Thread: How to get started in yoga

I am thinking that yoga could really benefit me. But where to start? There are many yoga classes offered by different instructors at the YMCA. Is there any one particular type or flavor that would be best for an older yoga beginner? Whats the scoop?

You probably want to avoid anything called 'power yoga' and Ashtanga, which is a very challenging and athletic style, might not suit your needs.

Iyengar or Kripalu trained instructors would be good, or Integral. Those are all slower styles that stress proper alignment and let students work at their own pace. Iyengar is famous for the use of props -- blocks, straps, folded blankets -- to help get students into poses that are safe for their bodies.

Be cautious of the words 'hatha yoga' which are basically meaningless and tell you nothing about the style being taught.

The Y. Hmmm. Just like with dance, it's possible to find a great teacher at a YMCA. It's also possible to find a teacher who was asked to take over a class because she had a 'yoga body' and the previous teacher leftt suddenly. (yes, I know of a case like that).

Ideally you want a teacher who is Yoga Alliance certified. That means a minimum of 200 hours of training with a reputable, experienced program. You can visit Welcome to Yoga Alliance to find teachers in your area who are certified.

Some 'yoga teachers' have only a Saturday afternoon of training. I took over a class once that was being taught by an aerobics teacher who learned yoga from the other aerobics teacher who learned it from a weekend workshop. This is NOT ok.

Good luck! There *are* lots of great and dedicated teachers out there, I'm really not trying to paint a bleak picture.

Thanks, Lauren. I just checked the Yoga Alliance website and it looks like all the Y teachers are registered there. Which I guess is a good sign! One of the Y gyms has a "gentle yoga" class for beginning students and I think I will start with that and see what happens!

it's like BD classes---all kinds of teachers--you click w/ some more than others. you actually know more yoga than you think from taking BD classes for years. Find the most basic, slow class that you can, listen to your body(the teachers are supposed to tell you that) so that you baby the parts of you that need to be treated gently. I took yoga 30 years ago at college, took some 15 years ago. Now i have been doing it at my LA Fitness club. it took a year of doing it 2x a week before i felt like---ok, i mostly know what is going on. i now have been doing it 4 years. Each teacher gives different stuff and emphasis. I am lucky that their are alot of people at my gym that like and know yoga--so we have lots of classes----there are all pretty good. Right now i NEED to do cardio---been sluffing off for 4-6 months!!! but yoga 2x a week, teaching beg/int. (one class of each) and dancing once a week---i'm in really good shape(for my age!!!!---too bad we have to say that now, isn't it? ) When you get sore, walking while thinking alignment and posture will help. also--just like BD---take a private lesson from a teacher you like so she can help you w/ your questions.

if you would like a yoga style that is non-denomination-ally spiritual and involves deep meditation as well as physical activity, you might check into kundalini yoga. a dance master from another discipline introduced me to it and my hips have never been so flexible! i've also learned "mini meditations" i can do to take the edge off stressful situations. priceless!!!
Yoga - 3HO Foundation - Kundalini Yoga Classes
good luck with which ever flavor you decide to study. yoga can be life changing in a really great way.

Thanks, gals. I think what I am after is a fitness change of pace to improve flexibility, doesn't hurt any of my ancient parts, compliments the dance, and helps with stress. I just want to go somewhere and be a student and learn something new and have fun and feel better without any drama. Does that make sense?

sounds perfect.

I just started yoga a few weeks ago. IT IS HARD. The things that require core strength, I can do. Things that are more balance, I struggle a little with, but an rapidly improving. The things that require flexibility are almost impossible for me.
It is "hot" yoga, and I like that, although I don't think she gets the room very hot. I get there before the room warms up so it is a gradual effect on me and not so shocking.
I don't care for the ohms and the chakra talk and the Indian words mean nothing to me, but I just ignore the first things and I am listening really hard to learn and remember the Indian terms.
I honestly believe that yoga is going to be AWESOME for me.

It is good for me to step back into the position of a beginner.

The only caution I would put forth about hot yoga is that it can be exhausting for the first several weeks. Especially if you are prone to dehydration. I have been picking up the odd yoga class recently and at this point the hot yoga is less likely to be one of my must go to classes than kundalini or a particular Hatha yoga class I know of. (In this case, I have known the yogini for years. She has a large, established, faithful following, so I trust her.)

Good luck! And Enjoy!

{{{HUGS}}}

oops -- just so I'm not misunderstood, there's nothing wrong with the term 'hatha yoga,' it just doesn't define a style of yoga as some people think it does.

Hatha yoga means the yoga of physical postures, what most Westerners mean when we say 'yoga'. (as opposed to the other limbs of yoga, which might include chanting, meditation, service, etc).

So hot yoga (Bikram) is hatha yoga. So is Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kundalini, Integral, and nearly every style you may ever have heard of.

When teachers say they teach hatha, rather than naming a particular style, it just means they don't adhere to one specific branch. Most of us teach this way, blending we've learned from various teachers along the way, our early teachers, teacher training instructors, workshops, etc. It's difficult to limit yourself to one particular school when you've personally drawn a lot of benefit from three or four of them.

I personally say I teach 'hatha yoga' as my instructors have been evenly divided between Iyengar and Ingegral and I draw from both in my teaching.

So it's not a bad word, just not a very descriptive one!

Lauren -

I knew what you meant. "Hatha" does has an everything and the kitchen sink kind of reputation. One of my first dance teachers teaches Hatha Style yoga in Lincoln, NE and brings teachers in for workshops in more defined styles. But Liz learned yoga in the '60's in LA & SF and everything was called "Hatha".

{{{HUGS}}}

I recently started taking Yoga at a local studio. I tried working with a DVD first but didnt "get it". I am learning so much from the personal instruction. After only a few weeks ( two classes weekly), I feel as though my body is lengthening and am gaining in flexibility. My class is described simply as beginner hatha. Once I have a better handle on the basics, I want to try a a warm (versus hot) vinyasa yoga. Good luck, Souzan!

I am going to try out yoga for the first time as well. I have found that I have very little flexibility...my hamstrings might as well be made of metal. My belly dance instructor is so limber & flexible, she is my hero! Anyway, my goal is get more flexible within the next few months, so I figure yoga is the way to go. I plan to take the "newbie yogie" program, it's supposed to the most basic, beginner level.