Please tell me about yoga

[rosarugosa]

I am thinking about taking a yoga class with my sister and a friend. I sort of like the idea of yoga, at least as I understand it. I think it is exercise, physical discipline, bodily awareness with an element of meditation rolled in. I think I could get into that. I've been super diligent about walking, but it's probably a good idea to incorporate something other than walking into my so-called fitness routine, such as it is.
Here is my concern. I think I will be really turned off if there is a lot of mystical bullsh!t rolled into it. I can already feel some attitude forming about some of the language used (e.g. "dig deep and leave it all on the mat" WTF is that really even supposed to mean, sounds like BS to me), and I know if I go into it with a bunch of attitude I am unlikely to get anything out of it. Any thoughts on whether it is worth a try or something that sounds like a poor fit? I know some of you are experienced with yoga and could possibly share some insights. Thanks in advance!

[herbgeek]

A lot will depend on the type/style of yoga you select, and the instructor. Don't give up if the first one doesn't fit you. Most of the yoga for beginners doesn't have a whole lot of woo woo to it- that usually comes later.

for what its worth: I've done a few styles including anusara-based, flow yoga and just hatha yoga. Iyengar focuses a lot on alignment- so I'm guessing less spiritual (but I haven't taken it so who knows). My favorite is svaroopa yoga, harder to find as its not as popular. Svaroopa focuses on lengthening the spine- there's a lot of relaxation and being on your back on folded blankets. Its very soothing, and great for older people as its not "vigorous". The "spiritual" part of it is listening to a reading at the end of class, after you have done savasana. I usually find the readings fairly practical and not too out there.

[Teacher Terry]

I didn’t like it as I am not very coordinated and the instructor would come around and try to put you into position. I think I went a few times a week for 3 weeks until I quit. My son loves it. I liked Tai Chi but I threw my back out from all the slow twisting and it took me a month to recover with lots of chiropractor visits:))

[Chicken lady]

I like doing yoga at home with dh. We focus on balance and flexibility and it has helped with my core strength and some joint issues.

i didn’t like it very much when we used to go to a group class. I am very not into all the “breathing together” stuff. But I went for dh and for the physical benefits. I did tell the instructor ahead of time that I did not want to be touched. She was very respectful of that.

[catherine]

In theory I should adore yoga because of its holistic benefits: strength, flexibility, toning, spirituality, mindfulness, community, variety. For some reason I've never been able to stick to a program.

I did the best with Iyengar. I had a terrific teacher who was very experienced, and I definitely made progress, but it's very slow. as herbgeek said, the focus is on alignment so every position had to be perfect, which again, in theory, I liked as I am somewhat of a perfectionist in certain areas. I didn't want to just do yoga half-a$$ed and wind up hurting myself.

I have also done Hatha Yoga which is a great all-round practice. And I was really good at disciplining myself with home videos--I belonged to MyYogaOnline for a while and they had a "21 Days of Yoga" or something like that and it provided very helpful structure. Otherwise, I think my problem with it is there is TOO much choice. Every day I had to figure out did I want this teacher or that? Flexibility or core strength? 20 minutes or 40 minutes? Too much brain work, which is one thing I love about running. You put on your sneakers, walk out the door and run. No big decisions to make.

However, I think it's a fantastic practice and discipline. I wish I could get more into it.

Regarding concern about "mystical BS"--some teachers are more new-agey than others. I haven't seen that with the teachers I've had. Yes, spirituality is a part of it, but you can definitely find teachers who keep that aspect subtle.

[razz]

I tried, really tried to stay in the one group class that I attended but I cannot stand still that long. Never could hold one position so it was not a good fit for me. I've got to keep moving unless I am reading a book.

[Geila]

I took yoga a few times at the Y and liked it for the relaxation aspect; I always felt relaxed afterwards. But I didn't see any changes to my body - no real difference in flexibility or strength. And my brain is too active so after a while I just got bored. There was no spiritual stuff that I remember except for the namaste at the end of the class. You'll probably know after the first session if the class is a good fit for you. I took a pilates class at the community college and really liked that. It was much more focused on building core strength and I did see a big difference in flexibility and strength from that class. It felt safer in that the poses were very deliberate and structured. I found yoga to be a bit more loosey-goosey which I was worried about causing injury or a pulled muscle.

I don't have access to pilates now, so I enjoy swimming for many of the same benefits, plus I feel very relaxed afterwards.

[Simplemind]

My husband and I took a chair assisted yoga class for balance after he had his stroke and had balance issues. We loved it. Even if we didn't feel like going we went and always felt so much better when we left. I still don't think I have the strength and definitely don't have the flexibility to take a regular class.

[iris lilies]

Would Thi Chi be better? Making “ beautiful lady hands” was fun in the one intro class I had.

