Online Yoga Q&A

A special gathering for everyone, everywhere

Wanting to get more out of class or build a home yoga practice? We’re here for you. This free online yoga Q+A session is hosted by BYSJ owner and founder Michele Vennard, with staff teachers Matt and Sarah Newman and special guest Rajashree.

No question is a bad question, so BRING IT! We will discuss the postures, breathing, home setup and environment, consistency, restarting a practice, anything you like.

Whether you’re attending or can’t make it, you can submit your questions in advance – a video of the session is posted afterwards. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and check out the Q+A playlist so you never miss out.

We hope to see you there. 🤗

Zoom room opens at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 18

Meeting ID: 848 3934 7969
Passcode: 161569

Topic Shortcuts

What are recommendations for somebody new to yoga with severe hip arthritis? Are there any pose modifications to allow a safer practice?

I have had a lot of students coming in recently with lower back pain. How do we encourage students not to make a career out of rolling over to the side instead of doing the situps or not coming forward in Standing Head-to-knee? How do we, as teachers, encourage people to move forward without re-injuring themselves?

I wonder why the series is designed so that you always step out and step back with the same leg. I notice I have a strong asymmetry, and I can stabilize my left leg much better because we always step out with the right and back with the right. I wonder if there is a reason because if you repeat something, even a small thing, every day, it creates an imbalance.

I have this same thing about symmetry; my two sides are very different. It constantly bothers me throughout the class; for almost every posture. Even in savasana, the two hips are not equally touching the mat. If I think I’m straight, I’m really not, and looking around the room, many people are pretty crooked when they think they’re straight. So it’s hard to know for yourself.

In Separate Leg Stretching, you reach and grab your heels or feet, or some people can’t and grab their calves. Each place you put your hands, you engage your legs differently. Is there an action that is preferred when you’re having trouble reaching your heels?

In Triangle Pose, going into it, I’m always confused. When teachers say ‘hips forward’ in a class, do they mean forward towards the mirror or forward where your right arm is facing? I’m confused about what my hips are supposed to do. I thought you wanted to open your hips, but then they say, ‘push your hip forward.’ I’m unsure if that means I should close it and then twist the opposite way with the arms.