Hello all! I am Zack, and I am seventeen 
I am wanting to learn yoga techniques for the purpose of my own physical and mental health, and someday would like to somehow use it in my soon-to-be doula practice (I am working towards my birth doula certification). I don’t have a lot of money, and am very new so I am still in the learning phase, and was wondering if there were any good kits or something I could purchase just to test the waters? Your help is greatly appreciated!!!
How about a work-study arrangement with your local yoga studio of choice?
The local place has very very very inexpensive classes, but I’d like to have something to have at home for my own purpose, and I’m just looking for opinions on what is out there to buy.
BOOK - “[U]Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health[/U]” BKS Iyengar.
DVD - “Yoga for Beginners” with Patricia Walden
A mat
A belt
and a pair of blocks
Thanks for these links! The blocks, though, I’ve been hearing it’s recommended to use ones that are gel-like so the hands are supported on a softer surface or something?
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;56968]How about a work-study arrangement with your local yoga studio of choice?[/QUOTE]
I get a free membership to the local gym with my tuition (and it has wonderful yoga classes), but this idea REALLY intrigues me!
How does this work, usually?
We have quite a few yoga classes on our site, if you’d like to check it out. They are all free to stream online.
As a beginner, they of course don’t replace the attention of an experienced yoga instructor, but there are quite a few classes that are geared toward guiding a beginner through a series of simple poses.
Cheers,
David
Try Sahaja yoga.
[QUOTE=ZackP;56974]… though, I’ve been hearing it’s recommended to use ones that are gel-like so the hands are supported on a softer surface or something…[/QUOTE]
From whom, may I ask?
If “they” have a rationale for such a suggestion and that resonates with you then by all means adopt that.
The blocks are solid in order to foster the connection between human and planet and provide a sense of grounding. That sense should be coming from the hand/foot on the ground itself however we use the blocks to modify until such a time as we can do without them. In the meantime for most uses I prefer the solidity of wood. here are places and times to use a foam block but I personally don’t prefer them as a primary prop.
gordon