Just survived my first Yoga Class

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

It was brutal, but strangely satisfying. I’m not sure if I am or not looking forward to the next, just because this was so hard. I’m sure it’ll get easier as I get into better shape. I hadn’t realized how out of shape I was! D:

Anyways, I liked the teacher, I liked some of the poses we did, they made me feel, I don’t know, powerful, even though I’m a skinny-and-bones sort of person. :lol:

I felt nauseous afterwards, even though I tried not to eat before class, I guess I should have had a normal meal or something a couple hours before class. I’m not sure what the timing is for eating before class.

And it rained. Boo to rain. The teacher drove me home though! :smiley:

#2

Oh you must attend the class not your level , better start from the beginner level then gradually to higher level to avoid any harm to your body

#3

It kinda reminds me my first class a month ago. And it was beginners class :smiley:

I was sweating all over my face, and in some positions my muscles were shaking a bit, being too weak. But in last two years I was just sitting on my “us” :wink: doing nothing, having NO shape. And as the lssons progress, I feel stronger, but sometimes, in some positions I realise I have still a lot to go before really getting stronger. It is better, thought.

As for eating before class - from what I heard, no less than 3 hours after big meal is suggested, and at least an hour/hour and a half after a LIGHT meal. I usually have that 3 hours and no problems.

ps. my friend, who goes for yoga classes for a year now and likes them a lot, told me her first one was hard and no fun, and she needed more time to have fun with it, so no need for quick conclusions. Good luck :slight_smile:

#4

It [I]was[/I] a beginners class. :frowning: Somebody else was teaching it as a stand in. Atman what you say applies to me exactly. Feeling weak, shaking limbs, lots of sweat. But I’m looking forward to the next class, haven’t decided yet when that will be, I’m broke until November, but I’m hoping that the offered free week of Yoga means I get 7 free lessons, or somesuch. I’m waiting to hear from the teacher.

#5

Strangeseraph, don’t be discouraged you had a very normal experience. The fact that you had mixed emotions tells me you really put yourself into your class, good job!

If I may offer a bit of advice?

Eat something light (fruit or some broth soup) about 2-3 hours before class. Any closer than 2 hours and you will definitely feel it in your downward dog and other inversions. Ick.

Allow your body to really settle into each pose to help you build muscle memory. It won’t be long before you are feeling much more comfortable with the poses and find your niche.

Congratulations! And a warm welcome to the boards.

#6

Hi Jenny,

Reading your post made me think of my first class more than 12 years ago now. I was over weight and sounded like an ox and sweating profusely. Afterwards getting in my car to drive home I could hardly engage the clutch of my car to change gears and the next morning the only way I could get out of bed was to roll off it, all my muscles were sore and stiff.

I went back and couldn’t get enough and still can’t get enough of yoga. You will look back one day and have a good giggle like I have now about my first class. :slight_smile:

#7

I felt exactly the same after my first lesson. It looked easy in a picture, but the actual end result was quite different. [I]Gatyatmak Meru Vakrasana[/I] really did me in the first time around! Didn’t realize how out of shape I was.

Dustin

#8

I wish it was just my body that couldn’t keep up in my first lesson. I brought a ‘free class’ ticket to the local studio, and I was the only one who showed up for that class time so I had a private session. We were just getting through the warmups and into some stronger tapas-building. The instructor (who subsequently became my favorite instructor) asked me to come up into another cobra, and I couldn’t, and absurdly enough I took it horribly personally that she had asked me to do what I couldn’t. I broke down and cried for a few minutes, and she was so welcoming of all the work I had to do there. . . Yep, I went back.

#9

Wow Techne, sounds like a pretty tough session. Glad you persevered in spite of it.

#10

Brings back memoriesf my first yoga class. It was over a year ago and I remember my instructor kept looking at me saying “are you O.k?” Then again at the middle of class “are you o.k.?” It was so hard and I was so amazed at how much effort it took to silence the mind and focus on breathing. Who knew breathing was such a art?

Forward to the present. In July, My yoga teacher, same one from the beginning looks at me and says " I fee like a proud Mama". She said that “If I could see the picture in her head from the first day of class to now I would be amazed at my transformation”. Quite a compliment. She said she wished she had asked to take a picture or film the class because the change is so great. Not just because I’m 25 pounds lighter but because I am much calmer and more centered, full of grace she said.

#11

Oh how lovely LaLuz. I think you have a very good teacher there.

#12

Pandara , ur description just too vivid and showed the clear picture most of the beginner face after a lesson, reading ur message memories is back , such mixed feeling it make me missed those care free days to learn first yoga , to learn firt TTC , to teach first lesson yoga … hope the clock can be turning back. But now i am fighting to restore my good health back…!!!

#13

By coincidence, I did my first yoga class yesterday. I am a 55 year old life time trainee in powerlifting,swimming, running, kettlebells, bw exercises etc. I am in good shape (6"2,195lbs.) and am a certified swimming and kettlebell instructor. I decided to try yoga after being introduced by a kb. instructor who began his career in yoga/Pilates. Also I was feeling very stiff after having never done serious flexibility work. I was also getting more muscle pulls and joint pains. So basically I began yoga as a supplement to other physical activities.

I figured that I was going to have a hard time flexibility - wise but I was astonished how hard the class was physically from a strength perspective. Yoga works a different type of strength than my other activities. I sweated during the various poses and am sore from yesterday. Sore in a good way. I am not discouraged and know that just as a new weight trainee cannot squat 100kg. on his first day, I too cannot do a perfect pose on day one.

So basically what I am saying is that anything worthwhile demands work and dedication. No reason to disparage. I also intend to enjoy the path.

#14

It is not unheard of for people to be nauseous when doing their first yoga class. The asanas effect your body in so many subtle ways other then the obvious sensations of burning thighs and profuse sweat. I watched a teacher yesterday teaching a senior citizen who was very much out of shape. The whole class was pretty much floor work and it lasted about 30 minutes including svasana. All the poses were super gentle and slow but she still felt a little nauseous. The woman was lucky that it was a small class and the teacher could actually work with her which will not always be the case. She offered the student privates but she didn’t seem receptive to accepting them.

Also “Basics” classes taught in a lot of yoga studios means “long holds” which are not necessarily easier then actually flowing with your breath. They feel that the long holds help you to work with alignment. When in actuality, some people should not be performing long holds and it would actually be more therapeutic and lubricating for their joints and easier on the muscles and cardiovascular system to move a little bit.

A better beginner class for some people may just be to do a lit bit of breathing and poses that are supported by blocks, bolsters, chairs and straps until they build the stamina to do the poses unsupported.

It may be beneficial to do private sessions to develop the stamina to do a regular class. If privates are not an option, I suggest hanging out in the back of the class and taking breaks when needed and asking the teacher for modifications for the poses that make you feel nauseous.

#15

The first yoga class that I attended wound up being a Gentle Yoga class. I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but attended because the time was right. It was a nice and, er, gentle introduction to yoga. And the teachers at the place that I go to are wonderful. Very understanding, very patient, very helpful, and sem to add in something new each class that I take with them.

I am very happy that you survived your first class, though! :slight_smile: