Anyone know anything about Yoga

[kkgirl]

Does anyone practice Yoga?
I'm interested in trying to get fit. I have been trying to lose some weight, but want to exercise as well.
I have tried dancing (in the house), walking, scootering and wondered about Yoga. I can't do Aerobics, as am asthmatic and get breathless.

I'm new to it kkgirl but for 3 weeks now I've been going once a week for 1 1/2 hours a time. It's been wonderfully relaxing but I'm not sure I'm any fitter, probably because it's not often enough. I have a video that was free with a magazine ages ago called 'yoga 10 minute miracle' (mmm, think it'll take more than 10 mins AND a miracle with my body) and I'm aiming to do it every evening for the next week while ds is away. Will let you know if I manage it. Don't think I'd have started without the motivation of a class to go to though.

wickedwaterwitch

I'm a bit self conscious about going to a class, I have details of one locally, but unless I can twist my friends arm, I probably won't go.
I have a book free with a magazine which I have been trying, so might investigate a video.
Good Luck, I think any little bit you can do helps, I had a feeling that it could relax you and I could do with that.

When I lived in la I did lots of yoga (about 4-6 times per week) and it made me superfit. It also helps with aches and pains, bad backs, stress headaches etc. I found that I really had to go to a class to be disciplined about it and never really succeeded in doing enough at home on my own to make it worthwhile..hence why I don't do it any more here in the uk.
You should try a beginners 6 class intro course. And bear in mind that it will take a couple of classes to learn the basic poses. So don't give up until you've been at least a few times. It also does help to go with a friend in the beginning.

I have done yoga off and on for years. Ialso suffer from asthma and I found that yoga really helped. I found that yoga helped me to be supple. Traditional yoga I dont think would help you lose weight . There are alot of new classes that combine yoga with other forms of exercise eg Tai chi and pilates that may be more aerobic. My local health club runs one called body balance. It is worth contacting the British Wheel of Yoga to make sure you get a reputable teacher. I think they have a website but I dont know it. A good yoga teacher will help you to adapt yoga to your needs
good luck
Helen

kkgirl - I have just started going to a class and love it. I am THE most uncoordinated person in the world - but Yoga is fine for me.

I've been doing yoga about three times a week (off and on)for about 18mths and have notice that I am a lot stonger in certain areas like my wrists and arms and also have a better posture (there is still loads of room for improvement)

KKgirl, DH is a yoga teacher.... first of all find a class that is right for you... there are loads of yoga varieties (won't tell you what DH thinks of some of them) but the point is : find one that you will enjoy and believe you can stick to.
Yes Yoga can potentially make you lose weight but proper yoga will give you even MUCH more than this. You don't need to be superfit or superflexible especially if you go for gentler yoga.
Can you afford private classes ?
Also find a class from a proper teacher... there are many people who teach yoga without proper training themselves (they are just yoga fanatics)... a teacher doesn't have to be British Whell of yoga - they can have another background but you do want to know if they are insured.... god forbid if you got injured !

Anyway if you have more Q, DH can always answer them.

I'll second that. I've been doing yoga for years (when I can be bothered to get off my backside) and it makes you feel wonderful. So supple and relaxed. I use the Jerry Hall video and find that because it's divided into short sections, I'm more likely to put it on and just do 10 mins.

Yoga is fab for completely chilling you out, and increasing core stability and strengthening all those muscles that pregnancy xxxxx up.

kkgirl, just would also say that I go on my own to classes and so do 60% of the other people there. So don't be put off by your friend not being able to make it, it's completely normal IME.

kkgirl
Yoga is great but it's never helped me to lose weight. What has been good though is dancing lessons. I did ballroom. Gentle exercise for 2 or 3 hours starts to burn fat without getitng you out of breath and great fun too.

lois, the dancing sounds like fun too unlike the gym! did you see faking it last week with the kick boxer trying pull off ballroom dancing? the only off putting bit is the hair make-upand outfits they wear for the competitions - yuk!

No, I missed Faking It I'm afraid. I agree about the costumes etc though. Awful.

I started doing yoga a few years ago. And I notice a huge improvment. So does my husband! I danced for about 8 years, of course when I hit puberty I stopped.... when I should have continued. Yoga does something different for me. Along with improving my back trouble. I tend to bulk up. Yoga lengthens muscles, improves curculation, and the breathing all mixed together helps rid celulite. Now, I, a mother of three, really loved that. I also do pilates and walk. I would definately suggest yoga with a healthy diet for wieght loss.