Yoga help! Please!

ktfitzgerald

Earlier this year I attended one free yoga class as part of my half marathon training. I think I’d like to try some more yoga now that I have the time. But I don’t really know anything about it. And there seem to be so many types. What's the difference? What would be good for a beginner? Is once a week enough to start with? What else should I know in order to make a good choice?

Thanks!! All help is greatly appreciated.

redhousecat

Personally, I think it would be best to decide first if you are wanting to get into it for the spiritual aspect or a potential fitness aspect. Then you can go from there.

bokodasu

These are my personal opinions, so take them with a grain of salt, but I was pretty into yoga for about 12 years, even did teacher training (quit when I got pregnant), so I've got strongish ones.

First figure out what options are around you - there's no point in going somewhere that's too inconvenient to keep up with. That should narrow it down some.

Then look into what they offer - Bikram is a scam, so I'd avoid that, and a lot of the others are done by people who go through a 2-day certification and boom! Qualified to teach something that can paralyze people when done incorrectly! Call them up and ask what system they use, how their teachers are trained, if they're attached to a spiritual movement or not. That should narrow it down even more. Which system they use is going to be less important than how well trained their teachers are - the style is going to be a personal preference, but a bad teacher can hurt you.

Then start with the free classes - I've never seen a studio that doesn't offer them, usually the first class of a session or sometimes they have separate ones for potential students. If something feels wrong, don't go back. The teacher should not be pushing you to do things your body isn't ready for, and they should be offering alternatives for poses you can't do yet - if they just say, "here, levitate on one toe while twisted like a pretzel," run out the door. They should also mention health issues - some poses aren't good if you have blood pressure issues or too much tightness in certain areas. Again, they should be offering options, and should generally (but not necessarily always) be demonstrating the easier option first.

Once a week is... probably not going to do much for you, other than be a nice relaxing weekly activity (which is still nothing to sneeze at). But it's also ok to start out with, so you can decide if you like it before you make more of a commitment. Once you've found the right place, better to do 2-3 times a week, and practice on your own in between. The more experience you have with the poses, the more you can cut down on classes and just practice on your own. (This is one of the great things about yoga, the better you get the less it costs, and you don't need any equipment at all, although a mat is nice to have.)

Now that I've been all "Scary! Doom! Danger!" I have to add that I am actually yoga-positive and think it's a great addition to any fitness program, no matter what your goals are. Even if you just go to a class where they do a little stretching and five minutes of meditation, that's going to be good for you, mentally and physically. Just listen to your body and you'll be fine. :happy:

Alpina483

I'd say try various classes and trust your gut. There's no other voice you can trust, really.
Me, I have a hard time with more 'static' types (like two minutes we are 'building' a pose and then we are holding it for three minutes, by stopwatch. Ble.) My preference is more dynamic styles, where asanas are more 'connected', a bit like tai chi on (very) slow motion. And I'm considering yoga as a fitess technology, not a way to nirvana/samadhi or anything. But to each his own.

wordena

I like to flow with asanas. It can be a very difficult workout. I dint want to commit to a studio. I bought Shiva rea from acai media. Her dvds are excellent beautiful and inspiring. It's a little bit hippy but not religious.

cessnaholly

What would be good for a beginner? - I'd recommend hatha yoga or some other class that's for beginners to start.

Is once a week enough to start with? - I think so. Everyone is different though. If you are really fit you might do it 2-3x a week.

What else should I know in order to make a good choice? Ask questions of the instructor. Do what feels good to your body. Don't push your body too hard. Enjoy and relax.

mistikal13

If you are looking for an at home option, the biggest loser weight loss yoga dvd is pretty good.

ejwme

I'm the opposite of some people, I prefer the static to flow yogas (Hatha is more static stretching than flow). Asana = pose = posture, depends on what people call it and who they're talking to. I really like Hatha, but some flows that aren't too dynamic suit me fine too. It just takes me a while to get settled in to something, and if I'm moving I feel like I'm more focused on the movement than how my body is behaving in the movement, if that makes sense.

Some studios are "hot", as in they heat the studio to abnormally high temperatures (80-85F or higher). I'm not a huge fan, but some people swear by it, and you can do any type of yoga in that temperature.

My favorite way to judge a yoga instructor is to see if he or she makes any reference to folding or crossing the fingers/hands/legs "the other way" Like if we're sitting on the floor, legs crossed, and do some light stretching to begin, some teachers will pause in the middle to have us uncross and re-cross our legs the other way. We all have our habitual sides and handedness, I really like when a teacher encourages the students to play with those feelings and habits and to explore the other side.

I've had two really awful yoga experiences:

1. The teacher had us do every posture on the left side, then started over and did every posture on the right side, then like two centered postures. I felt so uneven at the end I had to go home and re-do everything taking left-right in turn for each posture or series (like normal). This was (and still is) a local free class that was jam packed with people getting every penny's worth. You couldn't pay me to go back.

2. The teacher somehow had us doing things that actually made me more tense. The only clear thing I remember about it (it was 10 years ago) was vigorously rolling our shoulders for what seemed like 10 minutes straight, and using our hands to vigorously rub our knees, again for an excessive and tiring amount of time. I paid for the 12 class series, thought I'd give the second class a try, it was the same nonsense, I never went back.

Ultimately, look for a teacher you like. That will make a world of difference.

redhousecat

These are all good tips. I practice Kundalini Yoga; but I do it more for spiritual reasons. I need my mind and chakras cleared in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Yoga for fitness doesn't provide enough "umph" for me.

Like others said, you need to just try out different ones once you find out your purpose for practicing yoga.

Alpina483

I need my mind and chakras cleared in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Part of the fitness technology in my book what is so spiritual about it? (Hope OP does not mind the digression)

yoginimary

While this is a very small description of each style, it's probably enough information to begin:
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2984

I do Iyengar yoga. If it interests you, don't pay attention to the part about the "Institutes" being in only 4 locations in the US. There are plenty of Iyengar yoga teachers out there. I like it because it is easier for me to meditate by focusing on my body, what goes where, how things feel, etc, than my breath. It also takes me some time to get into poses for me to feel them, so flowing from one to another isn't for me.