Where to begin?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello. I’ve decided to begin doing yoga and do not know where to start. I’m a heavier guy. I worked out religiously between the ages of 14 and 18 and my workout plan was very poor, I only worked out my chest triceps and quadriceps. As a result I have many minor neck/back aches and pains through out my hamstrings and lower back plus one of those bumps on my neck with the forward head lean (my head/neck is actually crooked if try to stand as straight as possible, if I look in the mirror and try to straighten myself out it is very awkward and requires a lot of movements that feel unnatural) and they’ve gotten worse over time since I have stopped working out for the past 2 1/2 years. I would really like to loosen up my hips/lower back and my spine as I think it would alleviate the pain and maybe even give me some height that I may be losing from the uneven tension throughout my spine and pelvis.

Where should I begin? I’ve been trying to commit myself to getting into better shape and decided I should focus on losing weight and stretching and getting my body aligned properly before I started hitting the weights heavy and building my mass to where it once was. I know virtually nothing about yoga. Is there a beginners program? Are there exercises that will help me specifically with what I’m looking for? If I am indeed losing height from being in such poor shape and misaligned, will it be noticeable? How long should I work on loosening and straightening everything up before I start adding heavy weight training back in?

#2

Hi I would recommend finding a good teacher to start you of and point you in the right direction, my personal favourite yoga is Ashtanga as I personally find it a good workout to, but theres lots of choice, its finding what works for you.

Be warned your get hooked because it makes you and your body feel great, Good luck

#3

Start by researching the studios/schools in your area. Read the teacher bios and class descriptions. See what feels right for you.

I used to be a religious weightlifter. When I started practicing yoga, I dropped the weights. Now I can honestly tell you that I am stronger, more lean, and in better overall shape than I was before yoga.

Start slow; take a level I class. Familiarize yourself with the poses; learn how to link breath and movement. Really explore the standing poses to help with your alignment.

#4

@bmf56

The “where to begin” question I’ve just recently responded to here. So I hope you won’t mind if I direct you there rather than repeat myself. I’ve done enough of that :slight_smile:

In asana (the poses or postures which make up only a small percentage of Yoga) alignment comes before strengthening. Why? To strengthen something that is malaligned reinforces the malalignment and this hinders optimal functioning of the human body.

Every studio I’ve been to has a beginning level of some sort. Some of those are actually suited for beginners. Some of them are not as they teach without safety or use a curriculum that is not appropriate for a raw beginner. Open or “all levels” classes are not something I could advocate in the case you present.

If you are looking ONLY to address the things you mention it is best to take on private, individualized instruction and lay this out for the teacher before starting up. In group classes a good teacher takes care of your safety. A great teacher can read your body.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to predict a timeline. That only adds unneeded pressure to the process, not to mention removing the possibility of enjoying the practice. Keep in mind that the conditions you and I have in our bodies took us years to accumulate. They will not typically go away in three weeks.

#5

Hi, I’m new to yoga. I’ve taken about 6 classes and have never before experienced the peace and well being that I’ve gotten from yoga. I’m a 60 year old woman who has been lifting weights for ten years. My question is: how do I start a home practice? I am reading
eric Schiffmann’s book, and I’m starting to follow what my body wants to do, but going in and out of some of the poses is confusing. I have shoulder and back issues (from weights). Sorry for the long post, can you tell I’m a convert?

#6

I agree with everyone else… take a variety of classes in specific traditions… I like ashtanga and iyengar, which are both extreme ends of the spectrum (barring heated yoga). I feel that a distinct lineage is very important in the teacher-student relationship. If you come across a teacher who offers private and you can afford it I would try that too. I began by taking private Iyengar lessons and developed a solid foundation there and then moved to taking ashtanga mysore lessons and I now incorporate both iyengar and ashtanga into my weekly schedule, although on different days… alternating iyengar and ashtanga 6 days a week.

#7

Thank you. I will try out some different classes and see about taking a private lesson. I feel that I’m in new territory (on so many levels) and I don’t want to injure myself. I have a feeling that the poses are the tip of the iceberg…
thanks again!

#8

Besides lessons the best investment I made was:

  1. Light on Yoga - Iyengar
  2. Light on Pranayama - Iyengar
  3. Ashtanga Yoga Practice Manual - David Swenson
  4. Ashtanga Primary Series DVD - David Swenson
  5. A good mat, a couple straps, a couple blocks, a sand bag, a couple blankets and a metal folding chair with the back kicked out.

These are helpful too:

Go to youtube and search this “B.K.S. Iyengar - Yoga Demonstration, Sydney, 1983”

Also, check out David Garrigues’s youtube channel and Kino McGregor’s youtube channel.

#9

Life is like a puzzle just start with one piece and the rest will come.

#10

Thank you Karma Senge and fakeyogis. I much appreciate your feedback!