Does anyone do yoga?

[somany]

I have always wanted to do I yoga, and have been doing a 20 minute YouTube video for almost a week now. So far so good. Just wondering if anyone has words of advice on how to proceed, what to avoid, etc. I have zero flexibility in my back which has always held me back from the thought of joining a class, and I still think I would like to build up to that, not start with it.

[Deleted]

I am just starting up yoga classes again after taking a lonnnng break. I go to classes with my daughter that are offered through her work. Just take your time and do only what feels comfortable. When everyone else in class are doing their trees, Im just a little shrub. Our Yogi says that we start to loose balance around age 26. But you can get it back. I would just suggest a beginners class. It is much easier to go through the poses and be planted correctly when you have a nice soothing Yogi talking you through the correct formations for the poses. You pull back your hips, you lock your shoulders into their sockets. We do barbie feet, sleepwalker arms and waitress hands. Its also a mental thing and now we are learning about the 5 Chakras of your body which is kindof your spine and core, but also your mind and its very interesting. When I first started again I thought I would be sore the next day, but just the opposite, I felt loose and relaxed..  It does a body good!

Get a good Mat if you go to a class.. I ordered one online, a nice thick foam one. Those thin waffle-weave ones are hard on the knees. And if your like me with some belly action going on, wear drawstring workout pants.. Oh, and paint your toenails

[denise15601]

I have done it at home for years. Also do stretches and a bit of Pilates. Force myself to do it before breakfast, and it really does help me to limber up.
I can't take classes since I have bi-lateral moderate lymphadema and can't put any weight on my arms. So I have to do a modified routine.

I couldn't do it while on my last chemo for 8 months since I felt so terrible. But now that I am in temporary remission, I started again and it really does help me to limber up.

I prefer Pilates, since Yoga is so slow and I am always in a hurry. Would love to feel well enough to do it again.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2015 15:42:08 GMT somany said:

I have always wanted to do I yoga, and have been doing a 20 minute YouTube video for almost a week now. So far so good. Just wondering if anyone has words of advice on how to proceed, what to avoid, etc. I have zero flexibility in my back which has always held me back from the thought of joining a class, and I still think I would like to build up to that, not start with it.

I have off & on.  I have major back issues too.  I'm off right now - but was lucky enough in the past to find a class with an instructor who was trained to work with seniors.  She was awesome because she knew so many modifications for different health issues  & was very mindful of that.  Unfortunately her class is early in the morning in the next town over & not feasible for me to get to.  In my 40's I was the youngest in her class & there were members who were in their 70's with far better strength & balance than I.  It's very good for people with people with back issues, you just have to be aware of what works for your particular issues and what doesn't.

[Deleted]

It's been about 10 years and I would love to get back into it - I'm thinking of joining the Y or something in the spring as they seem to have the best assortment of classes and times for me. When I took it before it was just at a regular gym/fitness center too, not any special yoga center - the woman who taught it was really good though. If your community has the adult education/evening classes, that might be a good way to start on a class situation - it would only be once a week and everyone in the class would probably be there to "try it out" - rather than experienced so it might be less intimidating. At the very least you're not walking into a class where everyone else has already been there awhile, knows the routine, etc. so you're all starting out together.

[Dawn R]

I do and have for years. Iyengar is my yoga of choice, but I sometimes do other styles.

The one thing I would recommend is going to a good Yoga Studio (not a gym) and taking a class. Positioning is very important and I really think you need a good instructor to help with alignment especially when you first start. This may not be true of all gyms but at the ones I went to all of the instructors were fitness trainers/personal coaches/etc. who had taken a yoga component rather then someone who has studied yoga for years.

Most studios offer a "gentle yoga" class for those who need it.

[Deleted]

Had another class yesterday. Learning about the 7 Chakras. Yesterday was the 3rd and it is your core. So we were doing core work. Our Yogi said we would be remembering her in 2 days when we were sore.. I really like it though.. With the actual exercises you usually only do a set of 5 and you count down.. Thats nice.. I do believe that I am the oldest in the class, but I can keep up with those youngsters.. I was staying in some of the poses better then my DD who is 22.

[Deleted]

Hi All, I took my own advice from the Linus thread and packed up the family and took a road trip south. We spent a week with my parents in their timeshare on Cocoa Beach. I'll prob share more in another thread. This being the Yoga thread I wanted to say that our hotel room faced east, right on the ocean and the balcony was the perfect spot for morning yoga. Facing the sun, facing the ocean, 60+ degrees.. It was perfect. I didnt have my mat but the balcony had just the right amount of sand to have good traction but some slide.. I did some sun salutations most mornings and really enjoyed it..

Then on the flip side.. I meditated at the oceans edge in the evenings.. I sat in the sand facing the ocean, filled my hands with cool sand and let it naturally fall out, then I concentrated on the sound of the waves and focused on a ship in the distance and really relaxed.. I closed my eyes and actually zoned out. I think I almost fell asleep setting there or something. Then the sound of my DH and DS shelling brought me back to my reality at the time.

This reality was far removed from my regular Iowa lifestyle.. Ocean are few and far between here LOL.. even sandy beaches are a 30 minute drive..

Thanks for letting me share

Ill be back to my regular yoga class on Monday and our Yogi asks if we have anything to share..

If im feeling up to it Ill share with the class..