I find it so hard to believe that yoga is a good form of exercise because it seems so slow. BUT, of all the people that do yoga I can't deny that they are in great shape. So, there has to be something I'm missing from what I think yoga is. I figure I might has well try it. My flexible is nonexistent and I can't kneel on the ground because of a knee issue. Does anyone know of a dvd that can work for me?
Lilias (you can google her with "yoga") is kind of a yoga guru. She did yoga programs back in the 70's and now that she is older herself she has some great DVDs for seniors and/or beginners that are gentle but effective.
Exercise doesn't have to be fast in order to be exercise. Ever tried planks? There's nothing slower than just holding a position but boy does it engage your abs!! Yoga can be very difficult to do and requires a ton of strength. If you are of the mindset that exercise needs to make you huff and puff then you're not exploring some very important forms of strength training. I don't do much yoga, I prefer tai chi and stretching but all these forms of non-sweaty excersise really help me in my flexibility which keeps my joints strong and aleviates a lot of pain.
I did Namaste Yoga on the fitness channel sporadically at my highest weight, and when I decided to work on fitness almost 2 years ago, I bought the whole season on DVD from Amazon. I found them challenging but doable at the beginning - now that I go to yoga class a couple tomes a week, I find them more relaxing. They were 1/2 hour tv shows, so each workout is only about 22 minutes, and I felt like they explained the poses well.
As for your knee, I've had ACL replacement, and kneeling hurts for me. For kneeling poses I use a small towel or roll up the edge of my mat a few times for extra padding. The yoga studio I go to even encourages it for knee comfort.
On youtube, look up Dr Melissa West, Namaste Yoga series. It is not the same as the tv show. It is a podcast of restorative yoga with about 200 episodes great for beginners.
Also, Ekart yoga on YouTube. Basically, just strat checking out different stuff. Don't be afraid to get started. Just remember that it should NOT hurt. You can have a very simple practice & get great results on lots of levels.