Let you tell me about Yoga.

yoga is great! i do jillian michaels yoga meltdown and don't find it boring at all! i have a healthy back and some positions i have to ease my way into because they hurt my back at first but get easier with time. you may want to listen to the op and find a good instuctor:0)

Good Morning Sir!

I have no knowledge of any good instructional yoga DVDs or interactive games.

But, as I have had a little experience with yoga I wanted to make the sales pitch for giving a class a try!

Yoga just like weights, martial arts and many other forms of exercise & training requires that the movements be done properly. Poor form and execution can cause more harm than good. In addition many of the postures have some very simple starting/preparation movements that help build up the required flexibility. And, just like forms & katas, there are some postures and transitions that flow from one to the other in a progression that works towards a particular goal. ie - a series of progressive pressures on the abdomen to increase blood flow to the major organs in an effort to improve their efficiency.

So, for a beginner, I would recommend trying a class lead by a qualified/certified instructor. An instructor informed of any problems, such as lower back issues, can guide you through movements that can slowly help your body heal/recover from the back problems. And, at the same time help you avoid those movements that may exacerbate your back problems.

When I started Capoeira, I was obese and horribly out of shape! After a few months of pushing hard, I was in pain everywhere and all the time! From my wrists to my ankles! especially my knees, shoulders and lower back! My Capoeira instructor suggested to me that I give yoga a try. Like you I was very hesitant to join the pretty much all girl yoga classes.Fortunate for me, my wife decided to join with me! This was the best decision I have made with regards to my fitness! I took the yoga class for only two sessions (fall & winter). This gave me enough of a base knowledge for the simple movements that I could continue on my own. Now, yoga stretching is an integral part of all my independent work out routines. My personal feeling is that this "training" helps me keep up with the younger people in my classes and helps me avoid injuries.

Regardless of my thoughts/opinions, I very much hope you find something that helps you heal so that you can get back to the style of training you enjoy!

That sounds really promising, and I see the light on going with an instructor.

The problem is, the last time I checked classes were $125-200 a month. Which is way out of my price range.

Check around your community. I took it once through the local school system (most community education programs offer summer classes) and it cost me maybe $40 for 8 weeks of beginning yoga. It might not have been the greatest instructors, but I got the gist of it and they showed us how to do the moves correctly.

That sounds really promising, and I see the light on going with an instructor.

The problem is, the last time I checked classes were $125-200 a month. Which is way out of my price range.

Try sites like Groupon and Living Social. I always see deals for yoga studios in my area. As low as $25.00 for your first month of unlimited classes. Of course these are usually just for first time users and intended to get you in the door so you sign up for good, but there is nothing that says you have to. It could give you a great introduction and see if it is something that would work for you.

But, you really should see a doctor to get a clean bill of health before you try.

If you have back pain, yoga would be the last thing I would suggest. In all honesty I would head straight to a chiropractor. They know structure both skeletal and muscular like its their job! :P I see one and she has done sooo much for my lower back pain!

That sounds really promising, and I see the light on going with an instructor.

The problem is, the last time I checked classes were $125-200 a month. Which is way out of my price range.

First things first- go to your doctor and get your back checked out. Then check out living social or groupon for deals. You could also call the local studios to see if they will allow you to try a class for free. Don't sign a contract until you know that you want to do this regularly.

That sounds really promising, and I see the light on going with an instructor.

The problem is, the last time I checked classes were $125-200 a month. Which is way out of my price range.

Try sites like Groupon and Living Social. I always see deals for yoga studios in my area. As low as $25.00 for your first month of unlimited classes. Of course these are usually just for first time users and intended to get you in the door so you sign up for good, but there is nothing that says you have to. It could give you a great introduction and see if it is something that would work for you.

But, you really should see a doctor to get a clean bill of health before you try.

^^^ This

As others have noted, you should be able to try the first class for free and/or find better deals than what you quoted. Some studios also offer unlimited first week or first month passes for a discounted rate. Also, depending on where you live, you may have access to Passport to Prana. It costs $30 and allows you to try each participating studio once. The nice part about that is that most studios do not count Passport to Prana as your "first" class, so you can still take advantage of a studio's first class or new student discount.

All that being said, before you do any of that, please, please, please have your back checked out first by a health care professional. Yoga can be excellent for your back (yoga + chiropractic is the only combination that helps my sciatica), but if there's something wrong with it then you could seriously damage your back further.

Health insurance companies often offer discounts on yoga classes (as well as gym memberships) through their wellness programs. That's also worth looking into. There are also often yoga classes offered through the local parks & recreation department, and yoga studios will sometimes offer discounts, especially to new students.

I've been doing yoga for almost 20 years, and I agree with all of the other posters - having a good instructor is crucial. Even with as much experience as I have, I still have to rely on my yoga teacher to correct my form and push me into the fullest expression of the pose that I'm capable of. It's worth every penny.

That sounds really promising, and I see the light on going with an instructor.

The problem is, the last time I checked classes were $125-200 a month. Which is way out of my price range.

Are you on Living Social/Groupon or the like? If not, sign up - in my area they have discounts on yoga classes all the time. I'm sure it's the same for any area with yoga studios itching to grow.

Please please please go see a doctor and then a PT or chiropractor. Your body is trying to tell you something is wrong, please listen to it. It could be anything from a pulled muscle to a slipped disc to a tumor on your kidney (not trying to scare you but back pain, just like any other pain can be really serious!) hopefully it's just muscular and a good massage and some targetted exercises can help you. good luck

ps I LOVE YOGA! my yoga studio does a free class every Sunday with donations going toward various causes. :-)