ask a yogi is back!



This blog post was written by lululemon and posted on May 27, 2010 at 6:24 am

Our Ask a Yogi column is back, with three great new yogis! Meet Ted, Grace and Kinndli, lululemon ambassadors and yogis, ready for your yoga questions.

yoga gear work by lululemon ambassadors
ask a yogi questions online

ted

mens yoga clothing worn by ted
Ted in Exalted Warrior on the California coast

more info on ted

  • ambassador at lululemon Malibu
  • yoga teacher, entrepreneur, philanthropist, endurance athlete, avid traveler
  • founder of Adventure Yoga Retreats
  • creator of Point Dume Yoga and 5 Point Yoga, two yoga and fitness studios in Malibu, California
  • on the board of directors for Casa de Milagros, an orphanage in Peru that promotes education and self reliance to 26 homeless and orphaned children
  • educated in both Iyengar and Ashtanga styles of yoga
  • also teaches meditation and yin/restorative yoga, specifically designed to lengthen connective tissue and help prevent injuries

kinndli

womens yoga wear on kinndli

Kinndli in Dancer pose near Oakville

some facts about kinndli

  • ambassador at lululemon Oakville, Ontario
  • co-founder of Power Yoga Canada
  • owns the first Baptiste-affiliated yoga studio in Canada, has completed the highest level of training with Baron Baptiste, and is Canada’s only Certified Master Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Teacher
  • Since 2005 has been personally apprenticing and teaching with Baron Baptiste around the world on over 40 Journey Into Power Teacher Training’s and Personal Revolution Bootcamps
  • ambassador of the Africa Yoga Project

grace

womens yoga clothing worn by lululemon ambassador grace

Grace yoga-ing in front of the Toronto skyline

all about grace

  • ambassador for lululemon Queen St. in Toronto.
  • recently completed her leadership training with Off The Mat, Into The World (OTM). As an OTM leader she co-facilitates “Yoga in Action” training programs in Toronto throughout the year
  • co-founded Inspire Reach in 2009, which raises funds through karma yoga initiatives, dedicated to improve local and global communities
  • faculty member of the yoga teacher-training program at Tula Yoga Studios since 2007
  • encourages her students to explore in the safe environment she provides at Tula Yoga Studios

how to ask a question to the yoga panel

Ask your question by June 3rd by leaving a comment below, via twitter (@lululemon) or emailing askanexpert@lululemon.com. Check back on June 14th for the first set of answers from Ted, Grace and Kinndli!

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28 Comments »


I have tried hot yoga several times, however I always tend to pass out in the first 5 minutes of class. I am smaller, (5″2 and 95 pounds)but I don’t have low blood pressur, and I always follow the instructions about eating before class, being hydrated and even drinking emergen-c during class, but nothing seems to work. Any tips on how to build my stamina for this class?

Comment by elizabeth — May 27, 2010 @ 9:16 am


I had the same problem Elizabeth with yoga .

Comment by jana — May 27, 2010 @ 10:11 am


I’m a pretty new yogi. I have absolutely fallen in love w/it! I’ve found that even after just a few months of attending classes 2-3times/week I have noticed improvements to my yoga practice. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend classes more often due to my work schedule. Do you have any suggestions on how to go about building a home yoga practice that I can do on my off days? I want to focus more on building strength in my arms and perfecting basic poses. I just don’t know where to start off practicing on my own.

Comment by Jessica — May 27, 2010 @ 11:42 am


What are the best poses/sequences for an aching “clickin’ arm”? Down dog, locust, something else?

How do you protect your lower back? In some yoga classes my back is too tight and painful at the end of class to really relax in savasana. In Bikram I don’t really have that problem, maybe because you do a twist right before the final savasana?

Ted, how did you get into yoga? I think it would be very beneficial for my boyfriend, but I have a feeling yoga would be way outside of his comfort zone.

Comment by elaine! — May 27, 2010 @ 12:27 pm


I am 21 years old and I just started taking a yoga class about three months, but after every class, my neck and my back always seem to hurt. What do you think I should do about this? Are there any positions that would help this problem, or does it hurt because I am still fairly new at yoga and my body still isn’t used to the stretching just yet?

