And I don't mean crying in pain. I mean somehow the yoga or dance brings out emotions that are generally suppressed. I don't do yoga b/c I'm always hoding back the tears that want to flow. And this morning I took a dance type class called nyatonics and the same thing happened.

I know that I am very good at stuffing emotions down but I wonder if anyone else has this kind of emotion let down also? I feel kind of wierd about it.

I've never done yoga, so I don't know about that! But I'm like the absolute last person to cry at anything and a few weeks ago I was running sprints on the treadmill and got it up to 11.0mph and as soon as I stopped I felt like I was going to burst into tears. It was the weirdest thing. I have no idea why it happens! Haha. My guess for me was that the exercise was so intense for those few seconds anything I was too exhausted to keep things bottled up any longer.

I didn't feel like I had anything bottled up though... It was weird to say the least!

I know I read classes like Nia do that all the time. It's normal and welcomed.

Yes, I know yoga and Nia are spiritual and btw, whenever I am in a religious sactuary I want to cry.
But I don't really want to go 'there'. I just want a really good work out.

Well, as long as you don't want to "go there" you'll be holding back the emotions that are trying to emerge. It is what it is!

To answer your question, yes, I frequently have emotional releases during yoga class. It is normal, healthy, encouraged, supportive and is part of the natural cleansing process of healing the body/mind/spirit.

[QUOTE=SoulBliss;2170993]Well, as long as you don't want to "go there" you'll be holding back the emotions that are trying to emerge. It is what it is!
QUOTE]

Yes, Ideally I want to let go. But there are a few problems. First, I am worried if I do let go then I will dissolve into a puddle of heaving sobbing crying tears, And second, I know some of the women there and I don't want to give them something to talk about.

Oh let them talk!!! This is about you and you only! Who knows what you will feel once you let it out. I have never had that experience when I work out, but when I cry in general I feel relieved and relaxed like a huge weight has been lifted off of me. Good luck!

Hi,

I only exercise at home, but yes, I have felt this way. For some reason practicing Kundalini yoga brings me some kind of emotional release, and I have cried (not sobbing, just tears) when I've finished a practice. Actually,during one practice there was instruction to call up feelings of anxiety, and I really lost it then!

You're normal! Congrats on sticking to going to the classes.

Take care,
Sherry

I've decided to go to another class and try to let go, if that's what my body/mind/spirit needs. ****, I'm not in therapy anymore-- so I've gotta let go somewhere, right?

I bet what they'll be talking about is how lovely it is to be able to give in to those needs for physically-induced emotional releases. Even if they "talk smack" publicly, what they'll really be thinking/feeling is how wonderful it must be to really be able to release that "stuff" through exercise of any kind.

(And I say this as someone who started bawling both in tap class and at Krav Maga... and on the treadmill... and on the bike... and while going for walks in my neighborhood.)

Alot of the time when I'm doing an excercise tape I'll feel really overwhlemed and just cry. I don't know what I feel overwhelmed with, but I know exactly how you feel. you are not alone ! :P

This is interesting. I have never felt this way before nor have I heard of such an emotional "release" during work outs.

Now I feel like I'm missing out on something.

The only real physical effect exercise has had on me if making me feel like I might puke. I'd rather cry than puke anyday!

Maybe we internalize too much and have to stay strong for other people. I've cried after running before....when the day is so gorgeous your heart just breaks at the beauty of it all.

To feel emotion is human....who cares what other people think?

Thanks everyone. I now know I am not alone in this type of emotional release. Funny, I've never seen it happen to anyone else.
I'm planning on a Friday am class. The teacher is known for his very spiritual approach versus the teacher I had who was a broadway dancer in Cats and very rah rah. (which I like quite a bit too!)
I'll update....