Hello!

I just subscribed to MYO for the first time and I'm excited to explore all the videos you have available! I have been practicing yoga for about 9 months now and I love the transformation I've experienced, both physically and mentally! I practice at a local studio and really like the teachers there. Recently, I've been wanting to increased my yoga time at home and was pleased to find MYO as a resource! I have a few yoga DVDs that I enjoy, but mixing routines up seems to keep things more alive for me. I also enjoy the instruction of a yogi rather than relying on my own ideas (w/o a class or video) alone - if that resonates with anyone! I find that a learn something new and encouraging from each teacher I follow, so suffice to say I feel I've hit the proverbial jackpot here.

Most importantly, I've noticed that I tend to over-exert myself in the studio classes, no matter how much I tell myself to focus on my own practice and modify as needed. My regular teacher is wonderful at offering modifications and encouraging everyone to follow their body's cues, which will also vary within each individual with each practice - but I think there is a certain instinct to 'keep up' with others that takes time to tame. The point of all that is to say that, since I'm still relatively new to yoga (and to have a regular work-out in general!) I tend to misjudge what I'm physically ready for so I'm theorizing that by supplementing studio classes with practice at home it will help me strengthen my ability to listen to what I need and what I can do while in a group setting. At least, this is my hypothesis so with everything else in life - we'll see how it pans out!

It's probably helpful to add that I'm particularly hypermobile, without much muscle tone, so I seem to have even less physical external limits as far as flexibility and a few times (I think) have overestimated what my muscles were ready for. Does that make sense? I did a lot of reading online and in other places that people who are hypermobile are in some ways at more risk of injury, because they can strain muscles easier - if I'm using the correct medical terminology. In fact, I have read a few posts in MYO's forum regarding hypermobility that were enlightening. Really, that's how I found MYO in the first place; my google searches pulled up a few of the the articles you have available here about the SI joint and similar anatomy specifics. I particularly enjoyed Dr. Robin Armstrong and Dr. Carla Cupido's articles and have referred back to them several times since then. I took up yoga at the recommendation of my physical therapist who was/is treating me for chronic hip pain, pain that we think stems from an excessive anterior pelvic rotation and years (and years and years!) of poor posture. She impressed upon me the importance of exercise as a lifestyle and how rehabilitation is just one of many steps along that journey. I think she's spot on!

Well, I suppose that was quite the introductory monologue, huh? I really just wanted to share how I found MYO and how I think you are a very important contribution to the yoga community - thank you for the dedication you pour into it and I can't wait to get started!!

~ Jessica