I'm a Yoga Newbie

[MellowCat]

I haven't been physically active since I was a wee little freshman in high school (which was NINE years ago! Ehajhdakhfkbsljbrtbs!!!!) So, for Christmas, I broke my usual silence and requested yoga stuffs. I received a yoga mat, two instructional DVDs, and two instructional books. I have been working out for 20 minutes a day pretty regularly now. Although I'm aware that having a live instructor will garner more results, I would prefer to begin at home. If I become even more serious about yoga, then I may take classes.

Are there any others here that are experienced with yoga? Do you have any tips for beginners like me? I am mostly interested in gaining more flexibility and a compatible diet, but any advice would be greatly appreciated... becauseIreallydunnowhatI'mdoingyet

[Savor Dam]

<------Recently saw a bear out here in a bow tie and a porkpie hat....never mind, that was Yogi, not yoga.

Seriously though, MC, I know there are Watchers who are pretty knowledgable in yoga matters. Hopefully, one of these will respond to your question soon.

[MellowCat]

Hahahahaha...! You are funnies, Savor Dam X3 Although, interestingly, a "yogi" is someone who practices yoga...

I am Yogi! >:3

[sgt.null]

be one with All...

[Vraith]

You will need a teacher at some point, for full benefits. You simply can't learn it from books/video because [just like martial arts, ballet, lots of things] there are subtleties you literally won't be able to see/feel...though six months or a year on your own will likely have benefits if done consistently, and somewhat prep you for classes.
But, in a general way, perhaps already in your materials:
breath always [unless the pose specifically says otherwise] low slow and released.
In general it is more important to be most correct in the center and maintain a pose longer than to work harder for a shorter time. What I mean is, say you're doing lotus [every system I know of uses lotus]. It is FAR more important to have your butt seated correctly and your spine aligned with your legs not fully/correctly positioned and just stay there breathing easy for a long time than it is to strain/force your legs into the right position and not be able to hold for long. [not to mention if you do that it will actually slow your progress EVEN IF it speeds up your hip flexibility, for instance]
Most [though I've spotted a couple exceptions] books/vids I've seen do too many poses for too short a time, and begin with poses that are too damn hard for beginners, so hard they'll never really get it right.
OTOH: there are even more bad teachers than bad books/vids, and books/vids are cheaper.

[MellowCat]

@sgt.null

Hmm... elaborate? :3

@Vraith

Thanks! You've given me a great deal of useful information!

I am glad to know your opinions on this matter... I certainly will take classes when available to me. Like you said, I would like to prepare myself for a 6 months to a year before I take classes. But it's also something that isn't really offered where I live. I am sure when I eventually move to California, I'll easily find a place to learn.

Thanks for your thoughts about easy breathing+being centered VS straining for the right position. I have been trying to slowly progress rather than force myself to. I guess I intuitively knew as much?

Are there any books or videos you would recommend? I am currently using Rodney Yee's DVD workouts, and have enjoyed them immensely, but if you have any recommendations, I would be very glad to hear them!

You are a fountain of information!

[aliantha]

Rodney Yee is adorable.

Vraith, I agree with you about the length of poses on the DVDs. Sometimes I'm just about relaxed into the pose and they're off to the next thing. Arrgh. Haven't had that problem with any of the classes I've taken.

MellowCat, I'm way out of practice (like I am with most things, sigh), which is why I haven't chimed in sooner. You might be able to find an inexpensive class at your local recreation center. Altho as Vraith says, the quality of instructors varies. And be careful of classes at gyms -- they tend to concentrate less on form and more on how many calories you're burning, which is not what most forms of yoga are about.

[Linna Heartbooger]

Greetings, MellowCat. Welcome to the Watch! and thanks for starting a thread that I feel like talking on... even if I don't necessarily have something useful to answer your question with!
(I do have a story from yoga class that might amuse though.)

vraith- about the breathing... reminds me of something funny.
My husband was like, "So did they teach you how to breathe?"
Me: "Umm, I added the class late, [every time I took it!] so I missed that part."
My husband: *facepalm* That's the most important part!

(My friends joked that I always took yoga cause it didn't require shoes; I went barefoot for most of those 4 years.
In reality, it was because it was the easiest P.E. I could late-add to replace a class I was failing.)

[Vraith]

I have been trying to slowly progress rather than force myself to. I guess I intuitively knew as much?

Are there any books or videos you would recommend? I am currently using Rodney Yee's DVD workouts,

heh...on the first, unless you are deceiving us, you're female, and [is it sexist if you're saying something obvious and positive?] women in general don't strain/push in the same way men do [they have their own special ways ] so ya easily could have intuited it.
On Yee...I agree with Ali, he's adorable, but probably for different reasons than Ali's. I've only seen one of his vids...he did rush in that one, too many poses, not enough settling in. BUT that's ok...learn the poses, the routine, then just do it yourself without the vid [check back for corrections/reminders once in a while, every week or so]. The thing is, he is rooted in Iyengar [weird that happens to be the one, it's the one I prefer...the one manual I own on yoga Iyengar] but also in dance...in fact, like Jet Li is really a dancer/acrobat, not a martial artist, but still way better than Jean Claude Van Damme.

