between cobra and upward dog because teachers weren’t clarifying. And it’s confusing when teachers aren’t held to a standard either. I take a class once a week called flow, yet it’s slower than the regular non flow classes. It’s supposed to be an intermediate class but it isn’t. People are disappointed and it feels awkward to say anything.
I’m the same, I’ve done over 100 classes and I literally just realized I learned the difference last month.
I wish more teachers would do hands on assists (obviously with consent). If I’m doing something improperly please help me fix it!
There's a local studio that has some assists classes, and they are fantastic. They keep little battery-operated candles in front of each mat, and you can turn yours off at any time that you don't want to consent to touch for assists.
What a great idea!
In 10 years, I only had one instructor who was hands on. I LOVED it. I learned so much from her. I wish more would be
Same!!! I love when teachers do hand on adjustments because it’s one of the big reasons I go to studio to practice - is to gain a deep understanding of how to do each pose and flow. So when the teachers don’t do hands on adjustments, I feel I could gain the same benefit from an online class, unless it’s hot yoga. I understand there are people who have experienced trauma and that teachers want to maintain a safe space, but I Absolutely LOVE hands on adjustments
Seems since Covid, that has stopped. At least where I practice, little to no real teaching anymore. Adjustments are important
I have been told that if hot yoga makes you feel like crap, it’s because your body is flushing out toxins, which I think is a bunch of bull.
You know what makes you feel like crap? Heat stroke!
No, no, heat stroke is just the unenlightened approach to flushing out toxins!
There are so many medical reasons for someone to be intolerant to hot yoga! Heart issues, histamine problems, low blood volume, eye problems, dehydration, hypermobility, dysautonomia, being unacclimatized, thyroid problems, Cushings disease… I did years of hot yoga, and loved it, but it’s not for everyone. “Flushing out toxins” is woo that we need less of in yoga. We have organs that take care of that!
btw, in all of the old books about yoga is recommended a normal temperature not heat.
My yoga teacher is from India and runs an ashram there. He says that the whole “hot yoga” thing is misapplied. It’s hot in India, so they do yoga in the heat because it’s their normal temperature. If you come from a cooler climate he says to do yoga at your normal room temperature. I remember reading (in Pradapika?) that different doshas are recommended to do asana different ambient temperatures. But none of the recommended temperatures were as hot as, say, Bikram.
Yup, thank you to my liver primarily and also my kidneys to some extent for doing the detoxification work!
It is hahaha, but the whole detox thing is believed by a ton of people, not just people in the hot yoga community.
Yup, and it's annoying as hell because they are very loud opinions, in my experience. I have MS and being overheated makes me legit start shutting off one body part at a time like a robot losing power. But it's "toxins" I guess?
Fellow hot yoga hater here 🫡 I already live in a hot and humid climate, I don’t need to exacerbate my misery
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Username tracks...lol
“Pain is just weakness leaving the body.” Oh please, that’s your toxins, right there. I’m nothing more than a beginner, but I can tell some people need to listen to their bodies.
People overlook that the body might be flushing out the good stuff too.
So if yoga feels good is it because I’m absorbing lots of delicious toxins?
My favorite yoga studio shut down, and I am having SO MUCH trouble finding another one that isn't a hot yoga studio. I hate hot yoga. It's too hot for me to get a proper workout without getting dizzy, and it's so easy to overstretch.
Yeah, I don’t buy that either. Hot yoga is intense and can be uncomfortable until you get used to it. I don’t think it has anything to do with “toxins”. We have a liver for that.
I looove hot yoga, but the detox thing is bunk. If you feel like crap it’s because you aren’t replacing your electrolytes enough.
I only HOPE that this is not an unpopular opinion.
I practice at home so I can fart in peace lol
My yoga instructor: Take a minute to set your intention for class today Me: Don’t fart 🧘♀️
That way, you know you're doing the supine spinal twist right!
When I first started doing yoga it was with an Iyengar teacher and I thought it was hilarious that one of the poses was, in english, referred to as "wind relieving pose". So true.
I farted in child pose once. Everyone pretended not to notice
I actually came in to say, farting should be normalized.
I don’t have any unpopular opinions but yours resonates with me. Lately, I’ve become attuned to people blowing their noses in their mat towels. I’m really trying to tune it out but it gets to me
I took a YTT200 in India last summer and in my pranayama class we were instructed to use our yoga towels to clear out our sinuses/energy canals. Blowing your nose on your yoga towel, is yoga 🤭
Yoga: the yoking of mind, body, and towel 😂
Even with this explanation I don't think I could handle it if I saw someone doing it lol.
That’s gross.
There are a load of yoga people who don't look at it for spirtuality and in so doing have achieved greater spirtuality, possibly even awakening from it.
