What type of Yoga should I be looking for?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi All,

So here’s my challenge: I am athletic, have a strong core, and have decent balance … but limited flexibility. I have no experience or background in yoga, but would love to pursue it in the context of excruciating strength and balance poses. I can easily get into the lotus position and support my weight on my hands, and I have no problem getting into the Crane (bakasana) position and holding it.

I would like to find a class that will push me into the forearm stand, mayurasana, and other strength/balance poses.

So what should I be looking for? A sedate beginner’s class won’t cut it for me, but I don’t have the background or experience to know what I should even be looking for. Or am I missing the mark entirely?

Help!

#2

Hi Sullis3,
Could you let us know your age, whether you have any back, neck or knee injuries. And even though you have not mentioned it… whether you have any interest no matter how slight in meditation or ‘inner awareness’ ?

And whether you play any sports or do other fitness exercises?

Best Wishes,
Dave

#3

Hi Dave … Good questions, and thanks for being gentle in pointing out details I should have thought to include the first time around :slight_smile:

I’m 35, and I’ve never had a neck or knee injury. I have pulled my lower back a couple of times in the past, though usually I can gauge when it’s starting to get tired. I haven’t pulled it due to overexertion in years - not since I became a regular at the gym - but I did pull it last March due to a jolt when I jammed my leg while making a quick turn on some uneven ground. So if anything I’d say my lower back would be the only minor concern, but one I’m willing to test and work with.

As for other fitness activities: I run, play soccer, play tennis, hike, go to the gym several times a work for weight work … I guess I’d consider myself pretty athletically inclined.

Finally: I do have some interest in meditation/inner awareness, though I think I would tend to want to divest those elements from the yoga (again, I’m new to this so forgive me if what I’m looking for just isn’t done!). Ideally I’d like the yoga to be an intense core workout with the satisfaction of performing aesthetic and graceful poses, and being able to concentrate on those elements. Meditation and Inner Awareness - certainly areas I’d like to develop further - I’d see as happening separately.

Let me know if there’s any other information I can provide … and thanks again!

Shaun

#4

Hi Shaun and welcome to the forums. Looking at the activities you engage in like running, soccer, etc I would say don’t be deceived by a “beginners class”. While you are likely very fit, you are probably tight, correct? A beginners class is a great and gentle way to introduce you to yoga and the asana’s. You may only need to stay in a beginners class for a short time, but it is important to know the asana’s. You have good upper body and core strength but need to probably loosen your hams, calf muscles and work on hip opening. Of course, since I don’t know you, I’m only guessing. But as a teacher who has had students come to her class (mixed levels), after jumping right into an ashtanga class (without any experience) and then injuring themselves, start small and work your way up. When I taught a beginners class, I had students that were quite advanced, but they chose to stick with the beginners class. The teacher just needs to challenge them with different variations.

And once you begin yoga, you’ll understand the importance of meditation. And with all that you do, that stilling of the mind, that focus can be of great benefit to you.

#5

Hi Shaun,
Yoga is over 5,000 years old and the central part of yoga has always been meditation, and the other aspects of yoga (one of which is the physical postures) were there to support this central meditation aspect.

Unfortunately over the past 100 years, mainly in the western world, some people have focused only (or at least mainly) on the physical aspects of yoga, and nowadays it is not uncommon for newcomers to yoga to think that yoga is mainly physical postures and meditation is something entirely different.

And you will certainly find yoga ‘teachers’ who propagate this even further and their classes will be mainly fitness classes.

I personally think it would be a shame to ignore the central aspect of yoga which has been there for thousands of years, just because many other westerners are doing this.

I would suggest that you try to find a ‘beginners’ ashtanga vinyasa class, where the teacher is known to also practice meditation themselves and is aware of the ‘bigger picture of yoga’.

And don’t worry, the ashtanga vinyasa class will not include meditation, but if the teacher themselves are practicing it, and see meditation as being an intrinsic part of yoga, then i am sure they will help you focus on the ‘breath’ … on your ‘awareness’… and will subtly lay the foundations where you will be more likely to make the step towards meditation over the next year or two.

If you don’t ‘find the right teacher’ then you may end up practicing more like a ‘fitness class’ than true yoga.

And if that is the case, you may be better off going to one of those circus training classes, that are excellent at toning the body, and fit well into your mentioned context of excruciating strength and balance poses.

Many traditional yoga practitioners may even say that ashtanga vinyasa is not true traditional yoga, but i believe with the ‘correct teacher’ this is a very beautiful practice, and taught in the right way is very good for helping those people with busy minds to focus at the start at exertion and ‘attaining the sequence and the postures’ but if taught skillfully is excellent for increasing one’s will power, improving focus and great preparation for meditation.

But make sure you look for a complete beginners class… and make sure you clearly tell the teacher about your previous back problems.

One very well know teacher… who is certainly not a beginner can be seen at

Best Wishes,
Dave

#6

Hello Shaun,

It’s a challenging question to answer.
Like all things, there is that which we see (of it) and that which goes unseen.
What is seen is that the physical postures may mandate certain bio-mechanical function two of which you’ve defined here as balance and strength. However it is only neophytes who do poses from muscle. For intermediate and advanced students the doing requires not muscling poses. We use the process of asana to first introduce the student to that which they can most easily identify and palpate; the gross physical form. But that is merely an entry point for the less sensitive, less aware, less spatially inclined student. This isn’t bad or good, it is simply pedagogy.

If you are willing to sustain additional injury you can pursue a feisty practice. That practice will likely lead you to the physical elements you outline but is also likely to place you at risk, aggrandize your ego, and lead you away from the truth of self. But it is an “okay” choice to make when it is eyes open and with full acceptance of the possible consequences.

