Yoga...I just don't get it

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

I've been trying to do RED January and have tried a couple of yoga videos. But I just find it deadly dull. I can see the benefit of it, but god it's boring.

Is it me? Is there a way to liven it up?

Classes are the way to go, not videos. I am addicted to yoga but it's the classes I love; I find daily practice with videos or an app much less appealing (although I still try and do some every day).

You also need (imo) classes to ensure that your alignment etc is ok, or you could end up doing yourself a mischief

Is there a yoga studio near you that you could try?

You need classes and lots of them - it becomes addictive.

I hate running. You don't have to like yoga. You don't have to do yoga. Just find something that works for you.

I can’t get on with videos, classes are much better.

I do DDP Yoga. It’s yoga and Pilates but started by an ex WWE wrestler who broke his back and used yoga to rehab it. It’s yoga with none of the zen like calm and chanting. There’s punching and shouting and I love it. It’s also helped me lose six stone and tone up my body and I do it on an app in my living room in peace while my kids nap. Best six quid a month I spend on me.

I do yoga flow. I don’t do stuff at home because I lack the motivation to keep going and group sessions with an instructor are so much better. The instructor will make sure you’re doing it properly and not getting yourself in the wrong position.

I find yoga pretty tough exercise. It takes strength and flexibility, which is important as you get older. Although I do admit that when I am busy I resent the time it takes. I get all anxious about lying on a mat trying to relax when I have a million things to do after.

I’ve always found it incredibly boring too. And Pilates - I wanted to rip my own head off after a while.

I'm a skint single mum with small(ish) children, classes are not really an option sadly.

I don’t think I could do yoga at home on my own.

I’ve only recently discovered it and absolutely love it. But I think its because it’s a really friendly class, we do the postures etc and have a good old chat and a right laugh while we’re at it. It’s not a serious class at all, but we get it done!

@forkfun I hate running too, I tried to like it, did couch to 5k but it’s just not me.

@BrowncoatWaffles ddp sounds really interesting, where can I find it?

I go to a hot flow class and I’m far too knackered during it to have time to think about being bored 😂

Have you tried Yoga with Adrienne, on YouTube Ghast? She seems to get a lot of love around here.

Yoga is not for me, either. So boring.
That's ok, isn't it nice we're all different.

I like Cat Meffan’s yoga workouts on YouTube. I have to be in the right mood for it though or I get bored quickly. Same with meditation - sometimes I love it and feel so relaxed, other times I can’t concentrate and find it so tedious

I like the idea of shouty yoga

I have tried and I don’t like yoga. It’s not for me.
I feel it prizes flexibility over strength and many poses are only accessible if you’re super flexible. I’m fit and strong just not super bendy so end up not getting much of a workout.

Pilates is much better. More about strength and repetitions than passively holding a pose.

There are many different types of yoga - passively holding a pose doesn't bear any resemblance to my favourite style!

I am also getting into hot yoga at the moment but appreciate you can't really do that in your living room!

Try searching some flow or vinyasa yoga - that is when the poses are sequences that move from one to the other quite quickly so keep you focussed / concentrating.

I'm not a fan of yoga with Adrienne at all. find her too wish-washy.

I have Tara Lee DVDs that I love. Always feel calmer, grounded and less stuff afterwards.

I have attended a yoga class every morning before work at 7am for the last 2 years. My body loves it and I don't find it boring at all as i am focusing on synching my breath with movement. I have tried lots of exercise over the years but have ever enjoyed or being committed to others like I am with yoga

@CurlsandCurves @motorcyclenumptiness If you fancy giving it a try info on the app is here ddpyoga.com/pages/ddpyoganow. They also sell DVDs and there's lots of videos and success stories on here if you want to have a look. It's very American and not very zenlike but I love it and would really recommend it!

If you sign up for the trial though do it through their 'bang offer' - you get a month free and then it's $9 a month (currently about £6.50 with the exchange rate) here.

I’ve tried yoga a few times over the course of my life and always end up giving up because I can’t bear to spend 2 hours or whatever it is doing it. Took it up again last year and found that for some reason it was making me feel really sick (floor poses) so now I have a great excuse never to do it again.

brown coat I heard about DDP yoga for the first time last week & have just signed up. I couldn't find the bang offer but have got a 7 day free trial. I'll start tonight after work.

Do you use a heart rate monitor?

I love yoga - do you struggle with relaxing generally?

I don't find it boring as I'm concentrating on making sure my breath is correct in line with the poses (you should be inhaling and certain parts and exhaling at others). Not sure if the apps cover this?

Mainly though I think of it as almost meditating while moving. So you're not supposed to be thinking - you should be trying to clear your mind of everything but the breathing and poses.

@strawberryfizz26 I do use a heart rate monitor and I find it fascinating because it gives you a strong sense of calorie burn and how strenuously you’re working. Also you get double points (!) for using a heart rate monitor that talks to the app. They give you points for every workout you do and when you reach 100,000 they send a celebratory tshirt. It sounds daft but getting that felt like a really lovely moment!

I sometimes do Cosmic Yoga with my toddlers on YouTube. It's kids yoga and they re-enact the plot of children's films. It's probably the only type of yoga I could manage