Beginner - Can't Afford Classes

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hey everyone, I had a quick look through the posts and found quite a few about beginning yoga but not much about home practice. I’m trying to save for a house and yoga classes are ridiculously expensive where I live (in my opinion), in South Australia. My main question is can I practice yoga effectively from home with no class experience? I have a few DVDs I’ve used on and off over the years which seem quite good so am I able to get to a good level of yoga ability solely by practising with DVDs?

My aim was to go to a class once a week but the ones I’ve found are over $100 for only about 3 months or limited classes

Any advice and suggestions are highly welcome for this newb!

Ell

#2

Hello Day,

Books and DVDs are ok for self-introduction, if it’s the only alternative. But it’s completely true that one needs the presence of a teacher to learn yoga. That rule is built in and will never change. The people who make DVDs will not tell you that.

Look for a teacher that will barter with you. I do it all the time. If one can’t afford class, they show up early and sweep the floor, they put up fliers, etc. If you are sincere in wanting to learn and practice, there will be a teacher for you, if you look. Ask. Be willing to give something and a teacher will be there for you.

Also, keep your eyes open for free classes and workshops. These teachers will be easy to approach with such a proposal. A real teacher will take you.

Best of luck,
siva

#3

Having a home practice is better than none. But just to be sure you are doing things for your body and not going to injure yourself, I might try and see if you could get a private class from a Yoga Instructor once a month or so. Many Instructors offer private classes but they can be a bit pricey. But if you don’t have any drop in classes in your area this might be the next most cost effective solution.

Drop-in classes I’ve gone to usually cost anywhere in between $10 to $18. If you are paying $100 for one class a week for three months. Let’s say that’s four classes a month, that would mean a total of 12 classes, that is only $8.30 a class. Very inexpensive for yoga classes.

Good luck in whatever your decision is.

#4

Hello Ell.

It is quite rare these days that people start their practice in sound ways. While I did go to small local classes and a nearby ashram to begin I also started watching DVDs. I did not take to book learning until later in my practice.

Perception and depth have much to do with this. I saw the surface of yoga - postures and body and biomechanics. Ergo that’s what I pursued (then). For making shapes with your body a book or dvd may be quite nice.

The corollary is that for learning the depth of yoga or venturing toward it’s vastness a teacher is mandated, for too many reasons to cite.

A home practice is very important to develop. For some that takes a very long time. Others do it immediately.

When one perceives Yoga as something of tremendous value then the priority list begins to rearrange itself. I’ve been asked several times if the current economics effects my practice or classes. It does but in positive ways. It is the practice of yoga that keeps my students focused and grounded in an environment where Chicken Little is around every corner. So my attendance, both as a teacher and as a student has actually increased as people are re-structuring that which is important away from lattes and chablis to asana and pranayama.

#5

[QUOTE=day0110;17705]My main question is can I practice yoga effectively from home with no class experience? I have a few DVDs I’ve used on and off over the years which seem quite good so am I able to get to a good level of yoga ability solely by practising with DVDs?[/QUOTE]

I can only speak for myself. I’ve done it. 9 years strong. Videos, then DVDs and now even audio/ipod too*. Supplemented with books at first when learning. I have a wonderful daily home yoga practice that has helped me physically, mentally and especially healthfully, so I must be doing something right.

*Lots of excellent FREE yoga podcasts available on the net through iTunes for when you feel ready for an audio-only practice.

#6

I suggest you start a home practice. Every morning is ideal, especially including at least 5 sun salutations. You can also do some relaxing poses at night time.

The only thing is that you have to self motivate yourself. In an actual yoga class it might be easier to get a great workout.

Good luck:)
Lexi

#7

This is my first new post in about 6 months.

I think home practice is very important because for me it is way to live yoga. Going to class has a formatlity to it, it is compartmentalized as a “thing to do”. Home practice to me means getting to the heart of yoga and coming to terms with it. Its hard though

#8

For a while, if all you can do is practice at home, there are benefits to be had there. I think a blend is best; definitely try to get some one-on-one coaching for a while. But then, if economics require, home practice can be educational for your soul. You find out what poses you avoid, and therefore which parts of [I]you[/I] you are not comfortable with. You do more than asana; you have to learn the dedication to practice and the self-study that are part of Yoga as well. You find out if you lose motivation or commitment to holding a pose properly when there is no one to watch. You find out how regular you actually end up being. Do you skip days? Do you do only part of a practice? Do you roll out your mat even when “you don’t feel like it”? And then, go back to your instructor for a while and get some refinement in asana . . . and then go back to home practice. It might be a financial middle-of-the-road compromise, and you might learn a lot about yourself.

