Yoga Class reflection paper

Posture

Before

After

Tadasana (standing)

What was notable was the pressure on my chest. I felt as thought my chest cavity was compressed and I was struggling to breath easily. My stomach was also lax and I was loose in an uncomfortable way and my back was stiff.

I felt that breathing was much easier. There was more space in my chest cavity and I felt my heart could work more easily and efficiently. My breathing was synchronized and it didn’t take as much effort as before. The muscles of the back and stomach also felt more strengthened and relaxed. My muscles were reinvigorated.

Chatarunga

This pose was quite challenging to get into. First of all, I felt I had a weak balance especially on my arms. I had weak abdominal muscles and those of the arms especially in the shoulder area and legs.

I felt I could attain more balance easily. My shoulders felt more stable and strengthened. My arms were strengthened enough to support my body and my leg muscles felt stronger too.

Updog

My neck muscles felt stiff, I had felt like my back was straining and needed to be stretched especially the upper back. My arm muscles were not strong enough and ready to support the weight of my body.

I felt relief on the back muscles, I could feel as if more space had been created and my muscles were now relaxed. I felt less pressure on my chest and stomach. My neck muscles were less stiff and I could breath more easily. My arms were strengthened and felt energized to support my body. It felt easier to support my body on the arms and legs without the knees touching down.

Chair pose

I felt my muscles were not strengthened enough. I had weaker muscles especially in the core of my body, my thighs and feet.

I felt an improved muscle coordination in the core of my body. The muscles of my thighs and feet were stronger and able to support the weight of my body. My ankles were also more flexible than before.

Forward fold

I felt stiffness of muscle especially in the upper back and waist area. I also felt more anxious before the yoga.

The muscles in my back and waist were more relaxed and stretched. I also felts stretched on my leg muscles especially the hamstrings and calves. It felt a bit crampy later on but with repeated exercise I overcame it. After the yoga I felt calm and relaxed.

Warrior I

I felt I had weaker muscles especially in the back area and shoulders. My chest was closing in and I was having a little difficulty while breathing. My balance and stability were also poor on one leg.

My breathing rhythm improved and became easier. My balance, focus and stability especially on one leg was much better. I could feel stronger muscles on my shoulders, legs and arms. My neck, belly, and groin muscles were also stretched and they felt more relaxed.

Warrior II

I felt general body weakness and less strength and stability in the muscles.

It increased the strength in most of my body muscles especially around the hip region, the shoulders and arms.

Trikonasana

I felt a weaker muscle tone on the muscles in the back, and the stomach.

I felt a relief in my emotional status. I was able to stretch the back muscles and the stomach especially to the side which felt relaxed.

Extend side angle

I felt my muscle tone was weaker especially on the back and the waist.

Mentally, the posture made me to be more focused and self-aware. I felt strengthened on my hip muscles and the waist.