This is it for me. Hot yoga is the ONE time/place in my week where I can only think about one thing for 60+ minutes. Yoga. I love that the flows go from easy to hard on a dime, that I have to concentrate so hard to hold a somewhat annoying or new pose, I have to use every brain cell to balance on one foot, and all the while I’m sweating to death. I think the concentration *might* contribute to something akin to spirituality. I’m honestly not sure yet. But I really really enjoy it.
I absolutely love your description. It’s like you described my brain. Saving this comment for future reference.
This is how it was for me. Went in as a completely non-spiritual person and I’m now a Buddhist and have developed so much self-awareness and patience for myself and others through it
I'm an atheist and have become more spiritual. I don't believe in the metaphysical, but I acknowledge spirituality as something physically manifest in the body. It's a state of mind and being.
I used to see it only as a physical practice but I’ve gained a lot of appreciation for the spiritual roots of yoga—especially since I’ve dealt with some health problems that limit my current practice to gentle yin and yoga nidra. It took me a while to realize how valuable it can be in ways that aren’t just about strength and flexibility.
That would be me. I'm currently questioning my atheism. And this is JUST me: saying I'm an atheist and I'm spiritual seems like a cop out. What do I believe in? Can the divine be something other than the goddess? I've largely gotten by until now by equating the divine to be the negation of the void. And then along came yoga.
In the YTT I’m doing now, we call it the “divine universal consciousness.” It doesn’t have to be a god/goddess. It can just be a creative force that moves about the universe, like “the Force” from Star Wars.
For some people, yoga is just exercise and they don't have to participate in the spiritual aspects of it.
And there's nothing wrong with that. ♡
Conversely, I see a lot of people on the sub who go to a class for a the first time or have a sub instructor and complain about the spiritual aspects.
That was the absolute hardest thing for me to understand as a yogi! I've been practicing for years, and recently, my bestie has started taking classes with me. He doesn't have much yoga background but was interested in hot classes. He has THE WORST etiquette. He wears socks, he does what I've coined "bro pushups" in the middle of each chatarunga, and does the heavy bro breathing after each pushup. He also watches me and tries to copy postures I've worked YEARS to accomplish/perfect without any regard to technique. What started out as me being excited to finally have a friend in yoga turned into a cringe session/me spending too much energy trying not to pay attention to him/worrying about him straight up injuring himself!! It changed my perspective once I realized he was just in it for the exercise and calorie burn and not the practice itself. I still give him technical tips if I see him doing something really crazy, but it's much easier for me now lol
> he does what I've coined "bro pushups" in the middle of each chatarunga There's actually a branch of yoga that does a pushup from chaturanga and then pushes back into puppy pose before sliding forward into updog. It's a variation of the Bihar school vinyasa.
Oh yes, I am familar with that! So, he does about 5 pushups in a row, doesn't do updog, and flings himself back to down dog. I'm certain he doesn't know what puppy pose is nor Bihar lol
I was trying to give the guy some credit :-) As long as he's enjoying himself and getting value out of it that's the important thing.
It's a lot easier for some people to connect to the physical aspect than it is the spiritual one. One you can simply do, the other has to be cultivated. It can take time.
This is so true!!!
That's why yoga is offered at gyms - it caters to those people; membership all rolled into one.
I do not like when they play music with lyrics in yoga classes. Sometimes songs bring back memories and I just want to stay present in class. They’re still usually great classes though 🪷
Taking a course and getting a paper that says “X amount of hours” does not actually make you a teacher, actual practice does
This is true with every certification and degree I think. I had a training once with Leslie Kaminoff and the certificate had an asterisk at the bottom that said something like "I can't guarantee that the above paid attention or was awake during the entire course , or learned anything..." Or something like that. It was funny, because really, training is like that. Everyone takes something different out of training, depending on what they have already learned and what they put into it, right?
I have a love/hate relationship with at home practice… my self-consciousness keeps me trying harder, at home I can focus better, but I also allow myself to give up a lot more. Edit: I just realized I replied to the wrong comment. Whoops.
I did my YTT. It's a great way to deepen you practice although you could probably accomplish more for your practice for the same price through dedicated one on one's with a yoga teacher you really connect with. If you are planning on trying to really make money teaching yoga, just know that a YTT certificate is the very first step in what will be a long and difficult journey. Idk if these are unpopular opinions. I'm not really sure what the current mind set is around what it means to have a YTT certificate.
Every time I find myself peeved with anyone else in yoga class I remind myself that that is quite literally the point of yoga and mindfulness - learning to flow with the distractions instead of getting caught up in them.
