Want to try Yoga... where to start?

DO NOT start with a DVD. DO NOT.

Pick a class and let the instructor know you're new. Every pose has a modification for beginners and people with less strength and flexibility.

Different people life different styles usually. Google or yelp and see if any stuidios in your area offer community classes or karma classes where its open to the public. Kind of cool so you can see which style you like without commiting to a membership or hurting your pocket for an expensive single class fee.

There are lots of youtube videos if you don't want to buy a dvd. I would go with a sun salutation series. It is beginner level and works the entire body.

I had never done Yoga before, but I bought the Bob Harper's Weight Loss Yoga DVD and have been doing it for two weeks. You can pick your routine each time - and there is a warm-up and a cooldown selection in addition to the three different workout options. I LOVE IT!!! I haven't gotten to the third one yet, but the first two have really helped me. I have two friends that do Yoga and I let them see it; they both think Bob does a pretty good job instructing you.

I'm thinking of giving Yoga a try again too.. I did it a few times, it was the Bikram style *hot and sweaty*... Despite feeling like I was sitting in a pile of my own sweat, the felling I got afterwards was amazing. I noticed that Netflix now has a "fitness" section and they offer a few selections for it. I tried Wii fit yoga, but that was a bust.
What I really want is a yoga/spin class buddy.,.. If it's not for those in specific, just someone for motivation & suppport who wants to get healthier too!.. Anyone in the Portland Metro area looking for one?

From what TeaBea says, the DVD that I like must be Hatha yoga. Its from Gaiam and its a beginner yoga. It has ver good instruction on how to do the poses.

http://www.gaiam.com/product/yoga+for+beginners+dvd+with+patricia+w.do

There is a 16 minute "Putting the peices together" work out that I have memeorized.

Though some here have said you need to take a class, I did not. I think the instruction on this video is very good. I know I would never have done yoga if I had to take a class to start.

Walking into a yoga studio for the first time can be very intimidating, so I think if one wanted to start with a video to get more keyed in on what it's about, it's fine-just stick with a reputable one. I've started many friends/family/clients out with the Rodney Yee Yoga for Beginners dvd and it's wonderful. The key to doing a yoga pose correctly is cueing for proper alignment, and Rodney is one of the best at it. But I do agree, if it's something you were to continue-there is nothing better than finding a yoga class and having that guidance right there with you.

I would not recommend Ashtanga-and though it's often "lumped in" with power yoga, it isn't for beginners and is a very advanced asana practice. It's a series (three different series) of 6 poses done in order. Power yoga can be countless variations of a number of poses-but still, not recommended for beginners (in my opinion) because it moves at a faster pace and if you don't know the alignment of a pose, can cause strain or injury.

Iyengar is a type of yoga that anyone of any age can do-Mr. Iyengar developed the system to be used with modifications (props: blocks, straps, ropes) so that there is no added risk of injury to the body. Highly recommend this for anyone new to yoga, a good Iyengar instructor will break a pose down and have you safe in the process.

Bikrim-don't do it. Just don't especially for beginners-when you heat the muscle up in a room that hot-it's very, very easy to pull, rip, displace anything on your body. Bikrim students are hard core and are basically pretzels.

Hatha-basic yoga poses done one at a time..very gentle and easy to follow (with a good teacher).

Yin-Yoga poses are held for 3-5 minutes. Sounds like torture, but you will be using props to hold your body in place. You work deep into the muscle tissue with Yin yoga and the stretch is incredible.

If you were looking for a class I would start with Hatha or Iyengar. If that seemed a little too slow for your taste, look for a Hatha Flow (moves a bit slower than a Power Yoga or Power Flow class)

Though some here have said you need to take a class, I did not. I think the instruction on this video is very good. I know I would never have done yoga if I had to take a class to start.

Just because you think you're doing the poses correctly and it feels like you are, that doesn't mean you are. Believe me.

It's DANGEROUS to try on your own before taking a class. I don't know what part of that people don't understand. It's stress-relieving and gentle, but it's not easy.

If you have a background in something like ballet, you MIGHT be OK trying it on your own, but you still are likely not doing the poses correctly without hands-on instruction.

There's no reason to be afraid to go to a class. You likely will not be the only beginner. And the wonderful thing about this exercise is that it's all about not judging others. It's entirely about doing the best YOU can do, not competing with others.

I have been doing this beginner DVD for 2 years and have never once felt in danger. The postions are explained well and you move slowly from position to position.

Of course we should have no fear of taking a class. Nor should it bother us to exercise in front of our husbands. And none of us should have any trouble loosing weight. Unfortunatly many of do have these phobias and issues. A well instructed DVD can be a great way to experience something new for those us that are intimidated by taking a class.

Bikrim-don't do it. Just don't especially for beginners-when you heat the muscle up in a room that hot-it's very, very easy to pull, rip, displace anything on your body. Bikrim students are hard core and are basically pretzels.

BikrAm yoga is targeted at everyone, especially beginners, since holding the asanas is about the correct alignment, not how much of a pretzel you are. I've been practicing for a month now, taking a class daily, and I started from a place of having a very rigid spine and very bad balance in the legs due to spinal surgery of the serious kind. Bikram teachers always tell you how to modify a pose and always always warn against over extending, over stretching etc.

I think the writer of this piece of advice hasn't practiced Bikram Yoga and is basing her opinion and advice on hearsay. We have people of all body types and abilities in our class.

HA-I love it..nothing gets the pot stirred like different schools of yogis. I will rescind the statement to include
"The students and classes THAT I HAVE ATTENDED".. Better now? There is "no one class fits all" as to how bad a style is, nor how good. Kudos to you for finding a class and a teacher that works for you and helpful to beginners-but that hasn't been my experience. With the majority of my background and studies in the Iyengar method I will hold true to my original statement that I don't believe it's good for a beginner. Just my opinion, that's all.

(I will add-my opinion of it not being good for a beginner has much more to do with the dangers of working in a room heated to 105-110 degrees than it does with any disrespect to Mr. Choudhurry's teaching. My yoga classes are heated to 90-95 degrees and people have a difficult time with that...)

If you base your advice on the yoga you have actually practiced, I'm totally OK with that. Interestingly, after a few times of practice, the heat is not that important anymore. People make a lot of how hot it is, but hydrate well and rest when you need to and it's not that big of an issue, in my experience. I'm not superfit or anything.

If I can make it past the first 15-20 minutes of the heat, I don't seem to notice..but I"m old and the heat kills me in the beginning