MyYogaTeacher Community

Hey dear Roland, Is it okay if I ask you a few questions so I can guide you safely? • How long have you been experiencing sciatica? • Was it triggered by any injury or sudden movement? • May I know your age? • Have you had any reports, X-ray, or MRI done? For sciatica, it’s always best to understand the root cause first. To support you properly, we may need a short one-on-one session so I can assess what movements will help and what to avoid. And yes — yoga can be very effective for sciatica, but it has to be a gentle, simple, and mindful practice tailored to your condition. I’m here to help you relieve the pain safely. Avoid these until pain improves Deep forward bends Touching toes Full Pigeon Pose (too aggressive) Strong twists High-impact workouts Long sitting without breaks My recommendation for you personally Since your pain increases with certain movements and you’re unsure what’s safe: See a physical therapist first for a proper assessment. One or two sessions are enough to understand the cause and safe movement patterns. Then use yoga as a complementary therapy — gentle, therapeutic yoga is excellent for long-term healing, flexibility, and strengthening. your yoga Teacher Trupti Parikh [https://myyogateacher.com/1-on-1?page_number=1&searchTeacher=Trupti+P](link url)

Hi @penny-43, Thank you for sharing this, and I’m sorry you’re experiencing this — it definitely shouldn’t block you from accessing your account. This screen is just a short announcement for our new Instant Booking feature, and the “Maybe later” button should be immediately visible and closable. You shouldn’t have to wait through anything to continue. To help us investigate, could you please let me know: Are you using the app, mobile browser, or desktop website? Your device model A screenshot if possible This will help us quickly identify what’s causing the screen to appear stuck. Thanks again for reporting it — really appreciate your help in improving the experience!

I’m still walking! 80 days and counting

Hey Niharica Welcome to the yoga journey — so happy you’re here! For beginners, 3–4 times a week is a great place to start. This gives your body time to build strength, flexibility, and stamina without feeling overwhelmed. Even 20–30 minutes daily can bring amazing results if done consistently. For weight loss and overall progress, a balanced routine helps: Warm-up & mobility , Strength-building poses (like chair pose, plank variations, warrior flow) , Heart-rate elevating movements (sun salutations or gentle cardio flow) Cool down & stretching, Breathwork + relaxation The most important thing is consistency over intensity. Stay patient and kind to your body real progress comes gradually, inside and out. If you want help creating a beginner-friendly routine based on your goals, I’d love to guide you! Warmly, Komal Dudhavat

Hello Everyone Introducing Vedeika She is a Yoga Therapist and Mental Wellness Researcher, dedicated to helping people heal through breathwork, movement, and mindfulness. She has completed 500 hours Teacher training with over two years of teaching experience and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Yoga to further deepen her expertise in holistic healing. Her approach is therapeutic and mindful, emphasizing posture, alignment, and safe movement patterns. She helps in managing chronic pain, lifestyle disorders, stress, and anxiety, while guiding them toward mental clarity, inner calm, and self-connection. Her intention is to help individuals lead healthier, more peaceful lives—one breath and one mindful moment at a time. [image: 1c53f4f5-01ef-4482-8b47-2579c277e973.jpeg]

why are you doing intermittent fasting? Is this suiting your body?

That’s such a common confusion, and I love that you’re being mindful about it! Traditional yoga practice (as per Hatha and classical schools) is ideally done on an empty stomach, early in the morning. This gives your body lightness and makes it easier to twist, bend, and breathe deeply — which enhances flexibility and improves digestion in the long run. However, if you wake up feeling weak, dizzy, or low on energy, it’s perfectly fine to have something light — a few soaked almonds or nuts, half a banana, or a sip of warm lemon water — about 20–30 minutes before your session. If your mornings are too rushed, you can also practice mid-morning or evening, ideally leaving a 2–3 hour gap after a meal. “Yoga isn’t strict about time “ ……Yoga adapts beautifully as long as you listen to your body. So, the rule isn’t “empty stomach or nothing” — it’s about comfort and awareness. So the best time? It’s the one that makes you feel energised, grounded, and happy to show up again tomorrow consistently From Dr. Khushboo Jain, Therapeutic Yoga & Lifestyle Expert

IS there a way to get recordings for these classes?

Hey Maria! I’m so glad you’re asking this because honestly, this is one of the biggest misconceptions about yoga - and it breaks my heart that those Instagram-perfect photos make people feel like they can’t start! Short answer: YES, absolutely you can do yoga at any size, and NO, you don’t need to lose weight first. In fact, I’d argue you’re the perfect candidate for yoga because it meets you exactly where you are. Here’s the real talk: Those poses you’re worried about? Almost every single yoga pose has modifications. Can’t get into a deep forward fold? We bend the knees. Downward Dog feels impossible? We use blocks or do it at the wall. Balance poses wobbly? We use a chair or the wall for support. About your specific concerns: Will you be able to do poses? Yes! The beauty of yoga is that the pose adapts to YOUR body, not the other way around. I have students of all sizes in my classes, and everyone does their own version of each pose. Poses to avoid? Not really “avoid” - just modify. Chair yoga vs. regular class? Here’s my honest recommendation: Start with chair yoga or beginner-friendly gentle yoga. Not because you can’t do regular classes, but because you’ll build confidence faster. Once you feel comfortable with basic movements (usually 3-4 weeks), you can absolutely join any class you want! FYI, My classes are filled with people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities. The 60-year-old with a knee pain, the busy mom who hasn’t exercised in years, the guy who can’t touch his knees let alone his toes - they’re ALL doing yoga successfully. What matters most? Showing up and listening to your body. That’s it. My advice: Try a beginner class or chair yoga first. You’ll be amazed how quickly your body responds - better flexibility, less stiffness, more energy. You’ve got this, Maria. Taking the first step is always the hardest part, and you’re already doing it by asking questions. That takes courage!

Thanks for sharing…

Thank you, Kuldeep. I’ve done it now ! Previously, I was clicking on that icon which suggested that I had a draft there, but nothing was appearing. That was laptop. But I can’t even see that icon on my phone … Anyway, not to worry I’ve done it now.

Definitely. My husband has had panic attacks. He went through a phase of having them years ago, always while driving by himself and of course he had to pull over and stop. And he thought it was to do with his heart and immediately I think he was in a vicious circle because this made him worry about having a heart attack. He had all kinds of tests at the hospital and was assured that his heart was fine and stopped having them. Then about 20 years later he had one again when we were out for a walk during covid, and we came home right away and when he relaxed at home he felt better. A couple of weeks later, again out for a walk, he had another one. This time I made him sit on a seat and we did long slow breathing together, with me counting, and after a few minutes he was fine again. He hasn’t had one since so maybe that’s because he knows they can easily be controlled. But I’m not sure what would happen if he had one when by himself. But I think if you practiced something regularly like yoga or martial arts over a period of time, you’d stop getting them.

I did my first instant booking session and it was amazing. My regular teacher @tch-dushyant-1 was away learning to para glide - which is why I did not have my regular session. So I requested an instant session with the note “Ran today - regular teacher is away - need a gentle session to help stretch hamstrings and quads” My session was accepted by https://myyogateacher.com/yoga-teachers/rachna-2 After she accepted, we were practicing in minutes - She was ready with a plan - she started with gentle warmups, then some leg and hip stretches and finally some stretches with the belt for the legs followed by meditation and pranayama - it felt great. I got to know that she is an amazingly accomplished teacher - living in Noida and has done MSc from SVyasa university. So happy that I got to meet her. Thank you!!