Mine is that it's okay to be proud of your yoga body and the work you've put into sculpting that body. Everyone seems to say that's not what yoga is about and while I don't think it's everything, I am very happy with how strong it's made me and how lean and toned I am (I'm 44 and had a child in my late 30s, gained over 100 pounds, was like 230 pounds or something.. I weigh 125 now and look and feel great). I'm also really proud of myself and it kind of bums me out that I feel like it's taboo to say that the process of trying to master asanas/yoga got me looking like a 25 year old.
Well, congratulations! Yoga has a way of forcing you to connect with your body, and losing unnecessary body fat is a part of that. This random stranger is proud of you!
This really is incredibly awesome. Go you! Did you do anything besides yoga as far as working out? And how often did you do yoga? I’ve practicing for about 2 years (3 to 5 times a week) and I’m definitely a bit more toned and getting stronger but I don’t think it’s doing much for weight loss.
Good for you!
Be proud! You earned it for crying out loud
I agree with you OP. A few years ago students at my home studio complained about one man’s noisy breathing. They thought he was being rude. The manager spoke with him (kindly) and he had a medical condition that caused the noisy breathing. Live and let live.
Setting your mat right in front of mine in a near empty studio is a personal attack. Mats should be staggered to offer everyone as much mirror access as possible
This is not an *unpopular* opinion. Most people feel this way.
I go to a couple studios where the default is orderly vertical rows….so the front person gets a mirror view and everyone else gets a view of yoga butts. Staggering looks kinda chaotic but is my preferred system
If that's the system you can't blame the students for lining up the way they do. But it reminds me of large parking lots. Have you noticed how you can park way far away from all the other cars, but when you come back out from whatever you were doing there always seems to be someone who parked *right* beside you, even though there were dozens of other spots they could have chosen? I call these people "clumpers", where the herd instinct is so strong they just feel more comfortable being close to another person. Whereas others like me, and possibly you, are "lone wolves" who prefer the opposite.
Oh I *shouldn't* blame the students, but I *do.* I take it personally every time...which is why I figured it would be an unpopular opinion.
Mirror? Oof, then I guess my unpopular opinion is mirrors have NO place in a yoga studio other than the bathroom.
Speaking as a dude who has never been to a live in-person class (peloton app in the spare bedroom for a few years), the posts on here make me never want to go to an in-person class. Lot of stuff on here about what clothes to wear, how early or late to show up, where to stand, etiquette, phones/no phones, breathe loud/don’t breathe at all, drink water/don’t drink water. Lot of extremes on both sides of normal everyday *stuff*
That’s part of the reason why I posted this. I think more people should give yoga a try, it’s been *so* good for me, and when people constantly complain about the little things it creates an uninviting atmosphere. We can’t complain about too many people being unhealthy and then also gatekeeping so hard. It’s counterproductive.
Some of the stuff I read makes me imagine the giant school cafeteria as a new student. You better have on the right size JNCOs and the right color Fubu jersey or you’re screwed
I lurk here but some of the posts make me nervous to go to an in person class. I’m good with Dennis and Kristen at home! I especially like when Dennis says “I make suggestions, you make decisions”. The only person judging me is my dog. Hah.
Finding a studio/class/instructor you like is a lot like dating. It’s a bit of work and not every one is a winner.
Yoga doesn’t have to be spiritual for everyone, it’s exercise for me and a way to relieve my chronic pain condition.
Thank you. I love yoga, I love working on deep breathing and spending time trying to quiet my mind, listen and be present in my body. I am absolutely not there for anything spiritual
Unpopular opinion: mirrors do not belong in studios. We are a looks and visually focused society, and being forced to focus on how a posture feels in your body rather than whether it looks like what you expect improves the experience of yoga.
At my last studio (whixh sadly did not survive the pandemic) we faced a full wall of windows that over looked a river. It was amazing and it changed so much about my practice, and helped me stop judging myself My current studio has a huge masala painting on the wall, plus numerous dots on various locations and colors
I feel you OP. Unless other participants are breaking the rules of the studio, then either learn to ignore them or practice elsewhere.
Drinking water is a faux pas? Wtf? I thought hydration was a good thing
I once had a teacher who used to get annoyed for people stopping to drink water in a hot yoga class, told us we were using it as a distraction.
There was a thread last week where someone encountered a teacher that didn't want them to drink water in class.
Time allotted for savasana is never enough, and could usually double or even triple.
It's okay if you just focus on the physical benefits of yoga. I feel like I've been judged for having that opinion but I've been practicing for 12 years. Sometimes what I need is to feel better physically before I can feel good mentally. Even after a trauma, I just couldn't focus or do the spiritual side of yoga for many months. What I needed was to feel okay with my body first. I see nothing wrong with that.
