Starting Yoga On My Own

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello everyone,

New guy here. I’m really ambitious about starting yoga but I’ve always had some doubt and shyness about actually getting started as I have no prior experience. I start an Asthangayoga class at my college in a couple weeks so I’m anxious about that and I want to practice some yoga on my own before I start the class. I gave PX90 Yoga a try and I had no idea if i was doing anything right the whole way through. I’m thinking about giving “Gaiam Yoga Burn with Rodney Yee” a try but is it possible to learn proper pose/form/technique/routine/etc on your own from a yoga dvd or somewhere online? Any tips or advice would be appreciated! Thank you :slight_smile:

#2

It is less likely to learn much of anything suited specifically to you through a static source - a book or dvd or online stream. It is not impossible it is just less likely. And, of course, some are under the impression that they share mediocrity with other around them rather than embracing their inherent individuality. For those people it may be that a one-size-fits-all approach allows then to feel validated.

The program you mention and its “yoga” component are not, in my view, particularly safe or effective beyond the scope of that program which is to maintain a certain level of exertion. I would not call it Yoga for it outlines only a sliver of the whole practice and even that is not executed with a balance between safety and effect. So I would not use it as a barometer.

Yoga is experiential rather than achievement oriented, despite what one might witness in pop culture. So there’s nothing to be anxious about nor is there a reason to get a head start other than “I want to start now”. You will not be docked for not doing it and a sound teacher will not artificially praise you for doing it.

It is tough enough to learn proper alignment from a teacher. Consider not making the learning curve steeper by working with a medium that can’t interact with you.

#3

[QUOTE=yestoday;49128]Hello everyone,

New guy here. I’m really ambitious about starting yoga but I’ve always had some doubt and shyness about actually getting started as I have no prior experience. I start an Asthangayoga class at my college in a couple weeks so I’m anxious about that and I want to practice some yoga on my own before I start the class. I gave PX90 Yoga a try and I had no idea if i was doing anything right the whole way through. I’m thinking about giving “Gaiam Yoga Burn with Rodney Yee” a try but is it possible to learn proper pose/form/technique/routine/etc on your own from a yoga dvd or somewhere online? Any tips or advice would be appreciated! Thank you :)[/QUOTE]

I like Gaiam’s Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss DVD because some of the poses have the option of dropping from the main practice to go “to the studio” where they give further instruction on the pose and how to properly align yourself. I’ve been to a few classes, but always preferred to do yoga at home. It is possible to build a great practice with at-home media, but you have to devote yourself to learning it. More than one book or DVD will certainly be required.

#4

Take some time to learn ujjayi breathing, do ujjayi breathing in all the postures, and do loads of the Sun salutes variations.

There are some awesome DVDs out there. I’m currently doing the Total Yoga routines. http://totalyoga.com/

#5

[QUOTE=rechaka;49201]Take some time to learn ujjayi breathing, do ujjayi breathing in all the postures, and do loads of the Sun salutes variations.

There are some awesome DVDs out there. I’m currently doing the Total Yoga routines.[/QUOTE]

What’s the series like? I can’t stand videos that have the instructor talking through the poses… Must be voice-over.

#6

I like! Voice-over yes, not too much talking, some friendly informative info in certain postures, reminders to keep ujjayi breathing and relax or align body parts here and there, excellent advice to improve the postures. I’ve been really harvesting a lot out of them so far. The two instructors side by side performing the poses as well, with some alternate or more advanced variations thrown in where applicable, something to aim at!

#7

[QUOTE=rechaka;49210]I like! Voice-over yes, not too much talking, some friendly informative info in certain postures, reminders to keep ujjayi breathing and relax or align body parts here and there, excellent advice to improve the postures. I’ve been really harvesting a lot out of them so far. The two instructors side by side performing the poses as well, with some alternate or more advanced variations thrown in where applicable, something to aim at![/QUOTE]

That sounds like the kind of thing I’m looking for… Thanks!

#8

If there are any specific poses you are interested in learning before your class begins I would recommend saving the money and looking up how to guides for those poses on you tube. Sure you will have to wade through some low quality stuff but there are tons of great videos from fantastic high level teachers on there. Make sure to check out stuff from Brock and Krista Cahill, Kathryn Budig, and Tara Stiles, they are all favorites of mine. If you are looking for you to do a headstand we made a couple of quick how to videos that could benefit a first timer :slight_smile:

#9

Hello,
Due to the use of certain people of “yoga” to gain profit and not to help the learners that is common in my country I have decided to start yoga on my own until I find the right teacher. So far, I haven’t found any but I am still motivated and intrested in yoga as always!
There is a great website called yogayak that you can check. There are a lot of good videos there. You can also have some very good tips and an introduction to meditation + some meditation courses on that website too.
There are also books that you can read: Easy steps to yoga by Swami Sivananda, and practical lessons in Yoga by the same master are very good to start with.
There is also a very intresting documentary that you MUST watch to learn about the history and branches of yoga it’s called Yoga unveiled. I can’t post links yet, but I will after my first 15 posts.
Love.

