---

By Lucas Rockwood

Students ask: "I'm so sore from yesterday's yoga class... should I practice again or just rest?"

Let's take step back and ask answer another, simpler question: "Why are you sore to begin with?"

Well, the soreness you're feeling is most-likely a sign of tissue damage. But damage is a bad thing, right? Well, yes and no.

Obviously, we don't want to tear our bodies' connective tissues to shreds, but at the same time, it's impossible to drastically increase your flexibility without some soreness.

So what I'm saying is that true flexibility gains are all about damage control. So here are 3 things to keep in mind when you're really aching:

TIP 1
If you're so sore that even 10 minutes into class or practice you still feel pain, you should stop and rest for at least 2 days.

TIP 2
If the soreness goes away after 10 minutes of yoga practice, you're OK, but go slowly and don't try to make any flexibility gains.

Go into all your poses at about 80% of your max, and be very careful not to aggravate the affected area.

TIP 3
When you're really sore, the goal is not to improve flexibility, but simply to maintain and massage the sore area.

***

Lucas Rockwood is the creator of Yogabody, a program he guarantees will increase your flexibility. To learn more, Click Here.

---