I work with athletes and they come to understand the yoga I teach as a method to avoid burn out, not over train, and balance their living in order to enhance their performance in life - which includes their performance on the field. The yoga I advocate is not one where they lie around in a sedate fashion but one where they learn the ways to internal apply the concept of powerful work without aggression or violence AND are left with a feeling in their body of not adding fuel to their fire but of keep that flame alive without extinguishing it or having it consume them.

#7

I think what lotusgirl has written is important. Even though a beginner’s class is not the type of physical exertion you are used to, you may be surprised what you discover there. You may advance quickly, but to begin with, you should learn the basic asanas and the concepts of the practice.

I think it would be jumping the gun to recommend a particular style to you before you have any foundation of a practice. Your view could easily change after 3 beginner’s classes, as I’ve seen it happen. I started yoga 10 years ago in a gym thinking I wanted a workout, no different from pilates, circuit training etc. After just one class, the “world” of yoga opened up to me, and I knew this was something beyond a workout – and much more interesting to me. You might experience it and still feel that it’s just an exercise routine for you, but I think the discussion would be a lot more relevant after you’ve gotten your feet wet. :smiley:

Have you been to any beginner’s classes yet? If so, in what type of place?

#8

[QUOTE=sullis3;55977]Hi All,

So here’s my challenge: I am athletic, have a strong core, and have decent balance … but limited flexibility. I have no experience or background in yoga, but would love to pursue it in the context of excruciating strength and balance poses. I can easily get into the lotus position and support my weight on my hands, and I have no problem getting into the Crane (bakasana) position and holding it.

I would like to find a class that will push me into the forearm stand, mayurasana, and other strength/balance poses.

So what should I be looking for? A sedate beginner’s class won’t cut it for me, but I don’t have the background or experience to know what I should even be looking for. Or am I missing the mark entirely?

Help![/QUOTE]

Good questions.
If a young, professional acrobat was to take an advanced yoga class, he/she would, on the surface level, master the poses easily. However, there would be a certain something missing. That ‘something’ is what the whole holistic science of yoga is based upon.

An asana is not just a physical exercise and not just about the body. I’d recommend finding a good Iyengar teacher, this will provide challenge and also be arguably the best style to heal old injuries.

#9

You seem to be interested in an asana routine at this point. Sounds like you may want to try working yourself into a ashataga vynyasa routine, check out DVDs by Richard Freeman and David Swenson, however don?t be surprised when you find yourself delving deeper into the science of yoga as you experience the benefits.

#10

Welcome to the forum. One of the first things I discovered about yoga asana practice is that there are a thousand variations around 4 basic disciplines: Ashtanga, Iyengar, Hatha, and Vinyasa flow. Although yoga itself is very old, much of what we know about asana practice is about 150 years old, so pretty new really.

That said, if you are looking for challenge physically it’s pretty safe to say that restorative or meditative forms may not work for your temperment (although, as IA suggested, it may come in handy if you hurt yourself :slight_smile: ) Each of the 4 are challenging, but you may want to explore Ashtanga or Iyengar studios, as they are the most physically challenging, and test what they have to offer. Most studios are based in something and you can basically ask what styles they teach and go from there.

Hope this helps.

#11

Hi,
Sounds like you may want to try working yourself into a ashatag vynyasa routine, check out DVDs by Richard Freeman and David Swenson, however don’t be surprised when you find yourself delving deeper into the science of yoga as you experience the benefits…

#12

One thing i would like to add is.
Take things slowly and dont go for more.

#13

Hey sullis3! Well, the cool thing about yoga is that there are so many different styles to choose from that you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for in one of them. Seeing as it’d be the first time you give yoga a try, I would advice you to look for Power Yoga or Vinyasa (they’re pretty much the same, Power Yoga would be more than anything the “marketing” name). These classes tend to vary from instructor to instructor, but they are really good if you’re just beginning. They allow you to add extra instensity by adding a couple push ups between poses, or to lower down the intensity if it’s too much, by going into Balasana (Child’s Pose). As it’s a style that is very free (in the sense that it doesn’t have a set sequence like Ashtanga Vinyasa or Bikram, for example), it will be easier for you to become acquainted with the asanas (postures).

Once you’re more familiar with the asanas, I would recommend you to give Jivamukti a try. While it’s a very spiritual practice, it is freaking physically INTENSE!! But definitely not a style I would suggest to someone who’s new to yoga. Sanskrit words are thrown all around, and there’s a lot of flow in that class, which means that if you don’t know the sequence and/or name of the poses all that well, you will very likely get lost and feel frustrated.

So yeah! Give Power/Vinyasa a try, and perhaps in the future Jivamukti. There are a bunch of dynamic styles out there, just give them a try and I promise you’ll find what you’re looking for :wink:

#14

[QUOTE=Beck;60139]Hi,
Sounds like you may want to try working yourself into a ashatag vynyasa routine, check out DVDs by Richard Freeman and David Swenson, however don?t be surprised when you find yourself delving deeper into the science of yoga as you experience the benefits…[/QUOTE]

Hello again?

#15

[QUOTE=sharonbaker;61003]I was finding yoga which can give the relax to my mind , strengthening to body. Can you help me…[/QUOTE]

You’ll have to look what’s available in your location.

#16

I disagree with some of the previous posts. I think if you go the ashtanga route, you will just be doing set routes and won’t have the opportunity to “play” with some of the poses that will be more fun.

Have you thought about Anusara? Anusara, as found John Friend says, is both “playfully serious” and “seriously playful.” Attending an all-levels Anusara class would both give you the opportunity to have more instruction when needed [I]and[/I] ensure that you will definitely get into more challenging, fun poses (i.e., at my local Anusara studio, every all-levels class usually includes [I]some[/I] type of inversion).

Good luck finding what is right for you!