[Lainey]

Rosa, I take a Gentle Yoga class at the senior center 2x/week for free. My friend's daughter calls it "old lady yoga" (!) It's drop-in so you're not committed to any number of classes. We don't do any floor work, it's all sitting in the chair on standing by a wall or your chair.
It's been good for stretching, posture, and most importantly to me, balance. I used to think I had good balance but it's surprising how quickly that aging can start to make you just a bit more wobbly and at risk for falling. So I'd say if you get a good low-key instructor who lets you go at your own pace that would be valuable.
Of course, my doc pooh-poohs the idea of this as "exercise" - it's certainly not cardio - but it would be a great addition to your walking.

Another side benefit has been how absolutely nice the attendees are. Everyone chats before the class, most know almost everyone's names, and I can see how easy it would be to make a friend or two from the regulars. One example: one of the oldest women in the class is quite debilitated and needs to stay in her chair the entire time but is very friendly and does what she can. Last week she said to the instructor before class, I'm not feeling so well so I don't think I can do much today. The instructor said, that's okay, just you being here with your positive energy will be enough. Really touched me.

[nswef]

Wow, Lainey, that sounds like a good group. I'll have to look for that kind of program. right now I just do stretches the chiropractor and physical therapists suggested over the years. I'm pretty regular with those. I incorporate some yoga poses. I haven't done a yoga tape for a while, and keep thinking I should add it in. I hate driving to a class- always at least 25 minutes each way- so don't do those.

[SiouzQ.]

I have been told time and again that I should "do yoga" to help with all my muscle-skeletal issues. I am pretty sure a yoga stretch I did way back in June is what tore my gluteus medius muscle on my left side (being a former athlete, I tend to be a bit competitive and not realistic about my abilities as I age) and then over do things. I remember messaging the instructor the next day saying "I think I pulled a muscle on that move." I never did anything about healing it because a few days later the proverbial sh** hit the fan and I had to rush back to Michigan.

After the holidays I am very committed to starting a concentrated effort to get my whole system back on track. I plan to go to the really nice rec center up in Santa Fe (not terribly convenient as it is a 25 mile drive but I always have other errands to do). I will check out the classes they offer, in addition to walking the track and starting back up with the eliptical machine).

Maybe I will try a gentle yoga (after explaining to the instructor all of my various painful body issues) and work on being gentle with myself and taking it easy as I start out. I tend to go on what I used to be able to do, forgetting that I am this much older and perhaps not as flexible and strong as my brain says I am...

[lmerullo]

I love yoga! I think the "feel" of a class is very much led by the instructor. If you try one you don't like, don't give up - try another.

I am very much like you, Siouz, in that I compete with both my classmates and my old me. Need to tone that down a bit!

For me, I get balance and toning and some classes are very strength building - those I tend to avoid until the proverbial "I'm fitter", which may never come.

[rosarugosa]

I'm really enjoying hearing about everyone's experiences. I think my biggest take-away so far is how diverse the yoga class experience can be. My sister wants to try a studio in her town, and they do a "first class $5.00" promotion, so that probably couldn't hurt to try. There is also a class at a church within shouting distance of my house for $10.00 per session that might be worth trying.
I could also benefit from the socializing aspects of a good group. I really enjoyed getting to know the people in our carpentry class, and I pushed myself to be more interactive in that group, with positive results. I am fairly introverted, and I no longer have the daily social contacts that I had in work. While I am not discontent with the status quo, I do believe that more social capital in my life would be a good thing.

[HappyHiker]

I encourage you to try yoga. And keep trying it until you find a congenial instructor and group. Start with beginning yoga or gentle yoga.

I'm mostly an introvert who likes long walks in the woods or work-outs in the gym -- but yoga is a horse of a different feather!

After I've done a nice session I feel the blood happily coursing and zinging through my body and all the muscles and joints feel relaxed and fluid. Hard to explain, but yoga does different things for me than my usual forms of "exercise."

I feel relaxed; at peace.

As yoga is non-competitive it feels "just right" to me. You go at your own pace. You don[t compare yourself to your neighbor. After you learn the postures, you can do yoga with your eyes closed -- I often do.

My favorite yoga instructor used to tell us, "You're only as youthful as your spine is flexible." My back issues have now disappeared.

My classes have very little mumbo-jumbo in them..just the Hindu/Indian names of the postures we're doing and a sweet guided meditation at the end of the class. I've been known to fall asleep during those -- so relaxed am I!

[Lainey]

Another benefit of yoga is helping to un-do the "text neck" - all those hours of looking down at a phone is hurting our necks in the long run. Couple that with years of having shoulders hunched over computer keyboards and it's no wonder so many have neck/shoulder/back issues.
Our instructor has us do a lot of side bend and back bend stretching, along with slow neck swivels and postures to open the chest area and gaze upwards.

