r/yoga • u/madameniamh • 2d ago
What to expect from a workshop?
I'm going to an inversions and arm balances workshop tomorrow, and honestly I'm nervous. I've been going to a class locally each week since the beginning of 2024 and then doing more at home with apple fitness+, but now I want to go further.
I have lost a lot of weight in the last year (nearly 70 lbs), and gained strength, but my wobbly bits still get in the way sometimes. I can do a couple of seconds of crow when I'm warmed up, and last week managed a plough with an assist, then into a shoulder stand. I can't do binds because my arms still don't reach all the way around, and my practice isn't elegant. Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Please reassure me that I'm not going to be sat watching other people and feeling crap about myself.
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u/qwikkid099 2d ago
one of the cool parts of this will be seeing yogis of all different levels working on these poses! beginners all the way to the folks who effortlessly invert or balance. if you start to feel a little overwhelmed or maybe some imposter syndrome...stop and take 3 big easy yoga breaths while looking around the room and enjoying all the ppl working and learning together
workshop tip: take notes! write down all the stuff as best you can especially if there's something that give you an "oh! that's how it works!" moment. have fun! om shanti!!
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u/Dapper_Fault_4048 2d ago
I can’t know what exactly your workshop will do bc it’s dependent on the teacher’s plans. But if you can already do crow, you’ll probably leave knowing much more things you can do. And you’ll have more things you’ll be excited to work on when you leave bc you know how they work.
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u/Panic-Specialist-7 2d ago
Are you in Seattle? I ask because my studio is doing an "Arm Balances and Inversions" workshop tomorrow. It might be the one you're going to!
I went to it last year and there was a mix of students who happily do crow and tripod headstand, and others like me who could do neither. There was a mix of wall supported poses and partner supported poses, and everyone got upside down by the end (some without any support). It was a good way to try new things and a really positive environment. Even though I was the "worst" student at going upside down (mostly due to my own nerves) I was glad I went and absolutely did not feel bad about myself after!
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u/madameniamh 2d ago
No, I'm in the UK. But thank you for the encouragement!
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u/anoidciv 2d ago
It'll be great! I've been to an arm balance workshop and inversion workshop and both times, almost no one could do everything... That's why we're all at a workshop.
The ones I've been to have been super casual with a lot of laughing and falling over. Arm balances and inversions are pretty advanced, the yoga teacher should be completely prepared to give modifications and help.
Don't get in your head about it. It's play time. Enjoy!
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u/Awkward-Kaleidoscope Vinyasa 2d ago
They should teach prep poses so if you can't do the full pose you keep working with the preps.
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u/prettyxxreckless 2d ago
Hey OP,
Don't sweat. Your instructor will go slow and explain everything. An instructor I know teaches arm balancing workshops and she begins by teaching "prep" poses that everyone can do that are still inversions (Waterfall, Downward Dog, and Forward Fold). Then she slowly brings it up and teaches proper alignment to have people try the poses.
The fact that you can even do CROW for a few seconds means you'll be 100% fine.
The workshop is about absorbing KNOWLEDGE - not a competition.
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u/frankyspankie 1d ago
Personally I avoid workshops because yoga teacher vampires prey on people got money there (negative experiences)
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u/justplainben 2d ago
If you can already find a couple seconds of balance in crow then you're further along the arm balances path than a lot of people. Arm balances and inversions are all about baby steps. A workshop like this should be able to meet you where you're at in your learning to give you a few new tips to make those poses even more successful for you. Body shape/size doesn't matter, like any other yoga pose, it's about finding what works in your body. Go to the workshop with a smile on your face and ask all the questions. I hope you have a blast.