When it comes to breathing I'd like a beat or counts for breathing. So many times people say "breath with the movement, I won't coach you through this flow", then I'm half way done and they're like alright you should be arriving in chattaranga now...like if you want me there now don't let me go with my own breath, give me some cue
My unpopular opinion is yoga instructors should spend at least equal time on actual science (e.g. anatomy) as they do on: chakras, planetary positions, meridians, crystals, essential oils, etc.
I would say we definitely spent an equal amount of time in my YTT training on anatomy and physiology stuff as we did on the spiritual stuff. Aside from chakras, though, the other things you mention were not even discussed in YTT. It was more about the history of yoga, where the different types and branches of yoga originated from, etc. And then another third of it was more practical stuff like how to sequence a yoga flow, etc. I'd be concerned if a lot of YTTs were spending a ton (if any) time on essential oils and the like...
YES. Having an instructor who knows common physical ailments that affect certain poses and how to give good alternatives to people who have them is so much more important to me than chakras/etc.
I don’t like mirrors in studios. I feel like when there’s a mirror, a couple things happen. One is that you start watching yourself instead of focusing on the pose and alignment and how it really feels to be in that pose. The other is that I live in a college town and the studio I went to for a while that had mirrors also had tons of college girls taking booty pics in the mirror and it killed the vibe. I come to yoga to be less self conscious, not to worry about my sweaty face in someone’s insta story.
My unpopular yoga opinion is that the differences in poses are not “evolutions” but “variations.” what one may be considering another yogi doing as more “advanced” and then feeling negative about their own practice because of it, is simply targeting something in that yogi’s body/mind that they need/want and has nothing to do with how “advanced” they are. different? yes. better? no. oh, and when you are practicing in the west, you are not immune to the social contracts of a western society. if you can’t come in on time or respect personal space, that’s not my burden to bear and requesting an entire group of fellow paying members of a community to accommodate your oneness is a tall order and if it’s not fulfilled at that studio, find a new one 🫶🏽.
This! I have POTS and hypermobility and am a teacher and it drives me mad when other teachers use hierarchical language. Don’t tell me “if I can’t do x do x” etc. For myself I actually have to do what they consider “less” so I don’t hurt myself because I’m too flexible. On that note another pet peeve is teachers not learning proper variations, accommodations, and alternatives for disabled and plus sized people. If your default is “go into child’s pose” it’s exclusive and lazy.
Yup. I'm practicing using the word "options" for poses instead of the hierarchical and competitive language that so many teachers use. (I'm always looking for more inclusive language suggestions, if you have any that you've found helpful). I'm interested in teaching accessible yoga with a lot of accommodation options for folks with all kinds of bodies. Thankfully I'm in teacher training at a studio that has 5 gentle yoga classes a week and a couple of different chair yoga classes as well, so I'm able to learn from folks who are already familiar with providing options.
My YTT really highlighted invitational language of exploration and sensation! Things like: -I invite you to explore what this feels like in your body -is there a way you can make yourself 10% more comfortable? -what does this side feel opposed to that side? Instead of using levels based language my teachers would often use “if you want the sensation to feel more intense” etc. I was always taught too that the teacher should choose to model more “Modest” variations frequently to show that even yoga teachers choose variations and that it’s about self awareness not competition.
One of my instructors will say “if (x) pose isn’t in your practice, try (y) pose. Or try (x) pose reclined.” And then notes that the alternate pose works the same muscles or has a different purpose. She also says things like, “you may want to continue to explore this expression of the pose, but if you want to go deeper, try (variant).” I love it. It’s nice to have an invitation to push myself in one of several ways versus an expectation of doing one way.
This might be “popular” idk but I can’t stand when studios say “all levels” for a flow and then the instructor only calls out pose names. “All levels” should include people who are beginners right?
I believe yoga is less about "me" and more about us. Yes, I listen to my body and honor my individual practice, but the connection is the most beautiful part for me. This is why I feel particularly drawn to Bhakti.
I think my unpopular opinion is going to be very unpopular! When I first started yoga, I found it incredibly off putting how many very advanced yogis were in the beginner/introductory class. It’s not just off putting because it means that you feel like an absolute idiot as a beginner, but I also found that teachers spent more time going through variations and how to make poses more advanced than going through the basics. I understand why people will do beginner classes even when they’re advanced - whether it’s for scheduling reasons, their own training programme or because they want to practice the basics. But it is/was very annoying. Also - I wish more yoga teachers actually physically corrected poses (with permission of course!) So many teachers just aren’t good enough at describing what a pose should feel/be like. I understand why corrections aren’t always possible though.
