Solo Yoga
bewitchinglife
Posts: 167 Member
I love yoga, but I'm not much of a joiner. In fact, I've never been to a yoga class in my life even though I've been doing yoga off and on for 5 years.
For a long time, my favorite yoga resource was the Yoga Anatomy book, but I'm getting a bit bored of my current routine. I'm awaiting the arrival of 'Light on Yoga' by B.K.S. Iyengar.
Do you do solo yoga, and how do you keep it interesting and fresh?
For a long time, my favorite yoga resource was the Yoga Anatomy book, but I'm getting a bit bored of my current routine. I'm awaiting the arrival of 'Light on Yoga' by B.K.S. Iyengar.
Do you do solo yoga, and how do you keep it interesting and fresh?
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you tube!!!0
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"Light on Yoga" might be a bit daunting. I've been to many classes in my life - so to keep it fresh I use material from those classes.
You might want to check your library for yoga books and videos. Also, yoga journal has podcast and you can go to their website and look at different sequences.0 -
I also never attended a yoga class. I have been doing yoga off and on for about 8 years (since I was 16.) I find that once I learn a routine taking it outside makes it so much nicer. So in the summer and spring I do my lessons outdoors unless I'm doing a new lesson video. I try to focus on series of movements that I can memorize so I can do them without thumbing through a book or staring at a TV.
The other ways I am trying to keep my yoga interesting this time around (cuz I'm REALLY going to try not to take time off and slide all the way back to square one! haha) are...
Location change up
Get my husband involved (hopeful.. solo gets boring)
Really GOOD music to help my mind focus and make me look forward to the session
I guess the way I'm looking at yoga is helping too. I am focusing on my goals. Everytime I bend into a pose I try to remember how far I was last time and match that and then see if I can go further. Making note of my progress REALLY helps me stay motivated. "last week I could only lay my knuckles on the floor in this pose, this week my hands are flat on the floor..."
YAY0 -
I'm a huge fan of doing yoga at home. I try to do a small amount of practice daily, though it tends to end up being every other day.
One of the big things that keeps me motivated is having an actual yoga space. A place in my house just for my mat and my practice. Tara Stiles (who has an awesome youtube channel filled with FREE yoga videos) recommended carving out your own yoga space in your home and I really took that and ran with it. My yoga mat is always laid out in my spare bedroom, next to the window to make sure that there is lots of light and fresh air nearby while I'm practicing.
As for "keeping it fresh" I'm always searching youtube or tumblr for new yoga videos to try out. So far my favorites are anything Sadie Nardini posts and a detox flow class led by Clara Roberts-Oss.
:-)0 -
I like the idea of creating a special yoga space. I'm looking forward to finishing my yurt, as I think that will be the best place for yoga. It won't be yoga only, but I think I'll manage.
@Yoginimary - Why do you say daunting?
@ HannahDiaz - Yoga outside is the best. I also do track my progress.
I'll have to check out youtube. I usually find videos distracting, but if Iearn a new pose that would be helpful.
Thank you for your input.0 -
There are a lot of poses in there that are quite difficult. Sometimes it is hard to figure out how exactly to get into them.0 -
Gotcha. Thanks for the heads up.0
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I recently discovered the free weekly yoga practices at yogatoday.com -- free to sign up and beautiful scenery! Challenging workouts too. You can also download videos (so you can store them on your computer and watch repeatedly) for something like $3.0
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I've never been to a class either. I have a few books, one I really like is 'Slim Calm Sexy Yoga' by Tara Stiles. I subscribe to Yoga Journal magazine and there are always different asanas to do in it. That's the great thing about books and magazines, they aren't distracting and you can go at your own pace. I'm also a big fan of YouTube, and I have 3 DVD's that I use.0
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I go to a yoga class about once a year and I've been doing yoga off and on for about 10 years now. Wow!!! Anyway, when I get bored I get a new dvd or exploration yoga option on ondemand or online. I also treat myself to new yoga gear. I know that's bad, but...:bigsmile::ohwell:0
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I'm really liking 'Light on Yoga' so far. It's a 300 week yoga course. Holy smokes. Nearly six years of yoga?
Some of the poses are harder, but they don't come up in the program until later. Planning to start week one next week.
My most favorite thing about yoga is that it is essentially free, and once you have a routine in your head you can do it anywhere.
@Bunny1006, maybe what I really need is a new killer yoga outfit for all the yoga I'm going to be doing.
@Jennagale I'll have to find that book. Thanks for the heads up!0 -
If you are doing the course, it gets pretty hard quickly. I did it for awhile, but I think by week 11, holding the poses for a minute became quite difficult - by week 20 there are poses I can't do.
