Advice sought - do any of you do yoga?

[pounds_and_pensive]

I've been looking into yoga for a few days now (since the nagging inner voice that tells me I dont do enough exercise upped its volume and said 'Face it, woman - you don't do ANY exercise anymore! :) ) and have found that a lot of it involves many of the stretching positions that I enjoyed and knew by other names when I did gymnastics when I was (much!) younger. I also used to love the stretching exercises on my Callanetics video when I did that a few years back, but my dodgy knees hated most of the rest of it.

Yoga sounded ideal for me when I began to read around on the net to find out the benefits. Then I read of more... and more... and started to feel a bit cynical. I even read of a woman who'd grown an inch and a half in height since she began practising. Presumably there are limits to this, or every ancient Yogi would be thirty feet tall :) I suppose what I'm most bothered about are my dodgy knees. Those lunges don't look quite as punishing as Callan's multiple pelvic scoops, but they do look a bit scary. Are the claims made in favour of yoga exaggerated, and is it really as un-damaging (struggling for a better word) as people say it is? I do realise all exercise has its risks if not done properly.

Which kind of brings me to my next question. For various reasons, getting to a class anywhere round here is a non-starter, so I'd have to go down the DVD route. Does anyone have any recommendations? Preferably something with shorter sessions than the mind-numbing, knee-crumbling Callan Pinckney hour - I need to build up my stamina again before going that far :)

*PS. I actually rate Callanetics quite highly. It's just not for me right now.

Thanks :)

[spirited]

Well you have highlighted some of the points which certainly evaluate the other side of yoga and as you said most of them are exaggerated. Since I have never tried this form of exercise it would be hard for me to comment but all the friends of mine who have gone to this have reported in the affirmative. All of them are of the opinion this is the best thing and they would never switch back to anything else! Then what does this mean, yoga suits all?

[Plum Pie]

Get a teacher who's reg'd with the British Wheel of Yoga http://www.bwy.org.uk/ . They will be experienced and have a clue about anatomy. A rubbish yoga teacher could hurt you (overstretch you, not explain stuff properly) - so it's not risk-free!

The woman who 'grew' probably had a hump back or other postural defect which yoga fixed.

I strongly recommend you go to a class if at all possible. There really is no substitute for one-to-one help.

Barbara Currie has made some good videos, in my opinion.

I should say that I am closely related to 2 yoga teachers which is how I know all this. (I also do yoga myself.)

There are lots of different kinds from more to less spiritual, more to less strenuous etc - I think of 'yoga' as an umbrella term like 'martial art'.

Having a good teacher makes a real difference - if you went to a class with a poor one, (or they were teaching a form of yoga you didn't like) you could easily be out off.

I don't think it's for everyone but I certainly get a lot out of it!

[pounds_and_pensive]

Thanks for those. I'm still very much interested, and will definitely be looking in to your suggestions :)

[Sarahsaver]

Have you got a Bikram Yoga school near you? I have practised this form of Yoga since December 2005 and I definitely have never looked back. THat is me in my avatar last year doing 'eagle pose' I am a lot better at it now. I would say it is better to practise yoga with a teacher as on your own at home with a dvd you will not notice postural problems.
Bikram Yoga is in a room heated to 110 fahrenheit and there are 26 postures. I have noticed ythese things, tight abdominal muscles, smaller waist and my hips are an inch wider but I have lost fat in my body, it IS possible to grow, other people also have changes in their chest due to the breathing exercises. Yoga practised properly can bring peace in your mind and a greater awareness of your body and what it needs. I can balance in all the postures yet I had a stroke in 2001 and it killed a large part of the balance part of my brain! This yoga has retrained my brain and my body.
If ANYONE tries to make me practise yoga with shoes on, to music, in the cold, in a chatty environment, I would be very cautious!

[pounds_and_pensive]

It all sounds really fascinating. I actually saw the 'eagle pose' when I was looking around the yoga sites the other night, and thought at the time 'Ooh, I know what that avatar on MSE is all about now!' :) Yoga is looking more appealing by the minute, but I don't think I'd enjoy it in the Bikram form. I'm one of those weird people who prefers winter to summer, and starts to wilt at the sound of the first hedge-trimmer every year :)

[Sarahsaver]

You get used to the heat but it does take a while;)

[Plum Pie]

If you have joint problems, Bikram may not be a good starting point. It's quite intense and the classes are fast moving (in my experience). The heat improves suppleness but you may over-stretch and hurt yourself if you are not used to doing yoga.

I knew a few women who credit Bikram with transforming their fitness and their appearance! I don't like it because I don't like doing the same few poses in the same order every time (easily bored!)

[Badger_Lady]

Yeah - "growing" is all about standing up straighter and taller...

I did some classes at my local gym and loved it - I've always had dodgy knees too, but never found it too strenuous.

I'm now going to get a DVD and work from home (recommendations welcome!), but I don't think I could have done it straight away - I needed those basic pointers from the teacher to understand how to stretch and how to know when I was in position. I now feel confident enough to build on those basics myself.

[Sarahsaver]

If you have joint problems, Bikram may not be a good starting point. It's quite intense and the classes are fast moving (in my experience). ..... I don't like it because I don't like doing the same few poses in the same order every time (easily bored!)


It is slow - 26 postures in 90 minutes!

It is not boring because you reach a stage where you are in a heightened mental state. Prayer or meditation are similar, through the repetition you are actually free NOT to think for an hour and a half!

I have also tried 'dynamic yoga' which was moving in and out of postures quickly but I fell over when the bloke said drop your buttocks LOL;)

Best 'shop around ' and try different things but in my experience there was an initial 'what the hell am I doing here' hurdle to get over but it didnt last long, only like the first time you run a race or the first time weightlifting.

[Plum Pie]

If you benefit from the repetition, that's fine.

I prefer Iyengar because I know and enjoy practising more than 26 poses.

[sellingmysoul666]

Hi i'm glad you are thinking about trying yoga
I have been a fan for about 10 years the last 7 in classes
i also recommend you try to find a class nearby just put your home town + yoga in google i'm sure something will come up
if there is nothing weekly there may be some sort of 1 day workshop to get you started
I also think you should try

http://www.bwy.org.uk/

http://www.yogauk.com/teachers/teachers.htm

this is a really good site (but it is american :rolleyes: )

http://www.yogajournal.com/newtoyoga/index.cfm?ctsrc=tnav

these are a few dvds i can recommend

http://www.bwy.org.uk/news/news160905.php

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaiam-Yoga-Conditioning-Weight-Loss/dp/B0000634B3/ref=sr_1_2/026-2877112-5993258?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1189544597&sr=8-2

http://www.dimensionshealthstore.com/product/0/279/DRU_Yoga_DVD_NEW_release.html

Please feel free to pm if you need any extra info

I am on a bit of a mission to get people to try yoga this year - I am up to 3 at work so far :j