Yoga

chantelp0508

I want to start doing yoga. Where should I start?

kshadows

I'd check out Fitness Blender's workouts (www.fitnessblender.com). You can customize your search and type Yoga as a keyword!

ZOOpergal

Wherever you start, start on EASY!!! Believe me! I tried starting with intermediate, and man, I was so sore and frustrated after the frist few workouts that I about gave up. Once I went to an easier one, I found more success, and before I knew it, it really WAS easy. Then I could move up. I never realized how un-flexible I was until yoga.

chantelp0508

Yeah I'm a little intimidated by yoga

Alehmer

My Judo sensei's wife is a Yoga instructor, he has MANY stories about people pushing too hard too fast and injuring themselves. It's great but please take your time and grow into it.

nannyliz10

Try Wii fit yoga. It is a good way to get into yoga. Or there are some good free yoga apps on google store. Good luck. Yoga is fab way of exercising but build it up slowly and only work with in your limits.

mochapygmy

Check around your area and find a yoga studio that offers a beginners class. If you belong to a gym ask around about which teacher is good for beginners.

Don't worry about being intimidated, just start slow. If you decide to take a class (this is how I prefer to do yoga) you may want to get their a couple minutes early and tell the teacher that you are new to yoga. Depending on the size of the class the teacher may be able to keep an eye out for you.

Good luck and have fun!

shano25

I'd start with a studio or class somewhere else rather than with videos or other methods. The reason for this is often we think we've got the pose right and we don't. It's not until you have the corrections from an instructor do you see what you are doing wrong and then get the full benefits of the pose. Many studios have introductory packages that aren't too expensive. Try to find one that offers a variety of classes so you can see which style works for you.

And remember, yoga is a process. Give it time, enjoy where you are, and notice the little improvements in your practice. Don't worry about how other people are doing, it's not about doing a perfect pose every time but changing your body bit by bit.

chantelp0508

I'm going to have to get a floor length mirror.

dshalbert

Wow I love Yoga! I started about 3 years ago and am so glad that I have incoprorated it into my life. I only take one formal class per week but I do several of the asanas (poses) and breating exercises on a daily basis. Nothing gets you in tune with your body and calms you down better. Except wine maybe, but I digress.

Anyway I started with Rodney Yee A.M./P.M. Yoga. It's gentle, not scary and you will begin to see the benefits of Yoga pretty quickly. As everyone has said, when you start taking classes, make sure the instructor knows that you are a beginner. Everyone one has a different range of motion and flexiblity, so don't try to be competitve with the others in the class.

_Josee_

Google.

Type: Yoga class *your city*.

Select one.

Look up the adress.

Go.

chantelp0508

I can't afford a gym right now

dshalbert

I can't afford a gym right now

The Rodney Yee or Giam videos are reasonably priced and easy to follow. There are also some of his videos on Youtube.

nenshali

If you have an iphone or smartphone, you could try the app 'Daily Yoga'. It's for free (you CAN take a premium membership, but you don't need to) and there are several routines (easy/medium/hard).
Sitting routine, standing routine, routine for the back, for the abs etc.. (unfortunately, some cool stuff is only premium, but well )
For myself, when I started with yoga about a month ago, I found this very helpful, because I cannot do yoga where I have my pc, therefore youtube videos are not that ideal (in my case).

But this app is quite handy and easy to follow.

MMFabrizio

Richard Hittleman's Yoga - 28 Day Exercise Plan

It's supposed to take you gently from beginner to being able to do most of the basic exercises in 28 days. You obviously won't be able to perfect every pose at the most advanced level in that time, but it's a good start, and then you can keep practicing the poses until you've got them down.

And I would still advise going to a gym or class as well as soon as you are able to afford it. That way you can make sure you're doing the poses right and getting the maximum benefit. But the book is a great place to start.

PMZee

Take a live class if you can. Proper form is essential. Once you have that down, you can do it on your own.

