Welcome to this week's installment of Ask a Yoga Question. I'm switching it up today because I feel like these posts are so long that they might be better executed with a video. I didn't factor in the awkward level of videos where I'm talking but it's my first go at this so I'm giving myself a pass (try to overlook the awkwardness, k? Thx!). Anyway, I'd love to know if you prefer the written out longer version or video version better. Please let me know!
Keep submitting your questions on twitter with the hashtag #YBCyogaquestion, on Facebook and here in the comments section. You can always ask anonymously.
Questions in this week's video (and the time where you can find them if you want to skip through):
:20 Question 1: Do you have any tips for coming into a fish pose? I have an old lower back injury that flares up very badly every time I come into fish pose. My yoga instructor says that fish pose is a very gentle back bend, but I don't have the same problem with other poses like crescent moon or plow. I'm not sure if I'm doing anything wrong, so I'd appreciate some insight into this matter. Thanks!
2:05 Question 2: I started yoga a couple months ago and I'm really enjoying it. I sometimes feel as a beginner, though, that I'm surrounded by pictures of expert yogis doing complicated poses, and I have no idea how to get there. What sort of poses can I start incorporating into my practice to improve and move on to a more advanced level?
4:46 Question 3: I've been doing yoga for a while now and I really struggle with downward facing dog. My legs feel really tight and short and I can't straighten them at all. Over time it is gradually becoming easier (although it feels like a millimeter at a time) but I was wondering if there are any other poses i can do to help my legs relax and straighten.
And it looks like I had intended to answer this question in the video, but totally forgot - sorry! Question 4: Can yoga help me with dizziness? I've always gotten dizzy if I stand up to fast. You know, the tunnel closing in, everything goes black. Luckily, I've never passed out, just enough to throw you off your game. I've recently started practicing yoga and am loving it. But because of the dizzy spells, I have to pause. An example would be a transition from a forward fold to mountain. As a child, I was told it was "growing pains". I was recently tested to see if I was anemic because I'm pescatarian. That's not the problem. I'm perfectly healthy.I don't want to look like I can't keep up in class!
Answer: Sorry you're dealing with this! In yoga teacher training I was taught to avoid dizziness when coming from forward fold to mountain by bending your knees and rolling up slowly rather than coming up with a flat back. I hope that's a quick fix for you!