Super Beginner

[Macey78]

I am 44 years old and would love to be a bale to do and enjoy yoga as part of my routine. There's a slight problem I am stiff and not flexible at all and really want this to improve. I can't even touch my toes or get close to them.

Any tips. Anyone particular I should follow which could help me. Any suggestions welcome.

Adrienne on YouTube. Has all sorts of different ones for beginners etc

I'm 39 and haven't been able to touch my toes in many years! I started daily yoga 71 days ago and I'm really close.

I do anything from 15-45mins per day depending on how much time I have.

My tip would be to practice daily. I mark it in a calendar to make sure I actually do it.

What are the chances of you getting to a real life class? Hatha or Iyengar for choice. A good teacher will suggest adaptations for beginners & also props - such as foam blocks to ‘extend’ your arms when needed.

I'm in the same boat 🙌

Just started bk at the gym and they suggested I try Pilates first and progress to yoga

@frazzled101 do you follow anyone online or do you go to classes. If it's online would you mind sharing, your experience is giving me hope.

@EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn I'd love to get to classes but am time poor right now and totally embarrassed at my minus 10 level of ability!!!!

@Macey78 I've been doing online only. I started because of lower back pain so I do a 15 min YWA for lower back very regularly. She also does a 45 min all body deep stretch which I try to do but as it's longer I do it less often.

I also do some days of Pilates instead, again all ones that are focused on lower back pain.

Would you consider hot yoga - it’s helped with my flexibility.

I’d start by just going through the sun salutation a few times. It seems to stretch everything a bit and it’s easy to get right (just when you do down dog, pretend you’ve got a string attached to your nose pulling your head to between your legs…. Lots of people don’t go quite far enough and they’re back isn’t flat. It’s an easy position to get a bit lazy in too.).

I do appreciate not having time to go to classes however they are really good… I get better results now because my teacher corrects me, and like anything if you do it correctly it’ll have more impact. Don’t worry about how you look… at some point someone will fart anyway!

I’d also suggest getting a yoga strap (or something that will work like one - I use my mat carrying strap) Then if you can’t reach your toes you can hook the strap round them and use it to pull yourself a bit further.