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#1

My name is Walter and I did Kripalu Yoga very briefly many years ago. I am trying to do the postures I Learned back then once again but I am not as flexible as I use to be, but I’m working on it :slight_smile:

Now that I am older and in MUCH worse shape with more injuries I am thinking about returning to Yoga but I have no idea which style to try or what I can actually take now.

I am not big on head stands and not knowing much about Yoga really I do not know what style to try.

I will look around the site and see what I can find.

#2

Walter, you’ve picked a great site to list your questions. There is allot of valuable and wise information to come.
Although I am anything but an expert I (have been practicing for about 16 months) I think you need to experiment with the different styles that are offered in your area. One thing I’ve learned is that not all “teachers” are created equal. Based on your comments you’ve mentioned that you have had some past injuries, which you must convey to whomever is guiding you through a practice. I’ve learned that modifications need to be made , especially in the case of past injuries.
A style that someone else enjoys may not be your thing. So experiment for a while and see what comes your way…
Enjoy.

#3

Thank You and I will heed your advice and you have more time in Yoga than I do, I was only doing Kripalu for 3 months when I stopped.

A little more about me and whats around my area

When I first thought about returning to Yoga it was because I saw an Ashtanga style advertized but from what I read about it I am likely not up to it right now. I also just located a Iyengar school today I am not certain of since I have read it pays great attention to detail and the precise alignment of postures and I have a hip issue that makes it impossible to bring my knees to my chest, and keep them together, so I am no certain if that would be an issue. And of course there is Kripalu and that is what I did briefly and what I am working with again so maybe that might be best, I don’t know. And I think there might be a Kundalini class somewhere but I am not sure and I have heard there is someone else that does some type of mixed style but I am not sure what that is at the moment. And I would not doubt there is a Hatha school in teh area but I am not certain about that either.

And the injury I was talking about is a Back injury that laid me in a Hospital for a week a few years back but it is doing fine today and is pretty much under control but then I have not been trying any postures that might stress it either.

#4

Hi Walter,

Welcome to the Forum. Personally I think you should pay less attention to which style at the moment and rather find a teacher who will be sensitive and patient with your old injuries and who will be able to adjust, adapt and modify to assist you to the maximum. Later when you are in a better shape, perhaps then you can shop around for styles, if you feel so. So perhaps opt for a small class where the teacher has more time to circulate between the yogis and where the atmosphere is sympathetic.

It also sounds to me that you might find benefit with a yoga therapist, I think Nichole, one of the moderators, might be able to assist you here.

Enjoy coming back to yoga, even if you just go for the relaxation it offers.

#5

Also good to know and I am going to start looking for teachers soon.

Being what I would call an incredible Newbie at Yoga I am not excatyl sure what questions to ask but I will tell them what I am thinking

Thanks

#6

Man was I wrong, I was going on old information there are not anywhere near as many Yoga schools around as there use to be and the one that I was considering that was an Iyengar school is some sort of mixed thing now that I am not sure about and the Kripalu center I use to go to closed last Summer. The Ashtanga style that I saw advertized is no longer there

I will have to look some more

#7

I rarely give this sort of answer to this sort of question but …

Try this place. The Iyengar teachers on their web site are the ones I’d look into considering your current circumstances.

#8

[quote=InnerAthlete;10405]I rarely give this sort of answer to this sort of question but …

Try this place. The Iyengar teachers on their web site are the ones I’d look into considering your current circumstances.[/quote]

Thank You very much, I will contact them.

#9

Namaste WalterJ I am also new to the Forum, and have already rcvd very useful advice. You cld look into Integral Yoga you may find that it may suit you present needs.
Ananda

#10

Well

Here is what has happened so far

The Yoga school that InnerAthlete directed me to (Thank You) looks very good but my schedule and their schedule do not match anymore. They did when I started this post but due to issues at my office (an IT Office), we are now down 9 people and they will not hire anyone due to the possibility of a pending recession they have adopted the attitude of “do more with less” I will not go into a rant about that here, this is not the place. So long story short my hours have increased considerably.

I have contacted 3 other yoga teachers via e-mail, 1 over a week ago and 2 just last Monday, and non have yet responded to me.

So now that I really could use Yoga more than ever and the only free time I appear to have at the moment is between 5:00am and 7:00am I decided to work with the Rodney Yee DVDs I was given. However I have found that many of the postures on one disk and some on the other are a bit more than I can handle at the moment. So I ordered his AM/PM dvd today since it says “Beginners” on it
As well as his book “Moving Toward Balance”. I do remember some of the easier postures form my brief stint at Kripalu and I am now doing those in the morning.

When things change and time allows I will likely look for a teacher then.

Thank You all very much for the help.

Walter

#11

Walter,

Good luck, I am sure things will turn eventually, I am glad that you “adapt, adjust and accommodate” as Swami Sivananda would have said. Bless the situation and I am sure the Divine will work it so that you may eventually have the time again.

#12

Thanks

I also just picked up this DVD Essential Yoga For Inflexible People - Maggie Rhoades.

I know nothing about it but it pretty much describes what I am these days “Inflexible” So I decided it might be a good idea.

Got to start sometime and now is as good as any I guess.