Have you ever timed your poses? BKS Iyengar always has a timer next to him (not in Light on Yoga, but in other pictures of his practice)0 -
I haven't timed my poses. I usually count my breaths. I do think timing would be nicer because then my brain could rest on something else other than counting. However, I'd have to find a timer with a gentle sound. A jarring buzz during yoga seems like it would be jarring to my senses.
I just checked out Week 20. Yup. Looks hard. No matter. If I take longer than 20 weeks to get there, that's OK. Also OK if I end up doing something else. I enjoyed reading the front part of the book, it had some interesting thoughts in it.0 -
There are some meditation/yoga aps for smart phones that have more soothing timers on them.
Counting your breaths is a good idea too though. I notice when I'm doing handstand, my breaths are much faster 0 -
I'm the same, my friends keeps trying to get me to come to classes but I much prefer to do it in my own space. I follow a mixture of routines, the Yoga for Beginners in the Dummies series on dvd, that has a beginners and also an intermediate routine, and also one that I've recorded from the TV, David Olton's Yoga For All. I like to mix them up so I never get bored. I try to do yoga once or twice a week for 50-150 minutes depending on how I'm feeling and how much time I have. It's one of many exercises I do but I always look forward to it.0
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Yoga, alone, outside is awesome....unless you live in Times Square.....which could be awesomely challenging : )0
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HAHA! good point :-)Yoga, alone, outside is awesome....unless you live in Times Square.....which could be awesomely challenging : )0 -
Yoga, alone, outside is awesome....unless you live in Times Square.....which could be awesomely challenging : )
When the sun is shining, I love to yoga outside. Living near Seattle makes the sun part a bit challenging. Today is a yoga inside kind of day.0 -
@Mixedfeelings - I understand completely. Yoga is my silent zen time. I can't imagine doing it in a room full of people. I need that time for some self centering.0
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I was practicing solo outside, in the driveway (lol) all summer. It just this week got too dark to go outside at 6AM. I miss the fresh air and seeing the sky while I practice.
I do have a great yoga area in the house though, so I'm all set for the cold, dark, winter!0 -
I do both ..... each morning in front of my TV to some recorded yoga ........ and also several SMALL classes at my gym ...... at home is fine if I can get it done before my husband wakes up, or the cat's not walking back & forth in front of my face while I'm downdoggin' it :laugh:0
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Bewitchinglif - how is it going?0
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New to this group. Awesome info everyone. I think practicing at home is so hard because I always feel I should be doing somthing else "more productive" during the rare hours I'm at home. My hats off to all of you who don't go to class and practice at home.0
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i have been doing yoga at home most of the time. I have taken a few classes when i first became interested in yoga. I used to have these yoga flash cards that were amazing!They were by Rodney Yee and i used them to guide me in practice. I since have lost them over the years. I may be buying a new set soon.0
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New to this group. Awesome info everyone. I think practicing at home is so hard because I always feel I should be doing somthing else "more productive" during the rare hours I'm at home. My hats off to all of you who don't go to class and practice at home.
and what is more important than taking care of yourself !0 -
I love doing Yoga alone, I can do at my own pace and customize my routine to my physical needs. Outside is great, but I live on sun challenged Vancouver Island. I get all my stuff online currently doing routine from Prevention.com.0
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My daughter will do yoga by herself in a park or on a beach ........ I'm not that brave :laugh:0
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Good morning!
Happy this board is here!
I am a yoga student and I also teach a few times a week. Considering I live 1 hour from any studio or teacher I have to rely on a home practice. I like Ashtanga yoga; as the primary series has everything for a very powerful practice. I used to practice it daily from 2007-2009 and went on a hiatus with flow and vinyasa yoga. I am trying to get back into a daily primary series practice at home with going to the studio once a week as a check in with my teacher.
However, when I want to change things up I enjoy yogaglo.com for the monthly membership price of $18 you can't beat it to unlimited yoga classes to some really amazing teachers.
Additionally I like David Swensons Ashtanga yoga book. It has primary series and intermediate in one book. So much to cover!
Lastly I do enjoy Melina Menza's seasonal vinyasa book. It has 3 practices for each season (Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced) and additionally has some general sequences for hip opening, restorative, back care, etc...0 -
I find the videos my teachers have uploaded and others on You Tube really useful for home practise but there is no substute for a class with a good teacher who can work directly with you and correct misaligment which you may not be aware of.
A DVD cannot tell you when you are out of line - or even when you doing something well!0 -
I have a mirror in my studio that way I can see my alignment, It is very helpful when doing yoga alone. Hopfully someday my little town might get an instructor.0
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