Ashtanga for 25

25. That's how many people were in my class last night. 3 rows of 8, plus one guy going crossways right in front of me, in a room 20 by 40 feet. It was hot and crowded, that's for sure. I find this particular teacher a little hard to follow, and this was a level 1-2 class (I'm pretty solidly a level 1), so it was a tough workout. I was really happy to have gone, though.

Some of the earlier poses I really like. My favourite part is the fundamental series - opening my back and legs after a day in an office and stretching out the runners' tight hamstrings. I'm struggling with Prasarita Padottanasana C (intense spread leg stretch with shoulder opening) because my shoulders are so tight that my arms don't go anywhere near over and I feel like I'm pushing against myself the whole time. Then there's the difficult but lovely Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana and following poses, which are all good until we get to a whole series of seated asymetrical forward bends. In particular, the Triang Mukhaikapada Paschimottanasana, or one-leg-folded-back pose. My (bent) leg just does not go that way.

I also enjoy the shoulder stand, except that it constantly reminds me that yoga was developed by people with small (or, mostly, no!) breasts. Mine smother me. See also Double D reviews. What do you bigger-breasted people do in this situation?