Have been contemplating Yoga for years & finally started this week with some highly recommended tapes. I usually end my day with a stiff neck/back & a headache (woo-ou!) most likely due to bad posture. I do walk regularly though Ive given up on the puff&grunt gym thing 6 months ago. Im defintely a Yoga candidate. :o
But how should I be feeling during/after my yoga session?? I was suprised at how difficult it was to hold these smooth looking postures while wondering why I wasent "breaking a sweat". And my neck felt even stiffer... hm. I keep wondering if Im doing it WRONG eventhough I understand that should be the least of my concerns. Any input from the +experienced would be greatly appreciated
I’m not experienced, but I just bought a book from Rodney Yee. In it he says a lot of beginners feel that because a lot of exercise programs operate on the “no pain, no gain” principal that people think that yoga has to hurt.
I have a bad knee and as a result I am very careful any time I do anything and try to “listen to my body.” So I don’t do everything that is on any video I watch - I just go as far as I can.
The few times I’ve practiced the feeling afterwards is different than anything I’ve felt with any other physical activity. My body feels energized, but not in an “excited” or “bouncy” kind of way. I just feel like there is more energy in my body, kind of like a “glow.”
If things are hurting, it might not be a question of wrong/right - it could just be a question of “too much.”
Hope this helps.
Corj,
Congradulations on the start of this journey. i hope your practice is very rewarding for you.
First things first (I think this is some sort of required disclaimer), there is absolutely no substitute for qualified, person-to-person instruction. A trained professional can be invaluable when it comes to issues of alignment, modifications and production.
That being said, the first two years I practiced I utilized only tapes, articles and books. When I did finally attend my first class, I was pleasantly surprised how well the tapes/dvds had prepared me (I utilize Yoga Journal/Gaiam’s series almost exclusively.) I did not experience any injury and the education I received served me quite well. That is not to say I’m not an annomally. When I started yoga I weighed over 440 lbs and the idea of going to a public class was unthinkable to me at that time. It would have been the difference between doing and not doing yoga for me.
Now at 180# I love going to classes. I try to get to a couple a month as well as special workshops when time and finances allow. I don’t consider them part of my practice as much as a sort of social learning setting where I can pick up bits and pieces to take back to my mat.
How does it feel? I practice both mornings and evenings. My morning practice is about walking up, blowing off the cobwebs and energizing. I utilize a very ‘sun’ approach in the morning, after some gentle stretching I work backbends and inversions to really get the juices flowing. After my practice I’m wide awake, energized and ready for the day. As Zaphod mentioned, its not the caffeinated bounce or jittery energy but a deep-breathing, excited to meet the day feeling.
Evenings i go a little more yang with a moon centered practice. Forward bends, and inversions like plow and shoulderstand as well as asana (poses) held for longer periods of time relax and prepare me for a longer, more intense meditation session than i generally embrace in the morning. When I’m through, I’m relaxed, peaceful and satisfied.
As your practice unfolds you’ll begin to notice how different asana and approaches effect you. It’s one of the first steps in really learning how to listen to your body. Make sure you understand unequivocally the difference between what has often been called ‘good pain’ versus ‘bad pain.’ It is the difference between effort and growth and self injury. If you have any question, error on the side of caution. Yoga should not be about pain, though occassionally life does offer up discomfort to steer us toward the correct path.
If you are a competivie type person or someone who is goal-oriented and achievment minded you may be at higher risk for injury. Yoga can help you be free of ego-driven competitiveness and it generally does it in one of two ways…by slowly nurturing a calm, centered practice or by facilitating an injury that removes the ability to compete – the choice will be yours to make.
Good luck, welcome to the forum and
Namaste,
BrianClt
Thank you so much for your replies. 
Certainly helped. I think I did do something “wrong” though, my neck has been feeling weird, its kind of hard to describe but to say that I feel like I have a headache at the base of my skull, I get relief when Im lying down…! It really feels like my head is too heavy for my neck, very strange. Anyhoo, I think that since I have a sensitive back/neck it would be wise to take a few intro classes & have someone correct me if Im a bit off so that I know that Im starting-off properly . I am not giving up on Yoga but will rest my neck & then start fresh (and I can`t wait)