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Post by smith227 on May 17, 2019 21:31:18 GMT -5
Has anyone here done yoga? There’s a yoga studio a couple blocks from my house and I’m starting classes there tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to it and hope it helps with my journey in healing. I feel like I’ve been doing okay. Good job, nice place to live. No car yet but I’m working on it. Sometimes I hit a brick wall and feel like my world is collapsing, but the recovery time from that is getting shorter. I’m a little over a month out and I keep a notebook on my coffee table to jot down notes when I feel like I was impulsive about leaving. Things like how my ex use to immediately go brush his teeth and use mouthwash anytime we kissed for longer than a second, but would use a plate that a cat had been sleeping on for his dinner without washing it first. The yoga studio also offers meditation classes and I’m going to participate in those as well. I’m trying to practice mindfulness and I think that will help.
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Post by baza on May 17, 2019 22:14:40 GMT -5
No firsthand of yoga and/or meditation here Sister smith227 . But fwiw, friends of mine who are in to it swear by it |
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Post by isthisit on May 17, 2019 22:43:23 GMT -5
Yes, I started yoga about a year ago and am now hooked and go three time per week. My class includes meditation which is just great also. I have found these classes super helpful post exiting my deal as it is an investment of time and energy just for myself which is a rarity in my busy life at the moment. I have also made some new friends which are much needed right now as they do not know by back story and accept me as a singleton. The absence of ‘you and H? Really I didn’t see that coming, what happened?’ is a relief.
Also, yoga has benefitted my posture, energy levels, and overall calmness and I can’t get enough of it. And of course.... man, the flexibility is to die for 😉.
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Post by Handy on May 17, 2019 23:27:05 GMT -5
I have been in a senior yoga class for 3 years. I started going because I have a friend that had some back problems and he used to go to a chiropractor, but the yoga classes did more good than the chiropractor visits. With my back problem history, I decided I needed to follow my friends examples so I could avoid some regularly occurring back problems. So far it is working for me.
What I have found is the instructor is very important. I say this not because some do the job poorly. It is more like the instructor and you seem to be in mental synchronization of what works for you. Our regular instructor is perfect for what I consider my physical abilities and she has very good intuition skills and some how mentally connects with our older age group ideas of self car.
We have a few more expert yoga leaders but the personal connections were missing a little bit. I don't want to say any alternative instructor was lacking in any way but the "one on one" personal connection wasn't the same. The alternative instructors did introduce some new ways to do what we were doing in the past, so that was good.
I have to admit, I don't make the connections to the meditation parts, other than try to not take some things so serious and that where ever a person is in life, to be gentle with our inner person while moving forward. This applies to how we inter act with other reasonable people.
If you take the path of not competing with anyone else in the class, do the moves to a reasonable effort on your part and leave judgements or should's out of the class and your life, I think you will benefit from yoga. Our instructor has to remind me to be good to myself and this isn't like what happened on my jobs, where most things I did were valuated several times a year and where I had to come up with how I could improve. If I didn't improve I was given a warning that my job might be in jeopardy.
I am saying this because so many people in sexless marriages have struggled with being treated with respect and being valued. Yoga has helped me a little to value what I do well, ignore some limitations I don't have much control over and helps me think how worthwhile I really am to myself and to most other people in my life, contrary to what a spouse thinks or how they acted towards us.
Not all instructors are going to help with the self worth part on a personal level but feeling stronger physically usually helps a great deal with valuing yourself and feeling better about your future.
In my group there are 4 men and about 8 women that regulatory attend the class. We are all retired. I will say everyone is friendly but I don't see any people doing any after class activities so I found that a little disappointing. About 4 times a year I have coffee after class with another couple but I do other things with this couple at least once a month not connected with yoga.
The yoga class is held at a gym and I don't see anyone going to coffee or lunch. Most people just do their own thing while listening to something on their cell phone / music player.
I am not saying you can't make friends outside of the yoga class or gym, it is that I don't see it happening.
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Post by northstarmom on May 18, 2019 0:33:02 GMT -5
I do yoga and meditation and love both practices. I started about 12 years ago, some 6 years before I decided to leave my SM. Both experiences were very helpful in my healing and getting the confidence to leave my marriage.
Like handy, I didn’t find that people went to coffee or chatted after yoga classes unless they had come with friends.. But I did make friends and deepen my practice by going to yoga retreats. I found that people were more likely to chat after meditation than yoga and after bonding at meditation and yoga retreats. I also found that lots of the same people go to yoga, meditation and similar practices and I did develop some good friendships after repeatedly running into the same people.