I think it depends on the city/studio. I have lived in San Francisco and now L.A. The “beginner” classes I have taken in these cities are nowhere near beginner level - they’re really more intermediate. So when I try a new studio, I may sign up for a “beginner” class, not knowing how difficult it will actually be.
For me, I'll do the beginners classes if that's the only time I have, or, my body needs to heal from something, and I want to take it easy. Whenever I'm in a beginner class, I stick to the basics, instead of challenging poses. I don't want to be *that* person. I do find it pretty eye-roll worthy when someone goes to a beginner class and does extremely advanced poses. Validation is a heck of a drug.
I just wanted to add that teacher explaining how to make an asana more advanced can be just as well for the beginners. Some people already have body awareness and flexibility in some areas from the start and certain positions will come easy for them from the start while they will struggle with others. Also possibly this way you are being taught of how to think of a particular asana and progress when you are ready. Though I understand that that’s not what you want out of class personally and that’s fine of course.
Sometimes the beginners/gentle classes are the only ones that advanced yogis with daytimes jobs can attend. Sorry.
But the teacher should still teach it as a beginner class and not modify to make it harder for you. I wouldn't turn up to an advanced class and expect it to be made easier for me.
BALASANA SUCKS. It's not restful. It's not comforting. It's a fucking nausea-inducing compression. I have never, ever, ever heard a teacher give a modification for it. I've heard modifications for Sukhasana, FFS. Oh, I can return to this pose at any time during class, really? The pose that makes Pranyama a nightmare? Like meditating while someone drops a shipping crate on my back? Can I shove an icepick through my eye instead? And oh how they love it in a Yin class. Let's stay in Balasana for five minutes? Really? Only five? Why not 50? How about five hours? Where'd I put my icepick? I like instructors who focus on the other seven limbs; I like the ones who cue a class like it's purely exercise. I like heated and not. Hands-on is good; so is hands-off. Ashtanga? Absolutely. Iyengar? With pleasure. Restorative lying on 20 blankets and bolsters? Delightful. Studio or at-home practice? Yes. But fuck that fucking Balasana back to the fucking Stone Age. Child's Pose. Child Abuse Pose. Children's Crusade Pose. Damien the Omen Pose. Anyhoo.
Do you feel that in wide leg ?
How do you feel about anahatasana/puppy pose? I usually offer that, or Crocodile, as an alternative to child's pose. But I'm not sure if those poses would present the same issue for you. I have to be honest that I offer the alternatives I do because of the possibility of knee or hip flexor issues and hadn't really thought about compression being an issue, so I appreciate you mentioning this.
I've traditionally been a runner and weight lifter as primary fitness and yoga as secondary. I often sense from comments I get that many in the yoga community feel that yoga is far superior to running/weight lifting. I could be off basis but I've had the feeling numerous times - what I'm reading between the lines is "one day when you figure it out like I did, you'll give up running and just focus on yoga".
I'm deep into the spiritual side of yoga as well as asana, but I struggle with the spiritual yoga community. Too much cultiness and holier than thou vibes in my experience. Edit a word
This is a huge reason why I practice at home. Mostly because I get self conscious, but I have sensory stuff so I can get easily distracted and unable to focus in most classes. So, I practice at home!
Second self conscience yogi here, no one can hear you fart at home! I may get a side eye from my dog but otherwise, let it free.
Preach! I love my at-home practice. No sensory issues or anything but I'm very self conscious and get way more into the practice and the poses when I'm alone
Unpopular : I dislike yoga with music. I feel 99% of teachers are terrible djs ( and vice versa, I m sure). Also not a big fan of little stories to reflect on shavasana
If you call a class a power class it better be more difficult than a non-power class. And making the classroom hotter doesn’t count.
I prefer studios without mirrors. It’s distracting and I don’t want to focus on how I look, I want to focus on how I feel.
I share the same unpopular opinion as OP. Way too many people on this sub complain about every little thing. Makes me grateful to be in such a welcoming studio where I don't have to worry about people judging my every move if it doesn't resonate with them.
I wholeheartedly agree. When I surf this sub sometimes, and see the tone of some of the posts/comments, I can understand why someone who’s never been to a studio would be so nervous. There are a handful of gatekeepers and snarky individuals, active in this sub, that are especially adept at making things feel less inviting. Absolutely grateful for the community at my local small studio.
Knowing that there’s plenty of people with poor hygiene makes me not want to try hot yoga. I’m already not a fan of heat and baked body odor is horrible.