Linna: hysterical really. and yet true. I could rant on this for pages...half the world's problems vanish if everyone knew 3 things they think they already know: how to breath, how to walk, how to speak.

[Avatar]

Do not do the head-stand unless you're in a class.

--A

[Linna Heartbooger]

Linna: hysterical really. and yet true. I could rant on this for pages...half the world's problems vanish if everyone knew 3 things they think they already know: how to breath, how to walk, how to speak.

LOL, I'm getting that most people don't know how to do those things. But I'm not seeing how if they did those things well it would solve a massive set of the world's problems. (except speaking would get a good start on some things!)

I enjoy at least 2 out of 3 vraith-rants I've seen. Go make a thread!!
The tough decision would be if the thread should be about this subject, or just a general vraith-rants thread.
It's a great idea, really!

[Worm of Despite]

Yogurt_Cat,

Congratulations on your first topic! Now you are set to create a vast cosmetology of information breeding cute little informations.

Pet them. Tend them. But remember it is a powerful weapon. A benevolent disease that your fellow Watchers help make bigger. The symptoms of the disease are growing together and becoming one.

Forever.

I for one do not yoga. I believe in eating vast quantities of protein, bench-pressing well over my weight and killing bison. But only bison that are very old or don't want to live.

[MellowCat]

MellowCat, I'm way out of practice (like I am with most things, sigh), which is why I haven't chimed in sooner. You might be able to find an inexpensive class at your local recreation center.

BAHAHA... that's why I'd have to relocate to partake in classes. In any of the local recreational centers near where I live, there is nothing for yoga. I just live in a very small and rural county in the country. Rednecks aren't typically interested in yoga. :3 Mind you, I'm not laughing at you in the slightest! Just the absurdity of yoga where I live. There's no market for it, sadly.

Linna Thank you for the warm welcome! And I thought your story was cute

heh...on the first, unless you are deceiving us, you're female, and [is it sexist if you're saying something obvious and positive?] women in general don't strain/push in the same way men do [they have their own special ways Laughing ] so ya easily could have intuited it.

No, it isn't sexist, Vraith. It just wasn't obvious to me that it would be easier for women in certain ways? Um. And I'm going to research "yoga Iyengar" so that I have a better understanding. Thank you very much!

[MellowCat]

Yogurt_Cat? XD

[Vraith]

! Now you are set to create a vast cosmetology of information breeding cute little informations.

Now why the hell would someone want to create a vast array of make-up and acne medications out of KW threads and posts? and would they cure your skin conditions and make you more attractive for clubbing? I think you need some double-blind experiments before I'll believe that.

[Worm of Despite]

! Now you are set to create a vast cosmetology of information breeding cute little informations.

Now why the hell would someone want to create a vast array of make-up and acne medications out of KW threads and posts? and would they cure your skin conditions and make you more attractive for clubbing? I think you need some double-blind experiments before I'll believe that.

We've known each other for how many decades, Vraith? One? And the one time I use a word wrongly you highlight it?!

DAMN YOU! DAMN YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!11

Sorry. Let's get this thread back on track.

Hugs everyone!

[Vraith]

! Now you are set to create a vast cosmetology of information breeding cute little informations.

Now why the hell would someone want to create a vast array of make-up and acne medications out of KW threads and posts? and would they cure your skin conditions and make you more attractive for clubbing? I think you need some double-blind experiments before I'll believe that.

We've known each other for how many decades, Vraith? One? And the one time I use a word wrongly you highlight it?!

DAMN YOU! DAMN YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!11

Sorry. Let's get this thread back on track.

Hugs everyone!

Heh! After all my posts you've read, you really think I could pass up making a joke on that no matter WHO posted it?
Ok, now everyone downward dog, and breath.

[Worm of Despite]

Now why the hell would someone want to create a vast array of make-up and acne medications out of KW threads and posts? and would they cure your skin conditions and make you more attractive for clubbing? I think you need some double-blind experiments before I'll believe that.

We've known each other for how many decades, Vraith? One? And the one time I use a word wrongly you highlight it?!

DAMN YOU! DAMN YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!11

Sorry. Let's get this thread back on track.

Hugs everyone!

Heh! After all my posts you've read, you really think I could pass up making a joke on that no matter WHO posted it?
Ok, now everyone downward dog, and breath.

I think you mean "breathe"? Zing.

Also: I stretch sometimes so hard it qualifies as yoga in 7 states.

[Savor Dam]

Heh! After all my posts you've read, you really think I could pass up making a joke on that no matter WHO posted it?

As long as a certain gourd-avatared Watcher does not happen by this thread, you can claim to be making jokes.

Of course, I am surely not one to talk, being a bit obsessive about pointing out malapropisms and other unintended wordplay...usually not to the delight of the original speaker/writer.

[hierachy]

I don't do yoga but I have a book on it!