There’s something about yoga that doesn’t get talked about enough.
The longer you practise, the less good it can start to feel.
Does it sound familiar? This has, unfortunately, been my experience. Getting deeper and deeper into poses, repeating the same movements - even with good form - began taking a toll. I wouldn't always feel it in classes, but it started following me after practising: pain in my shoulder, chronic discomfort in my hip and SI joint, sore wrist. Practising left me feeling unbalanced, overstretched and confused - how could something that's meant to be so good for my body feel bad?
This realisation is the driving force behind the way I teach today, it's what inspires my creative sequencing:
To make sure that yoga not only feels good today, but also serves your body decades down the road.
For that, we need to prioritise strength, stability and variety. In my classes, we don't chase the deepest shapes or hold static poses for endless breaths. Instead we focus on functional movement, active range of motion over passive flexibility, and balancing out the impacts of our modern lifestyles - because do we really need 50 variations of forward folds when we already spend 8-10 hours a day seated?
Not everyone loves my classes, and that’s okay. Over the years, some students have walked out or told me they didn’t like my creative and unconventional movements. But others stay behind to ask what kind of yoga is this exactly, telling me they’ve never felt so strong, stable, and safe in their practice. That’s what lights me up.
I’m not afraid to talk about yoga’s limitations as a physical practice - in fact, it is a problem we don't talk more about it. Yoga isn’t perfect, and it’s not harmless. When students feel safe to open up about this, it's been shocking to hear how many push through pain when they practise, or allow harmful adjustments out of fear to offend the teacher (I've been there too). And over time, we can start to believe that pain is just part of the process.
But it doesn't have to be this way - and it shouldn't be.
So, if you find yourself experiencing diminishing returns in your yoga practice, please listen to your body. Let go of the idea that “deeper is better.” Focus on building strength, stability and resilience - and don't be afraid to take a break. Ironically, what can make yoga feel blissful again is doing less of it and more of other forms of movement. So run, climb, swim, lift weights and see the difference it makes when you get back on the mat.
Ultimately, yoga should be a practice that strengthens and empowers you - not one that causes harm over time. And my intention is to always teach in a way that fosters lasting balance and vitality 🧡
Xx Inga
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