YOGA for a beginner

FitKate
FitKate Posts: 169 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've never been very flexible and was wondering if there is a website that is popular for teaching YOGA at home. I don't have the money to go to a studio right now so i was looking for an at home workout video. I know a few poses but really want to work on balance, core strength and flexibility. I would appreciate anyone's input.

Replies

  • felcandy
    felcandy Posts: 228 Member
    check out BeFit videos on youtube, they are pretty good. I just started yoga at a community college this semester and I have noticed a definite flexibility and strength increase now. Really fun and very relaxing
  • Tina2Cats
    Tina2Cats Posts: 493 Member
    I like Peggy Cappy's dvd's Yoga for the Rest of Us series. She teaches gentle yoga which anyone can do. Senior citizens, those with health problems and flexibility problems can do her yoga.

    http://www.peggycappy.net/

    Her dvd's can also be found on amazon.com
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    Hi FitKate. I don't know what they have in your neighbourhood, but does it have to be a studio? Are there smaller, cheaper yoga classes around in community halls, church halls etc? It is not the studio that is important but the right teacher and he or she may not be working out of a studio. Many choose not to because of the commercialism.

    So - look closer to home I would suggest. A good teacher and the company of others in your position is worth far more than any home videos.

    So - that is not possible, try You Tube and look up someone like Rodney Yee or Esther Ekhart; both excellent teachers.

    Go well on your new journey.
  • BigRich822
    BigRich822 Posts: 681
    I really enjoy doing yoga. I try to get a good hour session in once a week. It really helps with my flexibility!
  • BobSassafrass
    BobSassafrass Posts: 85 Member
    If you don't have any health concerns you can pretty much start with any type of Yoga. You have to expect that you won't be able to do every single move the first, second , or even fifth time you try it. But with practice and patience it will come.

    But as C4rlo5 said, going to a studio and being around other people will really help motivate you. I went to a hot yoga vikram yoga session which was 90 minutes in 90 something degree heat. Vikram is very challenging and the conditions make it even harder. But having a room full of people to watch and learn from really helped me to atleast attempt every move and not give up. Plus you see there are people from 300 to 100 pounds there who all struggled at some point, they are usually a very supportive group.
  • FitKate
    FitKate Posts: 169 Member
    Thank you everyone! This was super helpful. All the studios in my area are super expensive so I'm going to start with some youtube videos and see how it goes. I have an aunt that lives in new york and when I visit her I go to her studio. I love the class environment. I wish i could find one for free!!! LOL nothing in life that is good for you seems to be free.
  • darwinforyou
    darwinforyou Posts: 988 Member
    I love yoga! have you looked into groupon at all to see if you can get some cheap sessions somewhere? I know where I live there are always a lot of cheap ones available through there -

    Otherwise, I would recommend youtube or pinterest if you're looking for specific moves or just overall.

    Yoga is great though - I do it at least once a week and my flexibility has greatly increase, but it definitely creates a lot of strength as well through balancing and having to hold poses.

    Plus it focuses on your breathing while holding each of the poses - so there's a meditative quality to it that really wipes away stress.

    good luck!
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    I wish you every success. I cannot imagine anywhere that doesn't have a small backwater yoga teacher who is happy to take a smaller fee. you remind me how lucky I am to have the teachers I have.

    I hope you find your way forward soon.

    In the meantime, youTube has many yoga whole class sessions at all levels - have a route around and the one thing you really need is a sticky mat to help with those poses.

    Namaste
    Carl
  • PhillyTD
    PhillyTD Posts: 375 Member
    This is a great program for a beginner.

    http://www.ddpyoga.com
  • Faericn_Rising
    Faericn_Rising Posts: 235
    I downloaded Yoga for Dummies.

    It was wonderful. I never did yoga before, and was almost 300 lbs. I felt so amazing afterwards, i did it twice a day, for several weeks.... What a great feeling.

    Also, it was of the Hatha yoga type, and i figured for the entire 40 mins of the 60 min tape, it was about 300 cals. But i was also 300 lbs, so your count may be different. This was also in the early days of my MFPing, so the count may have been too low for me, as well....
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    I love the Yogaworks AM/PM yoga for beginners DVD. Basic, easy to follow but hits all the fundamental postures.
  • canelly
    canelly Posts: 731 Member
    I just started doing some yoga! I would like some info too!
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    I just started doing some yoga! I would like some info too!

    Here are my favorite yoga DVD's -
    Jillian Michaels yoga meltdown (free on youtube)
    Bob Harper warrior yoga (super hard and challenging but he shows beginner modifications)
    Any of the Yogaworks DVDs

    Also nothing beats a yoga studio session!! I know the classes can get pricey (going rate around me is $16 for a walk in class). But it is so worth it. I try to make at least one class a month as well as practice on my own.

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