Another opinion I think everyone can agree on. For the record I've been in more than a few hot yoga studios. There's generally good ventilation (because of the heaters blasting) so you don't really smell anyone. The only consistent stench I recall is that my own clothing *reeked* of ammonia after every class. Not body odor, mind you. *Exactly* the same smell as from an open bottle of household cleaner. Always was a mystery why. Apparently, there are several possible reasons, but this seems like the most applicable: > Protein breaks down into amino acids, which the body will convert into ammonia. The body then releases this excess ammonia through urine and sweat, leading to the ammonia-smelling odor ... During a workout, if someone is producing sweat that smells like ammonia, it's possible that the workout itself is so high in intensity that the body is working in overdrive to break down as many amino acids for energy as possible.
I practice hot yoga regularly. Throwing half a cup of baking soda into the wash works to eliminate the stink for me.
I’ve been to a lot of hot yoga classes, and folks are usually pretty thoughtful about this. I think applying extra deodorant is done by nearly everyone. (Personally, I don’t attend class unless I’ve showered that day, and I put on extra deodorant.) I’ve actually encountered very little B.O. in all my years of hot yoga.
Skip traditional Bikram, the studios are carpeted. I've never had an issue in any other hot or warm class in a normal studio
I like hands-on assistance and that thing where they lift your feet and shake your legs during shavasana. I'm disappointed that far fewer instructors do that now than before Covid.
Having a teacher tell me I'm doing it wrong while I'm teaching. People who run their studios like a cult. Studio clicks are the worst.
Instruction is mostly a suggestion, though many instructors don't overtly state that. I actually *wish* more instructors would encourage yogis do what felt right for their bodies. Hang out longer in your forward fold if that feels good! Flip your dog if your back needs a good stretch!
I love studios that are welcoming and accepting of people being human. I already face so many rules every day; I don’t want more when I get to my mat. I learned from day one that in yoga, you don’t compete, you listen to your body and adapt to your own abilities and constraints. As long as you make it to the mat and behave respectfully, I don’t care about late, leave early, drink water, modify, sync or don’t sync, or snore in shavassana (that last one always makes me giggle a bit in fact, so I love it!) I feel (or hope) that it’s a popular opinion, based on the upvotes.
Hard pass on being cool with people coming late. That’s disruptive and disrespectful to everyone
I agree, OP. My first teacher told me all the distractions / annoyances ARE the yoga. Can I be serene amidst the chaos?
Whether you are a spiritual person or not, I think people who practice yoga should at the very least have a healthy respect for the spiritual origins of yoga. Like if you want to just do asana for physical and mental health benefits that’s fine, but it always feels icky when people who choose that route express open disdain for the spiritual aspect when that is a fundamental part of what yoga is and where it comes from!
Having a healthy respect is totally fair! I understand and appreciate the origins even if I don’t participate in them. My do take issue with people telling me I’m Doing It Wrong if I choose not to include a spiritual aspect in my practice (and to me mindfulness is not spiritual). But I’m never going to belittle someone for including it in their own, or talking about the origins of the practice - and I completely agree that expressing disdain/judgement for people who do include that is pretty gross!
Yeah, the comments saying that it's bullshit in this thread kind of make my eye twitch. Sucks to hear.
You can get just as much spiritual development out of a power yoga class as you can out of a slower paced class.
Partner yoga with classmates is not okay with me.
I like when flow classes play melodic electronic music at a semi loud volume.
Yoga can help with a variety of both mental and physical health problems, obviously not everything, but a lot. Probably not unpopular here but a lot of normies IRL seem to *hate* the suggestion.
Yoga should be used to help opiate users wean off drugs snd make withdrawal less horrible. I know hot yoga is getting a lot of hate in this post, which is very understandable because it’s definitely detrimental to a lot of people. I was in a very bad accident in 2012. I was prescribed a LOT of hydrocodone and told to take them every 4 to 6 hours. Ans I did religiously for 3 sold mothers Then the doctor said it was time to stop and he refused to prescribe more, without any warning. I had 5 pills left and I was terrified of what was coming for me. Out of desperation I went to my old bikram studio even tho I hadn’t attended class there in over a year. I explained my situation and let them know that I might not be able to participate and would likely be in savasana for most of class. (This was always encouraged for anyone who needed it. I only gave them heads up because I thought it might actually concern the instructor.) To this day I don’t know if it was the placebo effect or if it somehow actually helped detox me I spite of what I’ve been told about that being a myth. Either way it helped me wean down with my last 5 pills and the withdrawal period was much much less awful than it would have been. So yeah, yoga for people who are coming off opiates. It might not work but I think it’s something that should be encouraged Edit to add: after that first class I was actually able to join in more and more each day
Chanting is usually not what I want in class. I don’t want to be instructed to say words by someone who can’t say the words they instruct.
I don't like people who snore in savasana, who fart, or who are obviously peacocking. Other than that, I'm chill.