#10

Experimentation is going to be your best friend. For example, it sounds like sun salutations are a favorite of rechaka - but for me…if I had to do sun salutations EVERY time I did asana practice, I’d have never stuck with it. :slight_smile:

It also depends upon your level of fitness as to which DVDs will be helpful to you. I have a boat load of DVDs and so many of them are beyond my ability - or they go too fast - or they go through the poses once and then say ‘do it 3 more times’ but in the meantime they move on to the next pose. If you have access to a library or netflix-type system, renting the DVDs might be helpful and less investment.

My favorite lately is an itunes download from a gal in the UK - yoga2hear is what it’s called. She does gentle hatha yoga (I think she has 2 or 3 levels) with good audio and a nice follow-along pdf file.

I also think yogajournal has downloads (might even be free - I’m not sure) but I’ve never tried them.

#11

[QUOTE=KrisR;49362]Experimentation is going to be your best friend. For example, it sounds like sun salutations are a favorite of rechaka - but for me…if I had to do sun salutations EVERY time I did asana practice, I’d have never stuck with it. :slight_smile:

It also depends upon your level of fitness as to which DVDs will be helpful to you. I have a boat load of DVDs and so many of them are beyond my ability - or they go too fast - or they go through the poses once and then say ‘do it 3 more times’ but in the meantime they move on to the next pose. If you have access to a library or netflix-type system, renting the DVDs might be helpful and less investment.

My favorite lately is an itunes download from a gal in the UK - yoga2hear is what it’s called. She does gentle hatha yoga (I think she has 2 or 3 levels) with good audio and a nice follow-along pdf file.

I also think yogajournal has downloads (might even be free - I’m not sure) but I’ve never tried them.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for suggesting Netflix! I don’t know why I forget that they have yoga programs too, and look! They have Total Yoga, as mentioned above, so I can try before I buy.

#12

Answering the original OP question about Rodney Yee’s Yoga Burn DVD. It is a bit more advanced for a beginner so I would recommend Rodney’s Yoga for Beginners which includes pose training and lists some common mistakes beginners make. Get a good book i.e. Ashtanga Yoga, The Practice Manual by David Swenson. Excellent book for Ashtanga lovers. And as Rechaka mentioned, Ujjayi breathing.

And remember, be open and receptive and always honor your body.

@kidvision,

Your yoga teacher will find you. When you hold expectations of what a teacher should and should not be, you will have a difficult time finding one who meets your standards. And usually the teacher falls short of expectations. It is best to start going to different classes and from there, your teacher will find you. If not, a well planned home practice will perhaps meet your needs until your teacher finds you. While having a very general idea of what you are looking for is fine, don’t get hung up on specifics. Good luck!

#13

[QUOTE=lotusgirl;49399]Answering the original OP question about Rodney Yee’s Yoga Burn DVD. It is a bit more advanced for a beginner so I would recommend Rodney’s Yoga for Beginners which includes pose training and lists some common mistakes beginners make. Get a good book i.e. Ashtanga Yoga, The Practice Manual by David Swenson. Excellent book for Ashtanga lovers. And as Rechaka mentioned, Ujjayi breathing.

And remember, be open and receptive and always honor your body.

@kidvision,

Your yoga teacher will find you. When you hold expectations of what a teacher should and should not be, you will have a difficult time finding one who meets your standards. And usually the teacher falls short of expectations. It is best to start going to different classes and from there, your teacher will find you. If not, a well planned home practice will perhaps meet your needs until your teacher finds you. While having a very general idea of what you are looking for is fine, don’t get hung up on specifics. Good luck![/QUOTE]

Actually, that’s what I have been thinking of. The problem dear is that all of the courses I found about are very expensive. I think it is rather abusive!
Trying to earn that much money out of yoga is for me unforgiveable!

#14

Then I might suggest a home practice and trying to attend at least one class per week. Never underestimate the benefits of attending a class. Even if the teacher is not so much to your liking, you will learn much regarding proper alignment, pranayam work, meditation and hopefully the spiritual side of yoga. Not to mention sharing your practice with others. It’s a great community! I am sorry that yoga classes are so expensive where you are! You’re right, it shouldn’t be that way, but often times it is.

#15

Thanks! I have found 9 yoga classes so far and I have crossed out 2 already. I still have more to look!