Yes, sort of like when my high school choir director would say, "One more time straight through." when we were practicing a song. But there was always another "one more time" and another, and another. But it was good. :)

this too shall pass!

You can come out of the pose at 5 breaths, even if the teacher is still moving around the room. I'd rather do that then have the teacher pull us out of paschimottanasana before I've fully released into the pose.

I love this post! As a yoga teacher I've found myself getting, shall we say, a wee bit distracted as I'm counting and notice that some of my students try and keep up with the counts and start looking distinctly blue. I always try and make a joke of it when that happens but I'm sure theres plenty of times people are wondering how on earth they are supposed to fit five breaths into a 27 breath space.

I take private lessons (works better with my irregular schedule than group classes), and my teacher likes to joke with me. "OK, we're holding to 5 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4....5!" We always have a good laugh about it =)

I always thought that maybe I was breathing too fast...

Yes I know when I used to do Yoga..my Yoga teacher would alos say we count till 5 and the would be like 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3,.. and on.. and we would all be like...aaaarghh!! :)

Great post from a students point of view, me being a teacher!! I have the tendency to do that to! But the greatest reward of doing one or maybe 2 or 3 more than what you thought of doing, is the gift of Knowing that you CAN. Sometimes the mind tricks us to believe that we are unable to do this or that, but in fact we are able! Be making you hold a bit more, you now know that you are able to conquer anything at anytime in life and not only on the mat. So next time it gets hard, push your mind, because you know you are worth it, be confident!!! namaste