I've been attending a yoga class for the last 4 weeks in an attempt to get a little fitter, perhaps to try and get back the flexibility I had when i was at uni prancing around in my physical theatre classes. (I should point out that I am 28 not 50 but still, I'm definately seizing up and walking like an old lady at times). Yoga is surprisingly hard work, honestly guv'nor it really is. Some of the postures I'm completely able to do whilst in others, well, my boobs just get in the way. However, I'm loving the classes although there are a few little issues....
I can't stop getting the giggles. You see, people fart. Not me, I hasten to add, for once lack of control over my body is not an issue. However, some of the ladies in the class can't seem to stop the odd trumpet from erupting, proudly heralding their working bowel system. BRRRRRAAAAPPPPPPPPPP! Honestly. I completely thought the whole farting in yoga thing was a myth. So this morning I googled "why do people fart in yoga" and lo and behold there are 812,000 results. I even found unofficial fart ettiquette for the gym (the sum of which is to say hold it in till you can get to the changing rooms)(or pretend it was someone else). Everyone is doing it!
I looked through some of the results out of curiousity and then found this entry on a forum. I promise I didn't make this up. I actually had to do a silent creased-over laugh at my desk over this one...
"when it happens to me, i say a quick (and quiet) 'excuse me!' so that those near by--likely the only ones who heard it--also get the excuse me. when it happens in classes that i teach, i tell them that it happens to everyone.
the hardest are the vaginal gas releases after menstruation. whether i have or haven't practiced during menstruation, the first shoulder stand after menstruation always is executed with a 'vaginal fart' (though technically not a fart), and as far as i can tell, there's no way around it (mula bandha or no)."
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my god. Now I have to worry about those kind of farts too? Blimey.
The other reason I get the giggles in yoga is the lovely lady who always puts her mat next to mine. She's a little older and always says hi before the lesson. She seems really nice. She also snores like my dad at the end of every session when we do the relaxation. Every week since we began she falls asleep and snores away really loudly. What if people think it's me???? Is that a really bad thing to worry about? Why can I not switch off my own mind enough to not even notice what someone else is doing? Why does it make me laugh?
I have yet no answers to these questions, although this week I had a little snooze myself in the relaxation and it was lovely... until I woke up and I'd dribbled down my chin. Brilliant.
8 comments:
I do "relaxing" in my sport (MMA) too - generally when I've been choked out and am lying on the floor hoping the large man will let me go before I get bored and wander off into the light... ;-)
Just started some yoga and damn! I've been tooting myself. Thank god I do it at home.
You are way too in your head to be doing yoga. Who cares about what happens-- your body is being purified and although our culture says that farting is funny and gross, IT'S NATURAL. It happens to everyone and to take a yoga class, you're going to have to get out of your head and just come to a place of harmony and full bodily acceptance.
Yes, I fart while doing yoga, thankfully only during my home practice so far. However, I will admit to farting while doing massage. I am a massage therapist and let out a loud, juicy fart recently. Totally surprised me. I said a quick excuse me and noticed my client chose not to respond to the incident but started talking to me very nicely about a random topic. She had been quiet during the whole massage up til that point . Have to say I think she understood and symptathised and probably felt more comfortable with me , like she had a free pass now . . . . to fart.
My God, you're funny! I was laughing really hard when I reached the v-fart, because I just did it during yoga practice (in my house, by myself thank goodness). I googled about it and found your post. Still haven't found the scientific reason, but you give me a good laugh. Thank you!
I let out a couple of toots today at yoga class and realised that my bum has a mind of it's own...lol
I don’t think it’s ok to make such a judgmental comment as “your way to in your head to be doing yoga” For instance when learning to meditate, we learn quieting the mind isn’t nearly as easy we might of thought, rather than stress out that your thinking about this or that, you acknowledge the thought and send it away. Seems to me that’s exactly what this writer is trying to do. If it’s a legitimate concern for her, maybe discussing it with other non judge mental women is exactly what she needs. As opposed to continuing to think she’s the only one who’s ever felt embarrassed or suppressed a laugh at someone else. While I do understand your point, I’m pretty sure most of us aren’t as perfect as you must be on keeping your head clear. To be honest that’s the hardest part of yoga in my opinion. So it doesn’t seem very harmonic or peaceful to make her feel she’s doing something wrong when she’s doing what so many in life can’t. Be honest.
Post a Comment