Ive been doing yoga for a few years now, as a last ditch attempt to get rid of my lower back ache before I retire. I started very, very unbendy and still have to go pretty slowly. I have found the process so very interesting. I am still very, very far from a cool bendy yoga chick, indeed in a different universe. Teacher has encouraged me to focus on the progress in my own body. took me some time to realise that once a week is not going to make much noticeable progress. The first time i found a stretch that felt so good, i did it every day til the next lesson, I saw amazing progress (in milimeters, but I notice it). Since then, I do ten minutes a day in the morning, which is all it takes to keep my posture good and hence stop the backache.
Any other progress is entirely a function of how much else I have done. One of the benefits of starting so far back, is how relatively fast my progress has been. I'm still miles behind anyone else in any group class i have ever been to, but I know how I have progressed. Any time off puts me back again but I know that is the price for not doing it and find i catch up more quickly than before, when i get back to it. Just like an onion, every bit of progress reveals something else that is just calling out for release.
One of the most interesting things has been to discover, sometimes even work out, where my current limits are. It's usually the 'other end of the muscle' that is resisting, rather than the thing i thought was stopping something. Indeed, lots of the things I could do, turned out to be because i wasn't using my core properly. With good alignment i get less movement but a much better feeling in lots of positions.
I have a living to earn, but do understand how people run off to a warm climate and just practise yoga all day every day. Sorry about all that pouring out, would love to hear everyone else's experience.