I do contemporary US fitness oriented yoga quite often. It isn't my first choice for a sport, personally, but it works great as a compromise when I'm with my parents, their friends, or with girls. I'd rather do something other than my first choice if it can include more of the people I'm trying to socialize with at the time.
Anyway, for some reason, I look like I'm really struggling when I do it. My arms shake, etc.. This despite being able to run 14 miles throwing myself forward each step, do 30 pull-ups in a row, 100 sit-ups, etc.. Seeing me seemingly suffer, the yoga instructors are constantly telling me things: just do the poses that are within your practice, focus on your breathing and relaxing and not copying the poses, go into an easy child's pose or down dog pose whenever you feel things are too much, don't muscle yourself into a pose, do a few more sun salutations to warm and loosen your body before continuing, do you have any injuries I should be aware of, here is a modified pose that is easier, here is a pose to increase your upper body strength before doing inversions, etc..
Long story short, most people seem to try really hard to copy poses and force their body. That's apparently not the way to do it and teachers try hard to make that clear. I've never been injured, but I imagine it is much less likely doing it their way, which focuses on relaxation and breath.
Anyway, for some reason, I look like I'm really struggling when I do it. My arms shake, etc.. This despite being able to run 14 miles throwing myself forward each step, do 30 pull-ups in a row, 100 sit-ups, etc.. Seeing me seemingly suffer, the yoga instructors are constantly telling me things: just do the poses that are within your practice, focus on your breathing and relaxing and not copying the poses, go into an easy child's pose or down dog pose whenever you feel things are too much, don't muscle yourself into a pose, do a few more sun salutations to warm and loosen your body before continuing, do you have any injuries I should be aware of, here is a modified pose that is easier, here is a pose to increase your upper body strength before doing inversions, etc..
Long story short, most people seem to try really hard to copy poses and force their body. That's apparently not the way to do it and teachers try hard to make that clear. I've never been injured, but I imagine it is much less likely doing it their way, which focuses on relaxation and breath.