Has anyone tried yoga.I did it the other day and boy,can I feel it stretching my muscles. I thought it felt really good. I hadn't realized that I had lost all that flexability in the last couple of years.
Michaela

I have not done yoga, but I am really interested in trying it and I'd like to know if there are any good "yoga tapes" out there to do at home? I don't know the first thing about it and wonder if anyone can recommend some good beginner videos for me?
Pat

I love yoga and am trying to do it every day, but about 3 times a week is what I do, just because of time constraints. I also walk and ST. Between the deep breathing and strength (and even the flexibility) poses, I can feel my heart pounding at times. Point booster wise, though, I count it as light, because it isn't a constant exertion.

PAT--If you've never done it before, I strongly suggest you go to class. The postures are precise and to get the most benefit, just a little shift change suggestion you get from a teacher can really make a big difference in the feel. A teacher can also help you do the postures that will benefit YOUR body best.

Try different teachers and different styles. You might hate one combination and love another.

The tapes I have are more intermediate, but even the ones I have that are marked as beginners do not give adequate instruction, IMO.

I have the living arts AM PM tapes.I think that the AM tape is really relaxing.
I have also caught the yoga zone on tv a couple of times.
What kinds of tapes do you have or what classes do you go to.I don't think we have any classes around here.I haven't heard of any.
Michaela

I have a whole bunch of yoga tapes and CDs, mostly for intermediates but also some for "beginners", but I don't think any of them are suitable for beginners because they don't properly explain how to do the positions. I suggest you start with a teaching style tape (2 suggestions below) to learn how to get the most from the postures and how to not hurt yourself.

The classes I go to are described as hatha yoga. Many different styles are derived from hatha yoga, so if you don't like one class or teacher, go to another. They can be so different. You get a nice balance of flexibility, strength, and balance in these classes. My mother goes to one that she describes mostly as flexibility with some strength and a generous amout of relaxation, which she needs after the strenth movements (she's a senior citizen)!

If you're not too strong yet nor athletic, I'd suggest staying away from Power yoga (which I love). It's athletic and can be too much for someone just starting out with yoga.

I heard that one of the Living Arts tapes, Yoga Journal's: Yoga Practice For Beginners, is specifically made not only as a workout, but as a teaching tape to learn asanas (positions) correctly. I have not seen this tape, though, so cannot offer a review. However, you can read great reviews at http://www.collage-video.com/ or www.videofitness.com .

Yoga Zone tapes with Alan Finger are known for his good explainations. I have his only intermediate tape and it is one of my favorites. He has an Introduction to Yoga tape (for beginners) that is supposed to be superb, but I haven't seen it yet. You can buy it individually or as part of a set ( http://www.yogazone.com/4pack.asp for a picure and description of the set and each individual item. Don't confuse this set with his other set, which is just a set of some of his TV shows). I just ordered the set from amazon.com for $35, so I can review it for you after it comes (next week probably) and let you know what I think of the intro tape. Again, read the reviews on the web pages. He gets great reviews and I think he does an excellent job on my intermediate tape. I would expect from him that the intro tape is good also.

Wordy, but I hope this helped. I think yoga is a great way to stay in shape. I do it, along with walking and ST.

REC


[This message has been edited by REC (edited 03-01-2001).]

Michaela,

I got the Intro to Yoga tape this weekend and it is a great tape for beginners (intermediates, too, as it has some more unusual postures such as cow face, and is a good refresher on how to do things right). Alan thoroughly explains all the postures--how to do them and how they should feel. It's a nice balance of strength, flexibility (mostly) and balance. He's very gentile and explains all modified postures for us less limbered.

In the first posture, though, he doesn't tell you to switch legs. So, I just stopped the tape and did that same exercise with my legs switched (you're sitting crosslegged). Or, you can do one leg on top today, different leg tomorrow. And, he doesn't have any backward bending moves, which can be remedied by bending back at the beginning and ending of the easy sun salutation move. Neither one is a big deal

The pace is really good also. Hope you like it.

REC
walking, yoga, ST

I have also been taping yoga zone everyday so that I will have so variety.The more that I am getting in tune with how my body feels and what it needs that fast the pounds are melting off.
Michaela

I'm new to the board's but wanted to mention the tape I use. I use a tape called Yoga for dummies it's a basic yoga practice tape and it's really good. I always saw yoga in movies and all and thought it would be fun and easy to do, and it's easier than alot of exercise tapes lol but you can still feel your body working. lol I recommend this if your a little shy or don't have time to go to a gym and do it. I've never been to a yoga class or anything but love doing the tape, maybe when I loose some weight and my belly doesn't seem to get in the way as much I will go in public to do it, but for right now I feel better about myself if I do it at home. I like the tape because it gives you alternate ways of doing things, so if you can't totally reach your toes with your leg's straight it show's you the best way to do it. What I did with the posture of things is to have my hubby do it with me and when I wasn't sure if I was doing something right I said "hey babe, does this look like her's" and he would correct what needed correcting or say yes :0) Good luck getting into yoga :0)
Cris