Yoga - worth persevering?

[CaramelEmporium]

My 46 probably about three stone overweight and woefully inflexible. Grasping the bull by the horns I am trying to make some changes...one being that I started yoga a few days ago following the Adriene 30 day beginner thing...bugger me I’m useless. She is transitioning beautifully from pose to pose I’m pulling my legs into position and realising that my stomach is an impediment to me getting my forehead that close to the floor. My AIBU to ask, has anyone gone from embarrassingly bad to could hold their own in a class? How long can I expect this to take?

It is definitely worth it. Even if you are just doing downward dog and some planks you will notice an improvement in your core and your strength. Don't worry about what you look like, just concentrate on your breath. It's a good idea to keep a journal so you can record how many seconds you can hold a plank or how long you can balance on one leg. Check this again in a month and be amazed!

Finish the 30 days and you should already see great improvement. HOWEVER dont be fooled into thinking yoga will drastically shed your weight, it can tone you but it wont burn enough fat alone to make that much difference

Sounds like you've picked something too advanced. yoga is definitely worth keeping going with, over a relatively short space of time it really does get easier and you do get stronger and more flexible, and if I miss a few weeks I definitely can tell!
There are a few different styles and paces so you might need to shop around - I prefer a slower pace so you can actually get into the position properly and stretch rather than just rushing from one to another.
Good luck x

I love yoga it's really helped me in lots of ways, including running (builds core strength, muscles, flexibility). Stick at it but maybe consider joining an online class where the teacher watches/helps? Definitely concentrate on breathing, don't push yourself into poses, challenge yourself but listen to your body!

I find it really hard too. Embarrassingly, I just can't do some movements (like moving knee forward from downward dog) without physically moving it with my hands! I know from past experience though that it does get better with time - and bear in mind that she has been doing it everyday for YEARS. It's just not realistic to expect to be like her!

You need to persist with yoga and you find you are supple fairly quickly. Adrienne does some beginner classes that may suit you better to start. As others say, it will help with tone and general well-being but not with losing weight. Make sure you incorporate cardio too.

I'm a yoga teacher. Definitely persevere. The vast majority of yoga teachers are naturally flexible, so do not compare yourself to Adrienne! The physical aspect of yoga is probably most beneficial for people who are starting from a point where they are not flexible. Progress might be slow, but it will happen. My dh is very tight/stiff - both naturally and through lifestyle factors (like sitting) - and has made huge progress through practicing yoga. The majority of my students are not naturally flexible and have seen huge benefits from persevering.

I would definitely suggest trying to get to a class if you can. Obviously it will be online at the moment, but practicing live with a teacher will always be better than from pre-recorded videos.

I’ve found the 30 day courses too advanced, but she has some easier videos on her channel. Have a watch through a few and see what you can manage. I prefer cherry picking a video and maybe repeating it a couple of times over a week or so. When I stock at it I do see better flexibility, and calmer well-being generally.

A big part is getting to know the poses and flows. Then you can spend less time watching the telly and more time doing! Just keep at it. Its good for mental as well as physical health so I found myself snacking less and not having as much booze so saw weight loss even without dieting.

While its not a fat burning exercise its something you can develop and stick with, the majority of fat loss is diet anyway. When you feel fitter and have developed good habits you can always add things like cardio and weights if you want.

You're not useless, I promise!

The new Adriene programme is a bit of a beast, I practice regularly and am sore after all those planks! Do what you can and adapt what you can't. Plank, do half plank instead, anything else, child's pose is there for you. Transitions aren't ever going to be a graceful thing for me, and your tummy, well that's just a part of your wonderful life story and you work with it the best you can.

Stick with it, and after day 30 go back and do day 1 again. You'll feel the difference.

A little advance warning, day 6 is abs day. It can be pretty brutal! But again, adapt and do what you can, you'll feel great at the end of it.

I’d stick with it but definitely don’t compare yourself with her! And if the 30 days sessions are daunting maybe make your own playlist instead by browsing through her channel for short and gentle ones (I find the comments useful!) then gradually you could get a bit more ambitious as you get more comfortable.

@Hollybutnoivy

I find it really hard too. Embarrassingly, I just can't do some movements (like moving knee forward from downward dog) without physically moving it with my hands! I know from past experience though that it does get better with time - and bear in mind that she has been doing it everyday for YEARS. It's just not realistic to expect to be like her!

It's really normal to find that transition difficult Holly - nearly everyone does!

Embarrassingly, I just can't do some movements (like moving knee forward from downward dog) without physically moving it with my hands!

Very few people can, you'll even see Adriene hoik her leg up at times. Don't feel embarrassed, this is the beauty of at home practice.

I'm following the 30 days of yoga but as someone who has done yoga regularly for a long time. This 30 day challenge is certainly much harder than last years. I would say try Adrienne's 'home' 30 days of yoga as this is much better suited to beginners.

Which is her beginner programme, then?

I've got a chair-shaped 15 year old boy who was totally resistant to doing yoga with me...but he amazed me by being quite open to watching Adrienne bend all over the place.

Go figure.

Oh, thanks, Goeffreys

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria

Which is her beginner programme, then?

I've got a chair-shaped 15 year old boy who was totally resistant to doing yoga with me...but he amazed me by being quite open to watching Adrienne bend all over the place.

Go figure.

😂😂 That made me laugh.

I enjoy her cosy yoga, bedtime type classes. They are easy and relaxing but I still feel like I'm exercising.

I wonder why vivariumvivariumsvivaria

Definitely persevere. I started with Home over the first lockdown and just carried on with the 30 day courses interspersed with specific ones eg for anxiety if I needed them. The difference in flexibility and just generally in the way I feel day to day is amazing. I shed a couple of stone as well, was also eating healthier but the yoga definitely helped. I feel and look more toned.

Thanks all, no I’m not expecting significant weight loss from this, I’m taking more of a holistic approach to everything and this is about improving my flexibility and core strength. Yes maybe I look at some of the slower paced ones to start with I think I was fixed on having a program per se to follow but its probably worth slowing down and getting to know the poses rather than cricking my neck at the TV every 30 seconds to check what’s going on that can’t be doing me any favours!

I hate yoga, it’s just not for me. I don’t mind a good stretch and doing some of the poses after a run or gym session but I actually find classes stressful! I’m not naturally flexible with good balance (yes, I know I should persist and it would help!) but all that breathing and stuff just freaks me out and I can’t relax.

I’m glad other people feel that Breath is harder than Home was! I practise every day but have been finding all the time on my wrists really tough.

I regularly practice and I would say Adrienne's 30 day challenges are going to be very tough for a beginner so don't be put off if you find them hard, they are hard! They're no joke and I practice several times a week. My local studio is running beginner courses which are much more suitable, the teacher watches and helps you and offers alternatives which are suited to your level. That's what you get for your money, it'll be a much more tailored experience you're more likely to stick with and definitely worth seeking out something similar in your area. Adrienne has beginner video series to seek out too if a course isn't available financially, you could also look for slow flow and yin/restorative videos, you might find them more accessible

Its amazing as you start to notice the improvements in flexibility. I am not talking about being able to do the splits - for me being able to touch my toes was a revelation and amazingly I then became able to put my palms on the floor. My PALMS!!! One of the advantages of starting from a very unflexible baseline is you notice those improvements a lot earlier than someone who was already super bendy. Also I got stronger without even noticing.

You need a beginners class - once you know the poses and start to build strength and flexibility the 'flow' will come.