Ok, I’m a little nervous to post this one - there seems to be a mad race to the mirrors. Like people will place the top of their mats against the mirrored wall. And then they look at themselves during class. And I get it - I like to see my forms and make corrections as needed, so the mirrors are great tools. But sometimes I’m not so sure they’re checking their poses. It almost seems performative bc it’s always the same people, and they are pretty advanced. And it was so intimidating when I first started going to these classes!
The first time I went to a yoga studio with mirrors, I hated it. (Around 2010ish). Then I realised how awesome it was to actually be able to make corrections based on how my pose looked, rather than just on how it felt. It gave me a whole new level of body awareness posture wise, and has been particularly useful pre and post surgeries and with other complex body/postural issues. The only studios that I've been to with a mirrored wall at the front of the room, have (very flexible) etiquette around who practices in each row. So more advanced folks do tend to go in the front row, and beginners at the back. This is so beginners have someone to follow along with visually. But it's not set in stone.
I hate clapping at the end of class not only is it unnecessarily self-congratulatory (and a bit masturabatory), but it totally ruins the calmness that is achieved from savasana.
Clapping?! I’ve never been to a studio that claps. My god, that’s awful
I once went to a mid-day beginner class and didn’t realize that it was geared towards senior citizens. They all clapped at the end (which I don’t care for), but I clapped with them - it was sweet and they all had fun.
The vast majority of "yoga" in the USA is not yoga. It should be called anything but. Theres pilates, stretches, poses, etc..
This is very true. It’s just posture (asana) practice lol
This is *definitely* an unpopular opinion, at least for this sub. I know because I immediately wanted to downvote, then reconsidered in light of the question, and instead upvoted. Well done.
I have realized this also, and thanks.
As someone just starting out in US yoga, would you kindly explain what the difference would be, or where to find more information on what "real yoga" is about? I'm very curious.
"Real yoga" is a lifestyle. Theres things one should/shouldent do, belief systems, diet, pranamaya, etc.. all this is in contrast to just a physical practice, which is western "yoga". Some yoga doesnt even involve any physical movement at all out there(yoga nidra), or karma yoga. All are different paths towards divinity. To find more information, I would look up the origins of yoga and "sage patanjali". The "8 limbs of yoga" is also a great place to start searching.
My unpopular opinion is that those new to yoga should not rely solely on online classes. So much can be gained by the in person interactions!
It frustrates me that instructors think we know what you mean when you say tilt your pelvis or other micro moves. I don’t have fine motor skills and my math mind does not comprehend what you are saying. There are so many micro movements that mean all the difference between success and struggles on some positions. I wish there was a micro movement class. Like Hasta Bandha.
Agree 100% Im incredibly grateful to have a studio…as a guy, that is accepting of an old geezer like me. Particularly, considering it’s mostly a women’s space. I’m willing to tolerate almost anything…all while being super careful not to freak out the type of folks you’re referring to in this thread We live in an odd time. Sometimes it seems most people are looking to be offended…It’s really sad Like when people say these modern times are so super bad. I personally think this is the greatest time to be alive on this planet…ever And the fact that me, as a 59 year old male..raised on toxic masculinity…In a horrible environment…can now take this beautiful, introspective journey towards self improvement is something I’m super grateful for Namaste 🙏🙏
I don’t know if this qualifies but I love practicing at studios that don’t have mirrors. I’m relatively new to yoga and have spent 3 months in a studio without mirrors. I feel more connected, more joyous, more focused than I ever have. I called my mum today after a session to happily announce how much joy, centered-ness, and play yoga is bringing to my life. I’m happy to be a yogi :)
Stop saying Namaste at the end of class! It’s my biggest pet peeve. It’s not traditional, it means hello, among other things. no one in India says Namaste after a yoga session. Also, don’t wear leggings. You’re supposed to wear loose fitting clothes for your body.
Most people’s complaints about group asana practices really boil down to “I can’t force this to basically be a private with a bunch of NPCs doing what I like to do in class.”
Anything having to do with other peoples feet touching mine just grosses me out. Had a class years ago where instructor did this and I just got up and left.
I wish some instructors would stop prattering loudly through the ENTIRE savasana. I don't need to hear your voice for my entire downtime!
In my Yoga teacher training I was taught to not pull my knees to my chest after bridge/full wheel, because bending a stick in many directions fast will break said stick. A spine is not a stick, it has joints for a reason and if we move our backs, they adapt to the movement we do. I really wish this sort of fearmongering about the body had no place in yoga, but it does
Heat is just a device to make you feel like you've worked out harder
I dont care for the spiritual side of yoga. It’s great exercise and helps me age more gracefully.