KANGOOJUMPS

me too, but I want a naked yoga class

Jmartinleslie

A lot of yoga studios let you pay by the class. I would definitely invest in a couple beginners classes just to make sure you are doing the moves correctly before attempting it on your own. Not only to avoid injury, but to also make sure you are reaping all the benefits of certain poses.

MrsRosenow

I LOVE yoga and I feel so relaxed yet energized afterwards! See if any of the yoga studios in your area offer a week free yoga to try or a first class is free special. That way you can get a beginner class with an instructor without having to commit long term. Maybe you will like it so much that you will be able to afford a small yoga package soon!

TeaBea

I can't afford a gym right now

The Rodney Yee or Giam videos are reasonably priced and easy to follow. There are also some of his videos on Youtube.

Rodney Yee is great.....

You can also try your local library or Hulu.com ...............Hulu has a health & fitness channel with tons of yoga

katorihanzo

Take a live class if you can. Proper form is essential. Once you have that down, you can do it on your own.

This. If you can't afford classes yet, wait. Save up and go to a few beginner classes. Let them know you want them to correct your form. It's so insanely important that you have proper form in yoga - don't let this be intimidating, it's simply because you won't be getting the benefit from the pose, or could injure yourself. This is the same with anything active except that yoga poses are usually more awkward and unnatural feeling to many people.

After you take a few classes and feel as though you understand how your body should feel, practice at home with videos.

I'd recommend saving for a while until you can afford a month unlimited membership or something like it. Otherwise you end up spending as much on 5 classes as you would for a month unlimited. I could get unlimited for a month for $99.00 or go to 6 classes for that much. It's kind of silly. I'm currently saving for a year unlimited membership which is $299. It's WELL worth it when you go 3 or 4 times a week.

MatthewNSW

If I were you I'd avoid self-instructing videos and apps like the plague to begin with. To get full benefit you need to be with an instructor - someone who can adjust your position and posture. Someone who can remind you to breathe (believe me, you'll forget). Depending on your body, you might have to adjust some positions, for example. It's a whole lot easier in person.

As for what sort you do.... every kind will have benefits. I decided to go with Ashtanga and I've never looked back.

Pick a style, pick a class, get instructed from the start. For what little my opinion's worth....

ashenriver

I started yoga last year and I ended up getting good advice from a family friend who is heavily into yoga (instructor, studied in india, etc).

There are several different types and she recommended Hatha for a beginner, the other types are more advanced or have a lot more chanting in them.

She also recommended staying away from hot yoga.

Pilates is also something that's good to try.

chantelp0508

Thanks everyone. I'm going to look into that book. I'll do some budgeting and look into taking a class

tracydr

There are tons of yoga studios with drop-in prices. Take some classes and then get some tapes. Try to find out what style of yoga you like by asking instructors when you have a nice class.

liftreadphilosophize

doyogawithme.com - a free website with tons of classes for different ability levels.

Muddy_Yogi

I love doyogawithme.com. They have a lot of variety and they label the sessions beginner, intermediate and advanced. Lots of different lengths too. People review the sessions so you can read those and figure out what you have to look forward too.

PikaKnight

There are a lot of free yoga videos (especially for beginners) on youtube and Hulu. If you have Amazon Prime or Netflix, I'd check those out at as well.

in_the_stars

Save a few dollars and your body from injury by taking a beginner's class first. If you've ever had an injury go with someone that's certified by IAYT.

sshintaku

Many yoga studios in my area do new student deals -$10/10 days or $30/ 30 days. I recommend looking into that, going to a couple actual classes to get the feel, and then branch out on your own when the deal expires.

katorihanzo

Many yoga studios in my area do new student deals -$10/10 days or $30/ 30 days. I recommend looking into that, going to a couple actual classes to get the feel, and then branch out on your own when the deal expires.

Wow, that would be amazing. If I could get 10 classes for $10 I'd be so down. As it stands the cheapest classes around (besides on university campus - not that there are anything wrong with them) are $14-$16 per class!