Comment by Kristen — May 27, 2010 @ 3:59 pm


For Ted, my lower back tends to get really stiff from sitting usually incorrectly at work :0. Any recommendations on poses that I could easily do in my office to loosen the tension in my lower back?

Comment by Marianne — May 27, 2010 @ 5:23 pm


My question is: I have the tightest hamstrings ever. I stretch them daily in a “hurdler’s stretch” and in a nice long wide-legged standing forward bend (where my hands only barely touch the floor), but I don’t seem to be making any headway. My hamstrings prevent me from achieving all kinds of yoga poses and it’s really frustrating. Is there anything else I can do besides stretching daily? Do you have any great stretches you can recommend that might be more effective?

Comment by Emily — May 28, 2010 @ 5:13 am


I have a broken tailbone and always feel like a flake when I can’t do Boat or other butt balancing positions. Any suggestions or props to help with that?

Comment by Catherine — May 28, 2010 @ 7:27 am


i am dping hot yoga and vinyasa. sometimes i cant hold a pose not because i lack strenth or banlance – but the arch of my foot hurts. any clue what that is and what i can do about it?

Comment by melanie — May 28, 2010 @ 7:58 am


I’ve been practicing for 10 years and have been trying to hold a handstand for 10 years. I feel like I have enough shoulder strength but don’t feel like I am balancing myself in the right way. Any advice or tips would be very helpful. Thanks.

Comment by Patricia — May 28, 2010 @ 8:26 am


I miss you Kinndli! When are you coming back to NYC?

Comment by Keith W. — May 28, 2010 @ 8:45 am


I do Bikram and have been wondering how many calories are burned during a class ?

Comment by Julie — May 28, 2010 @ 9:55 am


These pictures are amazing. I have a few yoga instructors who have the most amazing bodies say that they only do yoga, no cardio. How do you feel about that? I do a lot of vinyasa flow classes and definitely work up a sweat, but I still feel like I need to do some cardio after. What are your feelings on this?

-Valerie

Comment by Valerie — May 28, 2010 @ 10:37 am


Can a 5’2 130 lb woman actually do arm balances? I try and I feel like it’s never going to happen for me.

Comment by Becka — May 29, 2010 @ 2:05 pm


Baron Baptiste’s Vinyasa Flow is amazing! I always tend to attend these styles of classes but am wondering what other styles might be similar to his power flow class? Any recommendations? Also, Moksha seems to be offered in alot of studios. What exactly does this style emulate? More relaxed, fixed poses, etc? And, what about Hot Yogalates? Does this go against yoga completely? I’ve been thinking about trying it as it seems that it would be a great work out and an extra bonus oft improving core strength.

Comment by Sarah — May 29, 2010 @ 4:28 pm


I was in a car accident 2 years ago and have taken a couple of Pilates classes to try and help heal my body. I am wondering though if Yoga would be a better choice for me and to help me overcome the whiplash I suffered? I also suffer from a stress related illness (IBS) and wonder if Yoga would help that too? I am interested in Bikram but afraid it might be too intense to begin with. Please let me know what the best route would be for me to take so I can get back to being a healthy me!

Comment by Brittany — May 30, 2010 @ 8:19 pm


I am fairly new to the practice of yoga, but I have just gotten home from one of Ted’s fabulous Adventure Yoga retreats and I am hooked! I have done Tony Horton’s P90x yoga video and this week I started taking classes at a studio. Are there other videos that you would recommend for at-home yoga practice? Thanks much!

Comment by Caroline — May 31, 2010 @ 9:02 am


I have tight gluteals from a sacral fracture three years ago. What type of yoga would you recommend that protects my low back, opens my sacrum, and stretches my gluteals, hamstrings, and calves? Thank you.

Comment by Angie — May 31, 2010 @ 11:18 am


I have been attending yoga classes for 4 months now, and recently the class has added more forward folds than before. I’ve been getting really intense headaches by the end of the class that will continue into the evening. This is something that has just happened since the routine of the class has changed. Why do you think this is? What can I do to prevent the headaches while still keeping up with the class/getting the most out of it? Thank-you!!