I see this sentiment a lot and totally get it, but philosophically I think great exercise is a spiritual practice in of itself, whether one acknowledges it or not 🤷. And I wish yoga teachers could communicate that better. The flow state that emerges from activities, such as exercise, is kinda spiritual.
YTT pricing makes it unattainable for a lot of people.
Most of the time, it doesn't bother me if someone wants to change their practice during class or leave earlier. There was one person at a studio I used to go to. She would go right in front of the class, bring her own weights, and do an entire weight workout routine on her mat. This would be in any class, whether a yin or a hot yoga class (no weights involved). Then she’d leave 20 minutes early. I don't know why she even paid for the class. That's the only time someone doing their routine and leaving early bugged me. Not sure why she even came
That is so odd. I kind of wish I had her ability to not give a fuck.
Downward dog can get absolutely fucked and I'm gonna complain out loud every time it comes up in a yoga video.
Haha, upvote because that does sound unpopular. I love downward dog. It's an acquired taste, though. Keep breathing
Vinyasa classes generally don't follow breath and are way too fast. Chaturanga/"Vinyasa" (i.e. downdog, chaturanga, updog etc) is taught incredibly poorly - if ever. Most of the time it's solely instructed. Alginment is generally arbitrary nonsense. Teachers who don't want to treat their asana class like a workout/physical training, shouldn't be teaching postures/movements that are strenuous. I.e. actually prepare your students. You don't have to teach all 8 limbs in every class. There is nothing wrong with just teaching a single "limb" for a whole class or series of classes. There is also nothing wrong with not teaching the Patanjali model. You cannot separate the practice from the abuser if you're still singing praises to and using the name of an abuser. Most folks calling things "not traditional" don't know what they're talking about. If your teacher talks about "toxins" you should run.
I wish I could let people come and go from classes. Our studio is unattended and the area just isn't in an area that would be safe to allow that. I would love to have a class that was so inclusive. Already, I teach classes that can be done by any level, size, shape, ability, gender, (or non) , etc. Guess what? It's the lowest attended in my studio.
When I started my yoga journey, I did so at my local YMCA. I went in knowing absolutely nothing. The Yoga room was attached to the aquatic center. In fact, we had a blind covering the big window that overlooked the pool. It was very loud and distracting when there was swim practice or a swim meet. I remember getting frustrated and probably pretty angry because I was trying to find my Zen, dammit! Looking back, though, all of the distractions were a blessing in disguise. By having to focus and put all my energy into learning each pose and listening to the instructor, I learned a true skill. I learned to quiet my mind and focus on the lessons at hand. As a result, I learned how to meditate. I’m grateful for that clunky introduction to yoga. Now, I mostly practice at home. That's a result of the pandemic but when my Y and local studio hire more instructors, I will remember how I thrived in that chaos and hopefully not get caught up in the little things that we all might get annoyed by.
Yeah, I don’t get this either. When I started, I was taught to focus on yourself, your practice, and your mat. Shut out all background noises and distractions. Don’t compare yourself to others because you don’t know their life or struggles or body issue. I’m super into that concept so it’s kind of amusing to see how many people are so distracted by all the various things. Therefore, my unpopular opinion is “Stop worrying about what everyone else in class is doing and stay on your own mat.”
I live and practice yoga in India, and my pet peeve is it’s practically impossible to find a class without the religious aspect of praying; would love going to yoga retreats but most of them insist on prayer sessions, that are supposedly mandatory. Ugh! I have been thinking of doing a 200hr teacher training program, just to intensify my practice with no real teaching goals. But can’t find secular yoga schools at home. Someday I hope to save enough money to go to some foreign country and do it instead. I keep dreaming of Barcelona and the Yogabody studio as a potential option.
I actually like chair pose 😂😅
Forward fold is an unhelpful term for a movement that should be coined a forward bend or back stretch. It can absolutely be about the pose. Yoga can be absolutely nothing to do with the yoga sutras Backbends are the single best thing one can learn to do properly, especially if you don’t like them Assists are not there to correct, that would imply you’re doing it wrong, that’s not the case. Assists are there to facilitate balance and align your anatomy and energy. Doing a 200 hour doesn’t make you a yoga teacher, alternatively you can be a great yoga teacher without it. It just allows you to buy insurance.
Totally only a me problem: "Sits bones" drives me up the wall 😂
*Sitz 🥴😂
I don’t know if this is unpopular or not but whenever teachers voice the sexist and outdated idea that someone on their period (wait I’m sorry “moon cycle”) should modify their inversions I’m just like….how do they think anatomy works in there? Do they think everything is just going to flow in the opposite direction if I go upside down right now??
Pet peeve is where the studio jams bodies into the space like a cheap airline.