Ashtanga Vinyasa Depression

[Guest guest]

I practice Ashtanga for about two years now, more

ore less regularly.<br>This year, I succeeded to find

a rhytm of pracitising 3 to five times every week

which seemed to let me make at least some

progressm.<br><br>Since about three months I have increasing problems

with my breath. Since six weeks it has become worse,

so I can't pracitse at all.<br>In the poses with the

head down (especially down dog), I can hardly breathe

through my nose. Therefore after 3 or 4 sun salutations I

have to give up.<br>Furthermore the tensions in my

back and especially neck have increased.<br>As

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga was part of my dayly life even when

I'm not on my mat on some days I'm reall depressive

about my situation. <br>I'm actually thinking about

leaving the Ashtanga family and kill myself or, even

worse, go to Sivananda Yoga (you see, not all of my

humour is gone)<br>Has anybody had similar experience

with the breathing system ?<br>Any hints are very

welcome.

[Guest guest]

For the breathing problems I recommend using a

neti pot. I had similar problems, not being able to

breath, esp. in the mornings - I started using one daily

a few months ago and it has made a tremendous

difference. They're inexpensive, and are really effective for

clearing our your nasal passages. It also helps a lot for

hayfever and other allergies, too. Maybe you could try

doing some simple pranayama before your practice...a

few round of Kapalabhati breath might help. Good luck

+ cheer up!<br><br>Amrita

[Guest guest]

Dear DD,<br><br>Are you practising alone or with

a teacher? Sounds like you need an instructor or a

change in one. Dont leave Ashtanga, this is only a step

to the next phase. Just a slight mental injury,

opening towards something, continue practising but be

kind to yourself.

[Guest guest]

I'm practising alone most of the time. Every 2 or

3 months I go to a workshop usually with Hari

Gaertner, a German teacher from whom I learned very

much.<br>Last year I went to the 1. Workshop with him after I

had spent 4 weeks at Yoga Plus on Crete. As I thought

that my practise was not bad and I had made good

"progress" on crete, I was angry when he told me that I

haven't understood nearly everything (vinyasa, forward

bend, standing postures).<br>When I had recovered from

that I stepped back from trying to do whole 1. serie

and began to practise only sun salutations and the

standing postures. Once a week I practise with a group. We

usually go up to navasana.<br><br>It would be very god

for me to have a teacher. After every workshop with

Hari I see how much a teacher can improve my

understanding of all aspects of Ashtanga Yoga.<br><br>Thank you

for your thoughtful answer. I'll try to go on until

I'm getting better again (or until I will choke

completely in the middle of 2nd surya

namaskar).<br><br>Namaste <br>Dirk<br><br>(as I begin to write more and

longer postings, I recognize that I have to improve my

English too)<br>And as you say I should probably take a

look at the mental factor too. Also I'm looking

forward to a new job and everything seems fine, the very

rigid schedule I forced into by job and family seems to

make me at least very nervous sometimes.