[pony mom]

I've wanted to try yoga for a while but didn't want to commit to a class. After seeing the infomercial for "Three Week Yoga Retreat" I bit the bullet and bought it and really enjoy it. I'm not flexible at all and have a permanent frozen shoulder so I'm a bit limited in certain poses (downward dog) but it's geared towards beginners. With that said, it is quite challenging but steadily progresses to maybe an advanced beginner stage. I usually do each "week" for 2-3 weeks before moving to the next stage. Without a teacher you really have to be mindful of doing each thing correctly, but I don't think I'd feel adequate with my limitations in a class.

[Gardenarian]

I agree that it depends on the yoga style and the teacher. I would ask around - if there is an active Nextdoor group in your area, that could be a starting point.

[rosarugosa]

Well I finally went to my first yoga class! I liked it enough that I'm planning to go again next week. I think it will take a few classes to really get a feel for it. This class is held at a church in easy walking distance from my house. It's $10 per session with no registration or commitment required. My sister cancelled out on me so I went by myself. I'm not much for getting outside my comfort zone, so I think it was good for me to do this. :)

[Rogar]

One thing I've not quite understood about yoga is that you have to be in a class to do it. I'm far more relaxed at home and have used DVDs, books, and PBS to learn and then practice on my own. I especially like Priscilla Patrick who is on PBS daily here. I'm sure having personal live personal instruction is helpful but not required. Anymore there are bunches of podcasts and apps to help.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I suspect many people like me are really lacking in kinetic intelligence and so we really do need many classes to learn anything related to movement. But not doing yoga now anyway, I have taken classes here or there.

[rosarugosa]

Rogar: I would think it's certainly possible to do something like this without a class, but it probably depends a lot on the individual's motivation to actually do it. Being able to do something anytime can translate to doing it never, if you know what I mean. My sister was saying that she liked that this class has no commitment or pre-registration, but that also makes it a lot easier to not show up.
I needed quite a bit of coaching to get into the positions correctly, so at this point I can certainly use the instructor's help. I'm also pretty introverted and I'm retired now, so it's good for me to get out and associate with others sometimes.

[Rogar]

[QUOTE=rosarugosa;329757]Rogar: I would think it's certainly possible to do something like this without a class, but it probably depends a lot on the individual's motivation to actually do it....[QUOTE]

I understand. Different things work for different people and a class is probably especially good for starting out. Personal opinion, but I think if a person depends on only classes for practice it can make it less likely to continue over the long run when you have to drive somewhere every time in good weather or bad, class schedules are not especially flexible, and driving time also takes time away from other things. On the other hand some people have a home lifestyle that isn't especially conducive to a quite yoga session. Different yoga teaching can get a little new agey, but it can also be more than just an aerobic class type work out if a person wants the mental benefits.

I guess my point was that there are more ways than just classes to learn and practice. We're all different in what works the best.

[Rachel]

Coming in late to this wonderful discussion. Just wanted to encourage anyone who's reading this to give yoga a try. Often best to start with Gentle Yoga or Hatha Yoga or a class that is specifically for Beginners. I pretty much ignore all the lecturing and just focus on breathing and moving. It should feel good from Day 1 regardless of your own level of flexibility or strength-- if the teacher is teaching it right.

[frugal-one]

I just started at the fitness center I recently joined. The first instructor turned me off. I decided to try again with an instructor who was recommended. I can’t say it feels good but know it is doing me some good in that it is working some areas/muscles not usually used. The first time I actually walked out. The class seemed forever ... with you lying on the floor doing nothing. This second instructor works with individuals and their issues. I don’t think I would pay big bucks for classes but will continue since it is part of my fitness package.

[catherine]

s
The class seemed forever ... with you lying on the floor doing nothing.

Haha, that's called savasana and it's my favorite part! The big payoff for all the work! It's actually not "doing nothing"--you're actively trying to release your mind from mental and physical tensions and be in the moment.

[Molly]

Don't give up. I think I tried about 10 different instructors before I found someone helpful. I have flexibility issues and always ended up getting hurt in classes, even with gentle yoga. The problem was holding a position too long. I tried group classes and privates. I finally found an instructor who "got it" for my issues and took three privates with her. I recorded the moves with my phone camera. Did the exercises at home and it was blissful. However, when I started going to the classes I ended up with back pain again. There were moves I just couldn't do, or couldn't hold that long.

Yoga is so individual. Please give it a try. I had one physical therapist tell me that it was more important to be flexible than strong.

[Greg44]

Coming in late here - I try to do yoga at home a few times a week. I follow "Man flow Yoga & Yoga with Tim (hmm I think that is what his YouTube goes by). I can do all the basics -
sort of. My long range goals - head stand, full lotus, and be able to "step to the front of my mat without doing a nose dive into the TV)! They make it look so easy, "now step to
the front of your mat"...Nah that is not happening! Our local Parks & Rec have walk in classes for "seniors" for only $ 5.00. I plan on going to make sure I am actually "attempting"
to do the pose correctly...