Question 1: Hi! I just found out that I'm pregnant and am still in my first trimester. What yoga poses should I avoid during my pregnancy? Thanks!
Answer 1: Congrats on your pregnancy! There is a lot that pregnant women should avoid when it comes to yoga and to be honest, I don't know everything. I do know that you definitely want to avoid laying directly on the stomach like we do in sphinx pose. Some people say you shouldn't do inversions, but I know some pregnant yoga teachers who love to get upside down, so I'm not sure there's a clear line of right and wrong. The best bet, in my opinion, would be to go to a prenatal yoga class or try a prenatal yoga dvd. Prenatal yoga teachers are specifically trained on what pregnant women should and should not do, and they'll be able to put together great sequences that'll help support the mind/body connection during your pregnancy.
Question 2: What yoga blogs do you follow? I love yours, and have been looking for other good yoga blogs to follow.
Answer 2: I've actually had a tough time finding a yoga blog that posts consistently. If you find one you love, I'd love to know! In the meantime, I visit fuckyeahyoga and yoga dork quite often for inspiration and keeping up in yoga news. I also have a subscription to Yoga Journal, and though I know it's not a blog, I do really like their articles and sequences and feel like it's a nice monthly dose of inspiration.
Question 3: Hello! I have absolutely fallen in love with practicing yoga and would love now to become an instructor in Ohio. What are the steps to getting certified and growing a yoga business of my own? Thank you so much for all you do, you have taught me so much!!
Answer 3: Good for you! You can start with a 200 hour teacher training. Some schools offer an intensive training - usually about 5 weeks or so, while others offer a year long training and the classes are on weekends. Check out more on what to consider when choosing a yoga teacher training program. As for a yoga business, I think it's best to approach it in terms of finding what you love to do and worrying about the money later. Some people love teaching at a gym, some would rather teach at a yoga studio, or open up their own yoga studio. Some teachers just bounce around from state to state, country to country teaching workshops here and there. The best thing to do would be to say yes to whatever opportunities come your way and see how you like them and how your business grows organically.
Question 4: Whenever I try triangle pose, I get knee pain. I read somewhere that knees should not be locked, which I realized was something I tend to do a lot, and should have a slight bend. However, with my knees slightly bent, I feel unstable and wobbly in my pose. Is there another modification or will my wobbly knees become stronger and more stable over time?
Answer 4: Yep, there should be a micro bend in the knees. Like a barely there bend to prevent hyperextension in the knees. The first thing I would suggest is to make sure you're not bending the knees too much. If you're truly doing a micro bend, then consider how your feet are planted in the mat. Check out this foot diagram to see what I'm talking about. Provided you're doing what's listed on the diagram and just doing a micro bend in the knees, you should be good, and any little wobbling or uncertainty is just a part of the practice and you will become more stable as you find comfort and build trust in the pose.
Question 5: What can I do when my hands in, for example, downward dog, absolutely want to be pressure on the backs of the hands rather than the fingertips?
Answer 5: Try gripping the mat like you're a rock climber. This will help engage the fingertips. Also check out this diagram for the hands and make sure you're doing all the right things with the rest of the hands.
Question 6: Hi, I love your page and wish I could practice with you in Germany. I was just wondering if you knew of a yoga sequence to do when ill. I have a bad cold-like virus, and feel like I could benefit from doing some soft yoga poses, but I don't have lots of energy. Any help you could over would be ace. Thanks!
Answer 6: Aw, hope you feel better soon! I would try doing this 30 minute restorative practice, or this 15 minute practice if you don't have as much time. Both are really gentle and don't require too much movement and it might be just the thing to get the lymph moving and aid in a little mini detox. Drink lots of water!
mat upgrade
Question 7: Hi Candace, Could you give any advice on upgrading my yoga mat? I've been to about 35-40 yoga classes for far and really enjoy the challenge and progress that i'm making. At the start I bought a Target mat - very dense, thinking it was good for my knees and wrists but realize now that it is too cushy and I need to keep stepping off to the sir for better balancing. I've read good things about Hugger Mugger or Manduka that are 1/4 in thick with superior sticky stability. Any thoughts? Thanks so much and love your newsletter!
Answer 7: People buying super thick mats thinking they'd be good for the joints is something I see often, and sooner or later, like you, they realize the mat doesn't feel as good as they thought, especially when it comes to balancing poses. I haven't tried hugger mugger, though I have heard great things. I can definitely recommend the Manduka EkoLite mat. It's not cushiony, but it has an amazing finish to it that is unlike anything I've used before. You will not be sliding around on this at all. It's also not super thin, either, and does have a little give to it. I really love it and have bad knees sometimes too (depending on the weather), so you might like it. To learn more, you can check out the Manduka EkoLite review. I also really like the Wellicious Divine Mat. It is pricey, but it is fantastic. In my opinion, it's better than the Manduka black mat pro because it is a little stickier. You can check out the Wellicious divine mat review for more. I hope that's helpful!
Thanks for submitting your yoga questions. Keep 'em coming in by commenting in the comment section below, emailing them to me, or tweeting them with the hashtag #ybcyogaquestion.