Starting Yoga

[AussiePagan]

I'm thinking about giving Yoga a go, now that I've got a room big enough to stretch out my arms and not hit walls (yay for dogey on campus accommodation :p). Usually I'd just lurk around MW when I'm hunting for info, but there's no yoga forum :(


Anyone here practice yoga and wouldn't mind pointing me in the right direction ? I'm interested in both the fitness and spiritual side of yoga but not quite sure where to start... Finding information is easy enough, but a lot of our western stuff just focuses on the fitness side of things and totally ignores the spiritual dimension, which imho is silly.

[Lyrien]

I can't stress strongly enough that you should seek out a yoga studio and take at least a couple of weeks of classes prior to setting out with a video or something. There is a HUGE difference between a class and a video when you are first starting out.

The instructor can help you get the postures, breathing, and flow correct before you venture out on your own. They can also help you modify the poses for your ability level, where a video may be too advanced or too far behind on certain things.

Other than that...go slow. It may seem easy while you are doing it, but you might not be able to move later in the evening. :)

[Lyrien]

I can't give you any help with the spiritual side of it, what spiritual-ness I get is a personal journey that just isn't explainable. Something one would have to experience on their own. You get out of it what you put in, I guess.

If you want a free resource of concept explanations and some free classes online (again, please go to a studio first), you can hit up jivadiva (http://www.jivadiva.com/). There are several podcasts of yoga classes, meditation instruction, and general yoga knowledge that might help you out.

[Cake-eating_Moth]

I practiced yoga for about a year. It is a very good physical and mental exercise. Yoga usually only helps your spiritual life in that it first relaxes your mind and body to give yourself room to concentrate on your spiritual comforts. Unless it is taken to an extreme such as the case is with Hindu ascetics, it usually has no direct connection to your spiritual life. Basically, Yoga is like the stretch leading to meditation, just as you stretch your calf muscles to begin running.

Like Belle said, find a group. Some satellite programs for television have a channel that focuses on spiritual matters (other than just Christian spiritual matters) and a woman with a heavy Asian accent comes on at 6:30 in the morning and lasts until 7:00. Might I say, her accent is crazy! But her routines are extremely good - such that I would call it REAL yoga, not "palates" yoga or any of that junk that is almost exactly like it's TAEBO counterparts. Ask instructors what kind of yoga they practice. Attend a class, sample the type of yoga they do and if you feel it doesn't connect with you, try another class - or get some books on it and create your own routine. Start simple. Go from 5 minutes, to 10 minutes, to 20, then to 30 as you learn more stances and positions in yoga. Get instructional cd's. They have those everywhere!

But good luck! Yoga's amazing. Good choice.

[AussiePagan]

Thanks for the replies guys. That website looks interesting, When i've got more internet credit I download some of the pod casts.


I was thinking about going to a yoga class, I saw an ad for some yoga place a few days ago, so there's atleast one in my town, but money is tight, so yeah...

[*raven*]

Yeh I'd ditto what everyone has said about joining a class cos otherwise it's so difficult to know where to start and if you're doing it "right" or whatever. I did classes for about a year and then started doing it on my own when I left for uni. Now I do it when I have the time/energy, which isn't very often to be honest, but I have a book with poses and sequences in to refresh my memory, but it's definitely easier once you've been to a class and have someone help you with posture, breathing etc. Also in my experience, and this may just be me, I found I warmed up and cooled down much better in a class rather than on my own, also we had 15/20 minutes as the end of class to do a relaxation which was fantastic and coupled with the hard work of yoga (cos it was much harder physically than I expected it to be!) it meant I came out feeling both physically and emotionally/spiritually refreshed :)

[blueangel]

Another alternative is pilates. It's really good for toning but there is quite a spiritual side to it too, depending on which type you do.

[Brightshores]

As far as videos are concerned (I can't really afford a yoga class right now, so I use DVDs..) I like the ones with Rodney Yee.. he seems much more spiritual and connected than the blond-ponytailed- "Now BREEEETHE" types. He has some good beginner videos (AM/PM Yoga is good) and others for more advanced practitioners.

[Tranquility]

I second Rodney Yee's video tapes. I did yoga at a studio, next to where I worked. They offered some free classes, So I went over, and ended up enjoying it immensely. They ended up letting me go free for two years, go figure! :)

[Keroberos]

My opinions differs from others on this one, a class can go way to fast for a beginner especially if it's a health club. If you're looking for a class definately seek out a separate studio that might have classes specifically for beginners. I personally like videos because I can take a break and just observe the movements if it becomes to intense. The video I would recommend is called "Yoga for Urban Living" it has an AM and PM sections as well as an hour long segment for when you have time. Anything put out by Yoga Magazine is good as well, I believe that's where Rodney Yee originated.

[purpledolphin]

Yoga is wonderful. I take a weekly yoga class and I love it. I feel so refreshed and energized afterwards. I just wish I could take it more times a week. I would definitely start with a beginner class.

[RunningRiot]

I can't afford a class now, so free-streaming instruction from the net and books is as good as I can get.

http://www.gurl.com/findout/guides/articles/0,,677329,00.html

[taai]

i really think "yoga for beginners" with alan finger (haha) is good... he takes the time to explain the position, and he does seem quite rooted and grounded. i recommend it to everyone.

the powerful thing about yoga is that you can take it anywhere. i prefer to do mine outside in the woods with a girlfriend.

you get out of it what you put in. sometimes i do it for exercise, sometimes it is a lot deeper than that.

[inkywitch]

I'd never pay what I've seen people charge for Yoga classes. I got given a few books and a DVD, and I'm doing great. I really love it! The dvd I have has a British woman on it, and she has a very relaxing voice. It's called Inch Loss Yoga. I cringed at the name, but gave it a chance and I really enjoy it.