Comment by Jennifer — May 31, 2010 @ 4:48 pm


Hi ,
I ‘ve been practicing Yoga for more than a year now. but my problem is for poses that required to be balanced on one leg ( like balancing half moon) . during the pose my ankle hearts so much that I can’t continue.
how can I solve this issue thanks

Comment by mania — June 1, 2010 @ 7:28 am


I want to know some moves to help with lower back pain. I am happy to say that Cobra position is no longer a painful problem but i get random bouts of mild lower back pain behind my hips. It is never severe, more annoying than anything else. My PCP offered pain relievers and muscle relaxers and i just don’t think it is bad enough to medicate myself everyday. I want to know what i do wrong (duh…sitting in front of a computer all dayand habitually crossing my knees under my desk) and how to correct it.

Comment by Megan H — June 1, 2010 @ 3:19 pm


Im having trouble with my crow pose.
A.) are my arms suppose to be slightly bent so that my knees can lightly rest on my tricep muscle as i lean forward to balance or
B) are my arms suppose to be straight and put my knees on the outside of my shoulders squeezing them in as I still lean forward to balance?

Comment by Ingrid — June 1, 2010 @ 6:41 pm


What is the best yoga/cardio mix? Should I alternate days I spin, for example, with days that I do yoga, or is it okay to do both in one day? If I do both in one day, should I do yoga first or cardio first?

Comment by Jackie — June 2, 2010 @ 9:05 am


What do you think the best solutions for heavy sweaters are? Even in non hot yoga classes, I always end up drenched by the first half of class and while it’s a bit embarrassing, my biggest issue is that I slip in down dog and similar. I’ve asked yoga instructors before but they always shrug and say “it happens”. Thoughts?

Comment by erin — June 2, 2010 @ 11:06 am


How does one know if they are ready to take on yoga teacher training? Is there a specific level of expertise that one should have? Does one need to have a dedicated daily yoga practice?

Comment by Kelly — June 2, 2010 @ 12:11 pm


I’ve been practicing for over 10 years and have been teaching (RYT200) since 2003. Yet I still cannot break my plateau – I’m so comfortable in intermediate classes and I’m so connected with my spirit – or at least I feel it, but maybe I’m wrong – but I’m stuck in my practice. I cannot let go of my fear of handstands and headstands and other ‘flying’ poses. Arm balances, I’ve got zero issue with and I LOVE playing around, so I’m eager to get to that point with being upside down as well. How do I let go of that fear? For the past 2 years I’ve been working hard – I’ve always had a good amount of upper body strength but I have weaker abs and chronic low back issues (degenerative disc disease since age 12), which I think are a huge factor – and I still can’t get past the hump. I’m trying not to let my ego get in the way, but it’s so difficult when I’ve been practicing for so long and feel so comfortable in all other parts of my practice. Is it just not meant to be, or do I need to stop focusing on the physical and get more into the meditative part of it?
A comment for Grace – reading your profile, I am in complete awe of you. What wonderful work you’re doing with your practice!!! That is my dream… someday!

Comment by Nicole — June 2, 2010 @ 1:30 pm


I have mild scoliosis (<3% curvature) – even tho mild, it definitely impacts my body. I've been practicing yoga for a year and am probably at an intermediate level. Yoga has made me very aware of the "wonkiness" of my body, but in a good way. I take note of it (such as in bridge when my left rib is a good 1/2 inch higher than my right) and do my best to accept that it's the body I've been given. It's not going to change. Strengthening my core has been a significant help, but I have a long way to go as my core was weak to begin with.

Obviously my spine isn't going to straighten, but are there any specific yoga poses you'd recommend for helping to undo decades of damage of being crunched and twisted to the right?

Comment by Cynthia — June 2, 2010 @ 5:15 pm


I am a former college cheerleader and 14 year gymnast. I currently am a fitness competitor. I do yoga often and on days I can’t, I still do a full stretch every day. I’ve been working for years (on and off) to get my middle splits. I have my left and right ones, but am inches away from my middle splits. Are some people’s bone structures built in a way that will not allow them to get the splits or do you think with patience and more practice I will get them one day? Is there any good poses I can focus on? Thank you!

Comment by Stacy — June 3, 2010 @ 6:28 pm


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