u/JudgeBorn8370

Contemplating going on a week long retreat/workshop overseas with one of my favourite teachers later this year. Would be my first yoga retreat. Beginner, doing bit more than half primary. (Supta
Kurmasana). Seeking experiences on what it’s like, what you did on your downtime in between mysore and workshop, and whether it’s added to your practice. Not looking primarily to relax or have a holiday. Some of these places are pretty outside of town and require significant lengths of travel and time off work so want to get some idea if it’s ’worth it’.

Contemplating going next year for the first time and also first time to India. Can anyone break down the logistics for me? Is it as straightforward as just booking the retreat buying my plane ticket and going? Will I need shots? Unlikely to have time to see much else outside of Goa so might for for 7-10 days. Please share your experiences, thank you!

Doubt inevitably creeps in. Long term daily practitioners, how do you deal with doubt in ashtanga practice?

I find myself wavering. To draw an analogy, it feels like when you are lifting up in navasana or uthplutihi and you are battling with yourself and the excuses your mind makes. ‘…why not..?’ And ‘…why/why should…?’ What’s the point of it all ..This is why I find the argument for modification and customisation such a slippery slope.

Say you had a bad run with painful knees, did he let you skip or allow you to proceed with modified poses til you got better or tell you to stop there or push through?

Do you work it into the session (at home v shala)? Do you do it after the session? Do you do it on a separate day and does ‘count’ towards the 6 day a week.

And do you work in drills etc?

I’m conscious of not obsessing over the jump through or jump back or whatever it might be but sometimes I’m tempted to keep working on a tricky pose after my morning practice.

I wonder how others navigate this..

Hi hope it’s all going well for you all and your individual practice/saddhana

I can’t seem to ever get far enough on top of my shoulders to balance in urdva padmasana or pindasana. I can get into padmasana from shoulder stand fine but can’t stay up without support. Any help unpacking what might be happening anatomically and how to get more comfortable in these postures? (I thought closing postures were meant to be a come down and therefore should it feel so difficult?) I can’t get my knees down far enough to my ears in ear pressure pose either if it helps picture.

Tangentially, separate question:

Can one actually call your practice ‘saddhana’ if not given by a guru?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts