Solo Yoga

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Replies

  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    I had done my early morning yoga at home for the last few days ....... and yoga classes were cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy ...... am starting to feel the aches & pains of not stretching out daily ...... what a difference that makes !
  • zenmummy
    zenmummy Posts: 96 Member
    As a busy working mother, I wish I had learned the value of solo yoga years ago. About ten years ago when I was living in Ghana I had an amazing teacher, who I saw a couple of times a week for six months. Every lesson ended with an encouragement to start building my own practice.

    It is only this year, when back pain and a general feeling of sluggishness made me reexamine my daily routine that I have built yoga into my life, just about every day.

    I rely heavily on yogaglo. I am learning a lot from the teachers and find there is always a class to fit my mood and my body's "quirks of the day". I still value the occasional class and would love to go on a yoga retreat.

    My first thought in the morning is finding a class to do, rather than allowing a multitude of responsibilities to crush in. Sometimes they start filtering through during my class, but usually in the middle of a deep breath!
  • helyg
    helyg Posts: 675 Member
    I like the Elements am/pm yoga DVD. It has two 30 minute practices, one for mornings and one for evenings.

    Although I enjoy yoga classes I can't get to one every week and so do a lot at home by myself.
  • doyogawithme.com is really god and has a wide variety of routines for all levels and types of practice!
  • abibt
    abibt Posts: 37 Member
    Thanks for this link - I'm going give the yoga / pilates fusion class a go later today. I've been really appreciated people sharing their favourite online stuff - I can't afford a class right now, but I'm starting to feel wealthy in yoga teachers and possibilities :smile:
  • abibt
    abibt Posts: 37 Member
    I did the yoga pilates fusion intermediate class with Kim on this website - very lovely. She makes you smile even whilst holding stuff to shaking :smile:
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    doyogawithme.com is really good and has a wide variety of routines for all levels and types of practice!

    ^
    I did the beginner "Burned-out to Bliss" session this morning ....... it was just what I needed ..... very relaxing, in fact, I almost fell asleep to it ...... now off to the gym for cardio & weights ...... then foodshopping ..... only healthy stuff, of course :drinker:

    Have a good one !
  • zenmummy
    zenmummy Posts: 96 Member
    doyogawithme.com is really god and has a wide variety of routines for all levels and types of practice!

    This website is a find!
  • vanessa40
    vanessa40 Posts: 328 Member
    doyogawithme.com is really god and has a wide variety of routines for all levels and types of practice!

    Thank you so much for this link.
    What a wonderful site
  • SunshineT83
    SunshineT83 Posts: 158 Member
    I tend to be a class joiner, but that has proven to be difficult lately with my schedule. I have a few dvds to follow at home and a couple of books. I find that even though I am a reader, books for physical activities don't really work for me. I do much better with verbal instructions and physical cues. I do wonder for those of you who practice primarily on your own do you watch dvds (or read books) at memorize the moves first? do you practice along with the dvd? Or do you read through a pose sequence and practice that until you are ready to move on and then read through the next sequence to practice? I feel as though I am supposed to know what I am doing when I get on my mat but then I find myself a bit lost unless someone is talking me through a series.
  • AmyBoogie
    AmyBoogie Posts: 91 Member
    There's nothing wrong with not having a routine and needing to be talked through a series. But if you're feeling like you need to, practice a routine several times until you memorize it. It can be your go to routine if you can't get a voice to talk you through something. Then you have a choice to do the routine you know or a fresh one.

    I have a routine because of what I choose to practice. In Ashtanga there is a set series of poses and in a set a sequence. It took me a while to memorize it all but now my body does it without me even thinking. Before I settle on this practice, I needed to listen to something. Some days I'll feel like mixing it up and I'll put on a video but more likely these days I do my routine.

    Just because you follow an Ashtanga routine doesn't mean you need to stick to it unless that particular practice is your goal. I think the poses flow well and they clicked in my mind. I have my full routine Opening, primary, and closing. But there are days when I don't have over an hour to practice so I have an abbreviated routine that I do. Opening, primary up to Navasana (Boat) and then finishing. It skips about 30 minutes in there. If I'm really low on time, I can skip every other one of the Vinyasas

    Here's a pdf link that you print off the sequence http://www.ashtanga-yoga-canada.com/support-files/AYVic-Primary-sm.pdf

    This is just what I do and I'm by no means saying that is the only style of yoga. this is just my choice and I know I've gotten long winded here. sorry guys. Find the poses you want to do, print it out. Find a free routine. Figure out what you want to do and print a cheat sheet until you memorize it all.
  • SunshineT83
    SunshineT83 Posts: 158 Member
    Thank you so much AmyBoogie, I really do appreciate the genuine help. The print outs will be exceptionally useful.
  • bunny1006
    bunny1006 Posts: 325 Member
    I tend to be a class joiner, but that has proven to be difficult lately with my schedule. I have a few dvds to follow at home and a couple of books. I find that even though I am a reader, books for physical activities don't really work for me. I do much better with verbal instructions and physical cues. I do wonder for those of you who practice primarily on your own do you watch dvds (or read books) at memorize the moves first? do you practice along with the dvd? Or do you read through a pose sequence and practice that until you are ready to move on and then read through the next sequence to practice? I feel as though I am supposed to know what I am doing when I get on my mat but then I find myself a bit lost unless someone is talking me through a series.

    Sunshine,

    I also have a fall back memorized routine, but I also use dvds, online video, or on occassion, yoga journal. I find dvds and online video work a bit better than a book or yoga journal. For video I usually listen and practice just as i would if I were in a class receiving instructions. Others here have mentioned several online resources for video.
  • yoginimary
    yoginimary Posts: 6,788 Member
    I tend to be a class joiner, but that has proven to be difficult lately with my schedule. I have a few dvds to follow at home and a couple of books. I find that even though I am a reader, books for physical activities don't really work for me. I do much better with verbal instructions and physical cues. I do wonder for those of you who practice primarily on your own do you watch dvds (or read books) at memorize the moves first? do you practice along with the dvd? Or do you read through a pose sequence and practice that until you are ready to move on and then read through the next sequence to practice? I feel as though I am supposed to know what I am doing when I get on my mat but then I find myself a bit lost unless someone is talking me through a series.

    Many times, I write down what I plan to do first. Other times, I'll set a timer for 1-5 minute intervals and do poses that way - for example 1 minute standing poses and do all the standing poses I can think of or all that I have energy for. Or I do 5 minute intervals: 5 minutes of abs, 5 minutes of back work, 5 minutes of twists, etc. Occasionally, when I don't want to think, I'll do a John Schumacher audio (ihanuman.com). I prefer audio to video because I don't have to look at the screen. You do have to know what pose he is talking about though.
    Hope that helps.
  • I only do yoga at home. I have an app on my phone, so I can do yoga on the road. I have dvd's that I do at home.