One tip about meditation. It’s normal for your mind to wander, even wander multiple times a minute. Just bring it gently back to meditation. That gentleness to yourself and awareness of the present moment is where healing hsppens.
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Post by ironhamster on May 20, 2019 3:29:56 GMT -5
I did yoga classes the year I was figuring out my situation was unfixable. Here is what you will probably get out of it.
1) A new way to relax.
2) Exercise for better back strength, balance, and flexibility.
3) New friends if there is some social time before and after class.
In my case, the social aspect of female dominated exercise classes was a huge boost to my crushed ego. The dynamic is obviously different for you, but I hope it is still positive and supportive.
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Post by saarinista on May 20, 2019 11:14:02 GMT -5
yoga is great. do it!
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Post by hopingforachange on May 20, 2019 12:12:08 GMT -5
There's not much socializing with the yoga classes I go to as well, unless you arrive early and chat with the others while we wait for the previous class to finish.
Although, you will realize how touch deprived you are when the instructor touches you.
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Post by northstarmom on May 20, 2019 12:27:21 GMT -5
There was a nice guy my age who. I would chat with in yoga class and in a local meditation group (often one runs into the same people at yoga whom one sees at health food stores, meditation centers and even art galleries). I’d known him casually for years when I decided to divorce. I also decided to take stained glass classes and when I told him that, he offered to teach me some things at his home studio. It was a great offer as he is an award winning artist. I suspected he was romantically interested in me but was waiting for my divorce to be final before asking me out.
Busy with other activities, I never found the time to follow up on visiting his studio. And he never made a clear move. Meanwhile, my now partner of 6 years was making moves and by the time I divorced, we were in a relationship. My artist friend learned that when we ran into him at a gallery showing his works.
Moral: yes, one can meet potential partners at yoga classes but don’t take forever to make your move.
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Post by warmways on Jun 2, 2019 23:28:59 GMT -5
I like yoga even though I don’t do it. I’d say yes - when you try it out you may find it beneficial. I’m glad that you got out.
For me, it’s been ten months but the hurt is deep and it’s incremental w a lot of pain.
Best of luck with all the positive choices like yoga
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Post by sadkat on Jun 3, 2019 8:41:04 GMT -5
I like yoga even though I don’t do it. I’d say yes - when you try it out you may find it beneficial. I’m glad that you got out. For me, it’s been ten months but the hurt is deep and it’s incremental w a lot of pain. Best of luck with all the positive choices like yoga Hi @ warmways- I’m curious about your comment about the hurt being deep and incremental with a lot of pain. Are you able to explain that in more detail? Are you still hurting over the split from h or is something else going on? |
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Post by warmways on Jun 4, 2019 20:47:32 GMT -5
Thanks sadkat
I’m going through a lot of sadness. Not really sure what it’s all about.
Part of me feels guilty I left him even though it was unhealthy but my ex had been diagnosed with MD about a year prior to my exit and even though I know I didn’t cause it I still feel bad that he has that. I want to shake off the guilt.
I just have a lot of sadness and doubt about myself but I see my therapist next week and am not giving up on hope and a chance that I can get happier.
I think I’m still hurting from the split but I have a lot of my own issues to work out still. There’s a lot of emotional pain. I can always find ways to be encouraged though, this site is a blessing and I’m so glad for it.
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Post by saarinista on Jun 14, 2019 0:34:17 GMT -5
warmways I'm sorry you're feeling down. I hope the therapist helps. And yes, this site is a blessing. In the meanwhile, I'd like to reiterate my support for yoga (or pilates) as an adjunct to therapy. Have you considered enhancing your exercise with some cute yoga outfits? I went to Target a few days ago and got myself some new yoga clothes that are more attractive than the Walmart leggings and t-shirts I had been wearing. It's just another way to have a little fun for not a whole lot of money.
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Post by Handy on Jun 14, 2019 10:28:46 GMT -5
Saarinista
I went to Target a few days ago and got myself some new yoga clothes that are more attractive than the Walmart leggings and t-shirts.
PICTURES!
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Post by warmways on Jun 14, 2019 22:11:46 GMT -5
Thank you @ saarinista. I’ve been considering signing up for a yoga class for a while, so your suggestion comes at the right time! I’ll find a class and cute clothes make all the difference I already have the mat and leggings - used to take yoga a long time ago.
Feeling better… this site helps, meeting people at the gym and going dancing last night and just making myself not isolate is all good. Also watching comedians is the best.
I hope you’re doing well, too.… (-:
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