How often do you do Yoga?

[Nestinghedgehog]

I have been doing Yoga weekly for about a year. I have missed some weeks due to family commitments etc. I am getting better but only slightly - still can't get my feet flat on downward dog but in my defence in all the exercise that I have done over the years I have always had tight hamstrings and have never been able to touch my toes. I am very much a beginner.

I have now decided that if I want to get better - and enjoy it more - I need to be more regular. For the last three days i have tried to do a small amount in the morning before work.

For those of you who love Yoga and feel it makes a difference to your life how often do you do it? What should I be aiming for?

Thank you

[PellyBay]

3 -4 times a week is ideal for me... but I rarely manage that! Mostly is more like once a fortnight. Anything is better than nothing though.

[Dizzywizz]

I try to do about 10-20 mins exercise every evening, sometimes yoga sometimes other things.

When I was younger and did it a lot, it was about an hour a day at home plus a weekly class. I couldn’t get my feet flat then, but I can now which is odd!!

[Amrapaali]

Daily.

I do the at home Adrienne videos so much easier to squeeze in a 20 min yoga session whenever I feel like it. Just started Jan of 2018 so very much a beginner. But daily sessions help me immensely as I am sat behind a desk the whole day.

[onemouseplace]

I really notice an improvement when I am managing 2 - 3 classes a week - unfortunately something usually gets in the way and it's usually 1 - 2 if I am lucky.

I've never managed a home practice - I have tried but I get terribly distracted and actually quite bored, plus I never push myself anywhere near as much as I do in class.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I do yoga for an hour a week and have done for 10 weeks. I’m almost ready for a beginners class - at the moment a teacher comes to do it with me.

It’s had a DRAMATIC effect. Lost 10 pounds and am pain free for first time in 20 years.

I am never giving this up. I’m going to get a second hour now I’m ready for a beginner class.

[Nestinghedgehog]

Thank you for all of your replies.

Laurie - how amazing that you are pain free. I have old lady pains - aching feet and ankles when I first stand up - do you think Yoga might be able to help with this?

Will try and carry on doing a little a day. Am looking on youtube - done Adrienne and Tara Stiles - any other recommendations?

Thanks again everyone

[LaurieFairyCake]

Definitely. One of the things I’ve noticed is that I can stand on a moving train and tube so much more easily. Before I’d definitely get foot pain.

[ElinorOliphantIsCompletelyFine]

3-4 times a week. Sometimes I mix in a bit of cardio too.

I have really tight hamstrings and shoulders , too, so still can't get my feet flat for downward facing dog!

[ElinorOliphantIsCompletelyFine]

Should have mentioned, I am definitely stronger and more relaxed since I started yoga and, in general, don't get any aches and pains.

[thedevilinablackdress]

Been doing yoga for years once/twice a week and my heels don't go to the floor. It is not to be.

Definitely think it helps with the aches and pains. I notice the difference if I have some time off.

[Bombardier25966]

I do it once a day, completed my 500th session last week! I do Yoga with Adriene. I have chronic upper back pain, and whilst it's still there it is infinitely worse if I don't practice. Plus it has such an effect on my mental health, at my very worst moments you'll find me on the mat, and I've been known to forward fold on aeroplanes

[ZispinAndChai]

Daily, but I've only recently come back to it.

Years it all seemed so easy, so effortless... Add many years and a few stones and I'm seriously having to work on the very basics of balance, posture and any kind of muscle strength, so I'm doing 30 minutes every day to try to get me back into a decent shape to do anything "proper".

[ZispinAndChai]

Year ago^

[Clarabumps]

Every day. I'm training to be a yoga teacher so I kinda have to.
We're going over a bit of theory at the moment that might help you. Your muscles act like a balancing act so when your biceps contract your bicep relaxes. They're opposing muscles. Hamstrings and quadriceps are opposing muscles, when one contracts the other releases.
So in order you relax into the hamstrings, try to engage your quads in forward folds and downward dog. It doesn't have to be a huge movement but just bring you attention to the quads and try and use them. This will take the contraction out of the hamstrings and allow it to fully relax and lengthen.
My ability kicked up a notch when I started practising 3x a week. I saw real change.

[Clarabumps]

That should have read
when your bicep contracts your triceps relaxes

[Nestinghedgehog]

Thank you Clarabumps - I will try that tomorrow.

[flipflop67]

I aim for three to four times a week. Don't always get there but when I do I feel so good and strong. When I don't I get lots of menopausal aches and pains. Like others yoga has helped a huge amount in strengthening my feet and ankles and also my back.

[Mercurial123]

Five times a week and meditate for fifteen minutes every day.

[PrettyWisdomous]

Not as often as I'd like! I was trying to get I to a routine of doing a session at home 4 or 5 times a week. Due to back injury I've been told not to do any for a while, unless I really know what I'm doing or am supervised by a professional. Can't wait to get back into it.

[TigerDroveAgain]

I’m new to yoga: been doing it since about February. I try to go twice a week. Sometimes once, sometimes three times. I can’t get on with Adrienne but I’d like to find something to help with doing it at home although I do a few yin type stretches when I remember. I meditate most days too. I think stepping up from classes, which I love to doing my own practice at home would be amazing.

I’ve lost a stone since I started plus my mental health is massively better. Wish I’d done it years ago

[greatbighillofhope]

I like doyogawithme.com lots of good teachers in there and a wide variety of styles/lengths etc to fit with what you’re looking for.
Going to a weekly class is great but I know I make so much more progress when I do 3-4 times a week. My problem at the moment is stamina- the day after my class I am absolutely knackered (it is a pretty high intensity power flow) so can only manage to do 2 classes a week atm otherwise id never have a productive day!
I would love to establish a home practice too but I find it too difficult to prioritise ‘myself’ over work/children/housework etc etc. I am working on it though.

[EmmaStone]

At the moment averaging once a week. I was doing more, but found that because it meant I was doing less other exercise, I was losing fitness in the other things I do, and was putting on a bit of weight. Doing yoga at home is lovely, but not intensive enough for me to replace running or weights.

When I was doing it more often though I definitely noticed a vast improvement and really feel it if I miss a week.

[greatbighillofhope]

Emma stone, what type of yoga are you doing? If you want more of a workout find yourself an ashtanga or vinyasa flow class and a good teacher who will make it challenging enough for all fitness levels.

[Ta1kinpeace]

I do a yoga class twice a week and BodyBalance three times a week

I do not bother about where my heels are in down dog. I focus on how straight my spine is.

[cakedup]

Never. I love the sound of yoga and fully believe in the benefits but it's like working against my natural body flow. I am the most inflexible person I know. Tight hamstrings. Can't touch my toes. I also have a bad back. I know yoga should probably help with all these things but I tried it a few times and found it so uncomfortable.