Thought I'd start this for anyone who has been curious about yoga. I've been practicing yoga for a little over 2 years.

Yoga is a very old form of exercise and a mental and spiritual means of centering oneself. I discovered yoga after a major foot reconstruction surgery (they broke my foot, sawed it up, put it back together again).

After weeks of Physical Therapy, I was ready for something to get the rest of me back in shape. So I went to a yoga studio and paid for a one-to-one session. This was invaluable because we figured out what I could and couldn't do. Some of the exercises I did leaning up or sitting against a wall.

What I discovered is that there are loads of people in yoga classes with all sorts of ailments. Not everyone is the skinny-dancer-lithe-and-lean yoga type, there are many different body types. Plus, I found out this was the perfect exercise for me --a middle aged woman whose metabolism has slowed down, and who just isn't up to step aerobics anymore.

Over an initial grueling period where I was falling over and grunting, I managed to increase my ability to balance on the "recovering foot," lose inches, and increase my flexibility. I learned relaxation techniques that helped me lower my blood pressure and deal with stress.

I enjoy Hatha yoga. There are different types of yoga --Iyengar, Kundalini, Bikram and you just have to find the type that is right for you. Check to see what they offer at on-base fitness centers.

Also, yoga isn't competitive. You don't have to give a hoot that the person next to you has their foot in their mouth! But, for the beginner, I'd recommend looking for older instructors. I've found some that have been doing it for 40, 20 and 15 years. Their perspective is a bit different, and they don't run it like a monk on steroids (like some of the younger ones do).

Yoga studios are opening everywhere (though they can be pricey. The one I went to charged $90/month for unlimited classes). Also, often there are classes at community centers as well as colleges. There are many "yoga" links on YouTube. You can also buy books, but do start off with at least 3 classes/week for 3 weeks.

Just don't be put off by the tinkly music and the skinny guy --the skinny guy might be able totally kick your tush when it comes to stretches and balancing! A good class lasts around 1:15, or 90 minutes (if you're lucky). Bring towel and a bottle of water. Do take off your shoes and socks. Bring a mat (though sometimes they have them to rent).

Now, I do yoga at home. Occasionally I drop in on a class. All it takes is a mat, some time, a little space and the decision to do it!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: EasyWriter,

Great on you. I can relate.

Yoga is all about mind over matter. My Father was a yogi ..but didn't know it. He used to say, "the difficult we do right away. The impossible takes a little longer."

Come now, Jesus: No discussion of yoga can be complete without bringing up that master yogi of Nazareth.

As we continue - at our own Level and Willingness - our Journey toward Wholeness, there is nothing that we won't face. Among the dizzying depths of years of strength training, cardio training, yoga, meditation, mastery of food, and of course the constant in-our-face Lifestyle Principles which constitute our 9-Limbed Path of Wholeness (Navanada Yoga or Wholistic Fitness®), each of our human qualities will arise. More troublesome than the stiffest of knots, within our cellular bodies are energy cysts filled with stunningly potent gumption gathered from eons of us forgetting who we truly are. Don't take feeble ilg's word for it; just do a hip opener for 8 minutes. or go for a long, hilly run in the high wind. sit still for 40 minutes without flinching. Quit gossiping. Brush your teeth with your Non-Dominant Hand while in yogi squat...do any of these WF yogas and just watch the emotional parade begin; Jealously arrives. Boredom. Annoyance. Skepticism. Doubt. Fear. Anger. It's all in us. In buckets, usually. As we do the Practice and learn to run or pose or lift ourselves through our inner storming qualities, transformation happens. Slowly.

The sourcing of our human suffering comes from clinging. Attachment, the Buddha and Yogi Christ would say. We hang onto our perceived problems; the mortgage, the illness, the injury, the self-pity of resentment within our relationships. That's our 'stuff.' That's our Drama. --Coach Ilg at WholisticFitness.com

And of course me too, after 60 years, a minor yogi still---first physician to self.

A fitness blog and new website by me. Someday. Could be. Recently i registered a domain: "UnwholeFiness.com". I mean if Brother Ilg lables himself as "feeble", compared to him, i am a decrep in the works.

"On the withered tree, a flower blooms." --DT Suzuki

I'm 26 years old and I just started doing some Yoga. I don't know what kind it's considered, but others refer to it as "Power Yoga". The first 45 minutes are fast, intense, and designed to burn calories and build muscle. The last 45 minutes are slow, calming, and designed to improve your flexibility and balance. At first I was skeptical about liking Yoga, but after trying it I fell in love with it. It is the most relaxing thing I've ever done and I look forward to my Yoga time every week. Bring on Thursday!

Not me pinnacle jumping..



..Ilg, uber athlete and fitness trainer. Jump on over to his place. Find his "Indirect Lines"

Read Steve Ilg's book "Total Body Trans-Formation". It's full of pictures and common sense ways in easy, hard and the "impossible".

quote:

Originally posted by diamondbk:
I'm 26 years old and I just started doing some Yoga. I don't know what kind it's considered, but others refer to it as "Power Yoga". The first 45 minutes are fast, intense, and designed to burn calories and build muscle. The last 45 minutes are slow, calming, and designed to improve your flexibility and balance. At first I was skeptical about liking Yoga, but after trying it I fell in love with it. It is the most relaxing thing I've ever done and I look forward to my Yoga time every week. Bring on Thursday!

What your doing sound very similar to what I'm doing in the P90x program. I ALWAYS get a good stretch out of yoga. Very challenging.

By the way, you can also pick up YogaJournal or go online. Great resource!

quote:

Originally posted by diamondbk:
I'm 26 years old and I just started doing some Yoga. I don't know what kind it's considered, but others refer to it as "Power Yoga".

Yes, power yoga is still yoga, though they do tend to cruise it along really fast. But --you don't have to drench yourself in a sweat or compete with the next person to get a good workout.

Remember, yoga is about concentration, focus on the body, balance and gaining strength by working with your body and ultimately for the benefit of the inner limbs --the mind, senses and your emotions.

I'd rather see someone doing a stretch correctly, than someone speeding through completely unaware that they might be doing something incorrectly and hurting themselves.

Hip openers --there are many and you can easily do 30 minutes! Deep lunges, combined with twists. They're actually very important as we age. Ever see how a lot of older people walk, or even younger ones who are out of shape? Or they can't bend down to reach something they've dropped? They're stiff in the hips! Hence, their coordination and balance falters. Later...they trip, fall, and because they've lost flexibility, the results are disastrous.
As always, I advocate getting your feet wet with classes and enjoying the surroundings of doing with other people!

Enjoy!

Yes, Steve Ilg is one of the action men of yoga!

One of my favorite teachers has been doing this for over 50 years. Patrick Freeman is so impressive because the yoga has benefited his "inner limbs --that of the mind, sense and emotions."

Would daily yoga be good for people with PTSD? Absolutely.