Developing a Yoga practice

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello all!
I am new here and stumbled across this site while trying to find the answer to a specific question about yoga.
I had been taking a Hatha Yoga class for about a year and a half it was once a week and lasted for 2 hours including the 25 minute yogic sleep at the end. It was wonderful I loved it so much and I loved my yoga teacher who had been practicing and teaching herself for 30 years.
Anyway my teacher moved away and they could not find anyone else to take the class so I no longer have class to go to :cry:
I did try yoga classes at my local gym but they were nothing like the proper class I had done before and in some cases they were down right dangerous. They were basically like fake yoga classes made simple and short (45 mins) for the gym.
So I am now trying to find a way to practice on my own at home. And I have bought some books and video’s but I don’t know how to put I routine together I would like to practice every morning for about 30 mins and for a period of 1 or 2 hours a few times a weeks when possible.
All my attempts feel very unstructured and don’t know what combinations of postures to use or when to counter a twist or a back bend. I am beginning to feel like I am losing touch with yoga rapidly and it is very disheartening as I was just beginning to really get to grips with it and see what it was capable to doing when the class was stopped.

Any advice on how to proceed or books to recommended will be gratefully received!

Thank you,

Betty

#2

One of my favorite books on this subject is Desikachar’s Heart of Yoga

#3

If you can find a copy of Yoga Made Easy
by Howard Kent, it may help you.

This is how I started out about 13 years ago.
I used this guide doing Yoga at my house

Good luck

#4

Betty,

So sorry to hear your yoga teacher moved along. A good lesson though in attachment and impermanance.

First I think it wold be prudent to do a search for a qualified yoga teacher in your area. You may do such a search through the Yoga Alliance web site. While not an end all by any means it’s a good spring board.

Contact one of the teachers you find and arrange for a couple fo privates making sure to mention your specific need to develop a home practice. If for some reason this is not possible you could begin your practice with classical Surya Namaskar (referred to as Sun Salutations). The idea you need to do a particular number of asana, or a particular sequence is rubbish. In fact yoga is not at all asana alone.

Yoga is an awareness practice. A catalyst for transformation. By merely reading, learning, and living the Kleshas, Yamas and Niyamas you are yoga!

B.K.S. Iyengar when once asked about a brief practice due to time constraints replied with only three asana - Sirsasana, Sarvangasana, and Savasana. If you choose this as your practice please make sure your body is ready to do these poses (you don’t mention much about the level of your practice and these poses should be done with care, alignment, and safety).

I hope this helps you along your path.

Namaste.