What Does it Mean to "Do" Yoga, What Can it Look Like?

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Last Updated on October 7, 2020 by melissanreynolds

I am super passionate about sharing the tools yoga offers with people with chronic pain, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia. The thing that often gets in the way is what people think it means to “do” yoga.

Today I am going to share with you all sorts of raw pictures of me “doing” yoga because I want you to start to get a sense of the fact that “yoga” has been usurped by the perfect poses on Instagram. If you have a teacher who gets your situation, then they can help you adapt yoga to your needs.

A visual representation of the below points:

Yoga can be adapted for almost anybody (if you have been cleared to move gently and the teacher “gets” your needs)
Breathing is a central part of yoga (and many of us don’t do it optimally)
Meditation is my favourite part of yoga (yoga Nidra guided meditation is my jam, I do it in bed with my heat pack)
You can do one pose
I have several poses I enacted whenever I need them during the day
Chair yoga is a great way to make yoga more accessible
You can do yoga in bed
Classes can be 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes or more
You don’t need to be super bendy, in fact, I am not

For the benefits of yoga, why I do it and more check out my post about Yoga for Chronic Pain and Fatigue here.

Breathing

A little more challenging

Me at the very beginning preparation phase of maybe one day doing crow pose (where you lift your feet off the ground)

Relaxation and meditation

This is the final relaxation of many classes, or an excellent standalone pose. This is complete rest. You can add all sorts of things to make it more comfortable, usually I have a blanket or cushion under my legs to help my low back.

If you are curious about restorative yoga (a passive, very gentle practice) then come and check out this free workshop Restorative Yoga for the Chronic Life.

One that can be done in bed

You can do this on your bed (I like to do it as part of my bedtime routine)

A multi use tool

I am known to do this pose all the time. It is child’s pose, it rests the lower back and calms the mind. You can do it facing up on your bed (hugging your knees), with a bolster between your legs under your chest/abdomen to make it restorative. When the kids are overwhelming me or I’m feeling really tired, then I’ll drop where I am and do it. Often the kids follow!

Adapting to my needs

Using a block to bring the ground closer to me. I am not super bendy!

#notabouttheperfectpose

This is my son doing this pose not at all correctly but he is enjoying it and not in danger of hurting himself so I encourage him to play with me when I do yoga.

Using the chair

Me doing a chair sequence. I love using a chair because it means I don’t have to get on the floor. It also means I can do some of the poses in the car when I am not feeling so nice and on the edge of my bed if I am awake in the night.

My all time favourite that can be done almost anywhere

Me doing seated cat and cow – I do cat and cow all the time, in my favourite chair, on the side of the bed, in the car, on the floor and in my classes

I hope this gave you a sense of how “yoga” can look and hopefully hope that, if you want to, you could try it in one way or another.

Show me how yours looks

“For the first time I’m in a yoga class that I feel like I’m actually going to get it…I really can do this and I love how it feels.”
– Student of Foundations of Yoga for Chronic Pain and Fatigue

I’d love to see how your yoga looks. Comment below, tag me on Instagram @melissanreynolds

Join us for the FREE five minutes a day for five days yoga for chronic pain and fatigue challenge – it’s open now for you to see how you could “do” yoga.

Unlimited yoga made especially for fibro bodies? Join us in the Yoga for the Chronic Life virtual studio.

2 thoughts on “What Does it Mean to “Do” Yoga, What Can it Look Like?”

Terri, Reclaiming HOPE says:

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I love this Melissa! Yoga is such a wonderful way to increase flexibility and strength without impact. I’m so happy you’re showing how it can be accessible to those of us who live with chronic pain. Getting started is often the hardest part, and your post gives us the encouragement we need to take that first step. Thank you!

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What Does it Mean to “Do” Yoga, What Can it Look Like?