How has yoga changed your body? (Life?)

[CoteDAzur]

I have no more knee pain

My back has straightened & the stooped shoulders have disappeared.

Arms are toned and muscles have appeared

I thought not being able to run anymore meant that I would go round and weak, but yoga picked up the pieces

Yes, I did swimming to a semi-professional level in my youth but never got that much pleasure out of it. Running with my techno music in my ears just feels so wonderful. I miss it, but what can you do? Joys of middle age

Can you do if overweight? Like size 20 overweight?

I would love to do it. Feel very concious of my size though. Have dodgy knees and am also hypermoblle so have been told pilates would be better but having had a depressive episode earlier in the year and feeling panicky and losing control of eating (am an emotional eater - and drinker!) I like the idea of dealing with the stress as well as helping with flexibility etc.

Yes, you definitely can. See this thread: Plus size yoga.

I would definitely recommend you to try yoga. I went back to it after a 10-year break because of dodgy knees - I literally could not walk. That was less than a year ago and as I said in the OP, I have no knee pain now.

You will also start to see muscles where there were none before, and will probably also slim down. And you will learn to calm your mind and deal with stress. It's all good

Thanks Cote. I will have a read of that thread.

Oh you have all inspired me to restart yoga! I walk quite a lot (not as much as I did) and do weights but have sacked off with the yoga and mindfulness. I have a vinyasa flow dvd and some more basic ones that I could start during the summer holidays. I used to do iyengar too. A little tricky to go to a class at the moment but dvds at home could be just the right start. Also, early 40s and no way could I go back to high impact classes (sob) but yoga does make you feel fab. A friend of mine says it makes you fit from the inside out .

"it makes you fit from the inside out"

That's a great way to put it

DVDs are great. You might also like to check out YouTube. There are many yoga channels for all different types of yoga on there.

I've found beginners classes near me on Monday and Friday mornings so have emailed.

I'm walking and doing toning machines and Slimming World so hopefully the yoga will help too. I can walk to the classes too - about 30 mins each way but doable. Thinking of buying a bike too so could cycle.

ANy recommendations for yoga channels on YoutUbe?
I did yoga for quite a few years and now run and swim but do practcie mindfulness kind of stuff and miss the feeling i ogot from yoga.

Another one inspired by this thread to take up yoga again. Can anyone suggest which kind would be best for me? I'm a plodder runner, so not too unfit and am reasonably flexible, but would really like to strengthen my core. I have had anxiety issues in the past (but am ok now). So ideally I'd like a yoga class that's A good mix of relaxation and strength/flexibility. I did Iyengar last time, but there are a few different ones locally.

Thanks!

Oh also, do you all do several classes a week, or do one and practise at home? I'm thinking it will take more than just one session a week to achieve those life-changing effects?

holmes can you try a few classes and see which work for you best? I take classes in a few different styles and get something different from each, personally I also think it's really helpful to learn from different teachers too. It's great that you've got a few to choose from locally. :)

I do practice outside of class but not as often as I should. An amazing ashtanga teacher I know says that her "rule" is that every day she must stand on her mat and raise her hands above her head, and that is all she commits herself to. Of course she ends up doing more once she's there, but that rule gets her on her mat every day.

on the subject of you-tube yoga channels here are some of my favourites

www.youtube.com/user/YogiNorasChannel
www.youtube.com/user/yogatic
www.youtube.com/user/drSatkirin
www.youtube.com/user/essentialyoga

Good idea, maybemyrtle. I'll see which ones I can fit in. Have emailed one class teacher already.

Suzannecanthecan - that's great! I'd like to try some at home with a video. Only trouble is, my pc is in my tiny study - not enough space! Might have to try propping up my kindle fire and watching on that, though it will be a bit small!

Holmes, I have in the past downloaded youtube yoga vids and put them onto a dvd to follow, might be an option you cold play a dvd in a more suitable room?

re home practice, if I dont have much time I have a very pared down sequence that I do, although it feels better if you have time to properly loosen up

I also found Sadie Nardini helpful in her earlier days
www.youtube.com/user/sadienardini/videos?sort=da&flow=grid&view=0
but then she went off in a funkier sort of direction and I stopped following her

I've done my first class! It was awesome. I know I didn't get it all correct and seemed to be inhaling when I was meant to be exhaling but I kept telling myself that I was learning. I feel so stretched out! I can't believe how puffed out I am. Have booked it for next week. Thanks for this thread - I wouldn't have gone without it.

This thread has inspired me to stTt again.

My yoga teacher said if you are only going to do one thing a day, do downward dog so I do try.

Suzannecanthecan - after mucking about on YouTube on my phone just now, I've discovered I think I can find a video on my phone and ping it to my freesat box!

woah, super advanced techie stuff Holmes
went right over my head:o

I love it.

Have done it for about 17 years with a break for a couple of years which I regret as I can't get to places I used to be able to but of course age interferes too.

I go to a class once a week but reading this thread made me watch a quick Tara Stiles youtube 20 mins and get the mat out in the kitchen so thank you! I'm determined to try and do some every day, I'm a runner so need to stretch anyway so yoga is the best thing to do for me .

Jimmy - Congratulations for your 1st class! It will get easier & better in no time, you will see

Yay, glad you enjoyed it Jimmy! :)

I heard back from the yoga teacher I emailed yesterday but she is term time only so not back till Sept.

I might try another class in the meantime.

No reply yet from my potential yoga teacher (perhaps she's stopped for the summer too). But I did a great yoga session this morning from the Yoga with Adriene '30 days of yoga' series on YouTube. It was a basic beginners' one but I really really enjoyed it! I really like her style - very relaxed and adaptable to your level.

Top tech tip, we've got an Amazon Fire Stick for our TV. Very easy to install and if you have Amazon Prime you can watch masses of content for free. We don't so use it mainly for iplayer, TED and youtube (all free apps) and it's great for doing youtube yoga in front of a big screen.