yoginimary Member

You really should go to a yoga class, with a very competent teacher, if you want to be safe.

The best way is to start with a class. Many studios offer beginner's classes, so you wouldn't be the only one.

I don't lift weights, but I recently got fitness tested. I'm in the 99th percentile in leg and core strength. I attribute it all to yoga.

Many studios offer a free first class - try as many places as you can until you find somewhere you feel comfortable. Look for people that look like you in class - that can make you feel more comfortable and there will be someone with the same kind of flexibility, strength, etc that you have. Also, I'm not a big fan of the…

20 minutes, 3x a week is better than 60 minutes 1x a week - but whatever works for you. I practice about 12 hours a week. I'm not sure what kind of edge you are looking for, nor am I sure if yoga will help you get to that edge.

Only my teachers - people I know. I don't think you can "cleanse" or "detox", but there are some basic diets out there. Eating rice and lentils with veggies everyday, for example (kitchari), which is what those that follow an Ayurvedic diet do twice a year. Is that the kind of thing you are looking for?

I would take it easy. Could just be your adductors are tight but pinching pain is not the right kind.

The hip covers a lot of ground. Where exactly are you feeling the cramp? That said, I know a very well known teacher that says cramps are good - it means your working. But it's important to think of what kind of cramp? Like foot cramps, Charlie horses, and the like? Those are probably ok. They should stop soon after you…

While it's a bit of a drive for you, I would check out this place to begin: http://www.iyengaryogampls.com/index.htm Kristin Chirhart really knows what she is doing and could steer you in the right direction. I'm sure it would be worth the trip.

Also see what a teacher has to say about the knee pain in certain poses. Some teachers will give you much better advice than others.

Here's a good article to help you as well: http://www.yogajournal.com/article/practice-section/asana-column-urdhva-dhanurasana-backbend/

Have you tried pushing up in a chair? Something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVbNeBDo26U It's better if you have a backless folding chair as the ones with a back lift up as Bobby Clennell shows. If you only have a regular chair, then just push up a little, to show you can. If you lift the chair up, it makes…

Not sure. Where does the fear come in? Do you have problems with backbends where you lift off the floor like bow (dhanurasana) or locust (salabhasana)?

You might want to post this to the yoga group to get more people to join: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1484-generic-yoga-group Have fun.

You're welcome

It's all about preference. I prefer manduka mats - they are fairly thick, but firm - and a bit on the expensive side. I also like the cheap $20 plastic mats. They last about 5 years, depending on use, but they are light and usually sticky. Some people swear by the jade mats, they are more on the expensive side. I never…

You could be breathing more heavily or breathing through your mouth. That combined with not drinking anything during yoga, could make you more thirsty. 5 minutes is a long time to hold your first shoulderstand. As long as your teacher is looking at your alignment, your neck doesn't hurt, and you aren't getting headaches, I…

I would try a few classes in your area. Most places offer the first class free.

Yoga, meditation, tai chi - any mind-body practice can help with stress - but the key is to find something that you will stick to frequently, if not daily. Also, if you are over concerned with how you are "performing" - comparing yourself to others in class, forcing your body, etc. - these practices won't help as much.…

There is a yoga group on MFP if you're interested: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1484-generic-yoga-group

I haven't read any of those, other than "Light on Life". I like Patricia Walden, but her reading of that book is a little flat - and I can understand how you made it through the audio and don't remember anything. I'm somewhat interested in the Richard Freeman book. Let me know how it is. Does anyone else have book…

That is a very eloquent review. Almost makes me want to reread the book with the idea of redemption in mind. Have you read "Waking" my Matthew Sanford? It's also about redemption through yoga but a very different path. Now for a rant: I don't have much of an issue with Bikram yoga per se. It's not my thing - although I…

I think the main thing to developing a home practice is to start with one pose. Even if you only do one pose, you have some home practice. That is key - to begin the habit. From the one pose you can: Try to figure out what is going wrong with that pose, try another pose that would help with that. For example, if your…

I did read it - interesting look into the world of Bikram yoga.

Which poses? Backbends perhaps?

Austin, TX

I have minimalist leanings as well; but I have a fairly large collection of yoga stuff: Props: 6 blocks (two I use at my computer desk because my legs are short), 4 straps, 8 blankets, 2 dowels, 2 backless chairs, 2 sandbags, a meditation bench, a rope, too many mats*, and a backbender (a fairly expensive piece of…

Welcome!

The only thing I can think of is that you could be pressing down more with the big toe side of the right foot. If this was happening to me, I would try to duplicate it with my left foot and see what was going on.

There's this one: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1484-generic-yoga-group