#9

Namaste Ell,

If you had no prior contact with yoga via a teacher and class setup against which you can compare and evaluate your home practice then I can only answer, No.

I would like to ask you to consider paying for a few classes and from that foundation develop your home practice together with the DVD’s and books.

#10

Ya, One can use internet and books to start up with yoga!

#11

There are tones of videos online. Some of them are free 30 minute yoga videos that are different everyday. That might be a great idea!
You can start to practice at home in front of your computer:)

Lexi

#12

Day0110
Personally I find the system set up on AYPsite.org to be the esiest home practice to do. After studying many books he seems to have outlined many strong practices. He starts you out with Deep meditation and works from there.
My .02
brother Neil

#13

Namaste Ell!

Of course, as others have already posted, it's best to take a class with a qualified teacher, but I have a couple suggestions for you if you feel it's not possible to go that route.

First, could you possibly schedule a one or two time private session with a teacher? You could go over your regular asana practice with them, and just ask them to observe and critique you. Quite often, we feel like we are doing a posture correctly, but in reality we are not. I'll give you an example from my own life.

Once, my dad and I were debating the benefits of yoga. He doesn't know much about it and thinks it's mostly "fancy stretching". I showed him Downward Dog, explaining that the goal is to have the feet flat on the floor. He said "Oh that's so simple!" and immediately took this exact pose:

When I tried to explain how that differed from this:

it was very difficult for him to understand what he was doing differently. To him, what he was doing felt like it was the same as what I'd shown him. It wasn't until I got my strap out and pulled his hips into the correct spot and pushed his head down, etc, that he finally got it. Once you have some idea of what the postures should feel like, then practicing on your own will probably be more productive.

This is why I think you should pay for one or two private sessions. You can have the instructor's full attention, and get the most out of the time. If it were me, I'd explain my purpose to the instructor upfront. "I'm here to get a foundation so I can practice alone. I don't plan to take classes on an ongoing basis."

The other thing you can do, maybe, is if there is someone who lives with you (spouse, roommate, friend), you could ask them to watch you along with a video or book, then you can ask them to check certain aspects of your pose. I will sometimes ask my husband to notice certain aspects of a pose -- such as the flat, almost-curved back in a Downward Dog -- and ask if I look the same. My husband has studied martial arts and is very observant, so that has worked for me very well.

I hope you'll find something I've said helpful!! :slight_smile:

#14

[QUOTE=MBelleK;18053]Namaste Ell!
First, could you possibly schedule a one or two time private session with a teacher? You could go over your regular asana practice with them, and just ask them to observe and critique you. Quite often, we feel like we are doing a posture correctly, but in reality we are not. [/QUOTE]

I think this is spot on. :wink:

#15

I totally agree with the idea of starting with yoga home practice! There are so many online (free) yoga home resources, from completely free yoga home practice tutorials, yoga home videos and DVD’s to books and magazines, that make starting a yoga home practice a lot easier!

Of course, you could also go to your library - most of them have books on yoga that can help you get started.

If your really want to start learning yoga, have a look for a few of the free yoga home resources out there, give it a try, and see where it takes you… You could always switch to classes or private yoga home lessons when you get some spare cash in your budget!

#16

There are a few great online yoga sites that you can do yoga classes on. Many of them are very professional and some are even free!

My favorite is called Do Yoga With Me. It’s full of great information, lots of videos on asanas, pranayama and classes. It also has meditations you can download to your computer/Ipod. And best of all, it’s free! Just google doyogawithme and you’ll find it.

David

#17

Try searching on amazon or ebay. There are lots of used yoga books and dvds for sale there.

#18

When it comes to starting a new habit of moving, one must also consider the cost of starting without adequate instruction. Please be gentle with yourself!
Are you concerned mainly with asana, or are you also interested in the other 7 limbs?

#19

[QUOTE=day0110;17705]Hey everyone, I had a quick look through the posts and found quite a few about beginning yoga but not much about home practice. I’m trying to save for a house and yoga classes are ridiculously expensive where I live (in my opinion), in South Australia. My main question is can I practice yoga effectively from home with no class experience? I have a few DVDs I’ve used on and off over the years which seem quite good so am I able to get to a good level of yoga ability solely by practising with DVDs?

My aim was to go to a class once a week but the ones I’ve found are over $100 for only about 3 months or limited classes

Any advice and suggestions are highly welcome for this newb!

Ell[/QUOTE]

Many yoga studios struggle with staffing, particularly having desk staff during class time. You may approach a studio and offer your time in exchange for participating in class.

#20

your decision on startin with yoga is indeed very good… its not necessary tht u need to go for classes , u can start it at home also… but it always good if u take assistance from someone who has practiced it. this is because he will be able to guide you in the right way…
keep readin more n more on yoga tht will really help…