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New to yoga
Question:
Hi everyone, Can anyone tell me in simple terms what is the best type of yoga to start of with ? Erica
Response:
Can anyone tell me in simple terms what is the best type of yoga to start of with ?
What kind of experience are you looking for? Slow and relaxing, a workout, meditative, energy-raising? If you have the opportunity to drop in on several different classes, that will help you find what style you like.
Response:
Can anyone tell me in simple terms what is the best type of yoga to start
Humm, if I were starting over, I think I would first find a teacher I liked, then pursue the style of that teacher. Try different teachers too. As you gain experience, you will probably try different styles and eventually settle on what you think works best for you. Give yourself a year or so. Style is a personal preference. No matter the style, the ends are the same. Gary Echternacht
Response:
I am new to yoga and purchased a couple of books and tapes. I am 51 years old but exercise everyday such as nautilus, racquetball, weights and walking. The problem is that I don’t feel very flexible yet in the lower back and legs. How do I progress to be more flexible without the risk of injuring myself? Gary
Response:
Try as much of each pose as you can handle without pushing or forcing. Let yourself gain in tiny increments, and resist the urge to compare with others or "be there now." Poses such as forward bends and forward folds, seated and reclining twists, and modified backbend poses can help your specific areas. Do try to take class with a good teacher (and there are as many ways to teach yoga as there are teachers, so shop around if you aren’t happy with the first one or two!) as they can help you with your particular needs and show you how to work to you fullest without injury or strain. I especially recommend Iyengar-style yoga, which caters to each person’s individual flexibility by using props. For example, if you are in pain when you do forward bend, rest your arms on a ledge or your head on a chair back so that your muscles can release, instead of having to come back up after only a few seconds. Welcome to yoga and enjoy! Allison Williams
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to yoga and purchased a couple of books and tapes. I am 51 years old but exercise everyday such as nautilus, racquetball, weights and walking. The problem is that I don’t feel very flexible yet in the lower back and legs. How do I progress to be more flexible without the risk of injuring myself? Gary
Response:
After a while you will be able to become aware of two very different kinds of soreness. One is from over activation of a muscle, such as over working a muscle that has not been used for awhile. Besides the possibility of it going into spasm, this is usually benign and in a day or two the soreness is gone. It usually is accompanied by greater STRENGTH of the muscle. This usually occurs from the activation of what is called the agonist muscle (the one that initiates isotonic movement). This type of soreness many times is not felt until the next day or otherwise AFTER the cool down period (unless the muscle goes into spasm). There are other more complex types of spasm (say due to nerve irritation) but we will not go into that but only address the two most common types of exercise soreness. The second kind of soreness that is common to exercise is very different from the first. It is usually felt on the reciprocal muscle called the antagonist which is stretched (when the agonist is activated). If the pulling is gentle and not too much release and greater mobility will be instantly felt. However OVER stretching can produce small tears in the muscle tissues or even small strains/sprains which are not desired either at the muscle or the tendons. An even more dangerous over-stretch can be tears at the tendon attachments to the bone or pulls or tears at the ligaments (which surround the joint). These latter and more serious injuries (tendon and ligament)) will be felt in the joint area while the previous soreness is felt in the muscle area. Through effective practice in a self awareness modality you will be able to tell the difference, know what is happening as you move, and then learn how to prevent injury. To recap, the first kind of soreness can actually feel good as it reflects a strengthening of muscles, while the second type of soreness can indicate actual injury indicating that you went to far and caused some injury and thus requires that you back off.
Response:
Be careful, and take it slow. Some types of yoga such as ashtanga (and the spin-off: power yoga) get you really hot so you can stretch more deeply. But the next day you might find (as I do) that you have over-stretched and your hamstrings are sore.
Is slight soreness a sign of over-stretching?
The following strikes me as over-stretching. There has been a few times when I have stretched my hamstrings that I got them warm and got a nice deep stretch that feels good. But the next day (or for several days) it can be uncomfortable just walking or any small amount of stretching. I can releave the soreness by getting them warm (again) and then they will once again stretch out and feel good (again)… but then the next day the soreness comes back. The only LASTING relief comes from resting for several days until the pain goes away. The strikes me as over-stretching.
Response:
Dear Scott, Nothing out of the ordinary. Don’t think of flexability as an "end". There is no end. Yoga is the journey. Enjoy it and be at peace with the idea that you are doing something good for yourself! Love and Laughter, Jack – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am just begining to start yoga. I am having some trouble with flexability. The fact that I have none;-). One of my worst areas are my hamstings. Some of the poses I am attempting I can’t straighten my legs out compleatly. Some such as Halasana,and Paschimothanasana to name but a few. I was hoping someone could offer some suggestions for my unflexable body? Thanks in advance. Cheers, Scott
Response:
Be careful, and take it slow. Some types of yoga such as ashtanga (and the spin-off: power yoga) get you really hot so you can stretch more deeply. But the next day you might find (as I do) that you have over-stretched and your hamstrings are sore. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am just begining to start yoga. I am having some trouble with flexability. The fact that I have none;-). One of my worst areas are my hamstings. Some of the poses I am attempting I can’t straighten my legs out compleatly. Some such as Halasana,and Paschimothanasana to name but a few. I was hoping someone could offer some suggestions for my unflexable body? Thanks in advance. Cheers, Scott
Response:
I am just begining to start yoga. I am having some trouble with flexability. The fact that I have none;-). One of my worst areas are my hamstings. Some of the poses I am attempting I can’t straighten my legs out compleatly. Some such as Halasana,and Paschimothanasana to name but a few. I was hoping someone could offer some suggestions for my unflexable body? Thanks in advance. Cheers, Scott
Response:
Hi Scott: Welcome to yoga. What you’re describing is normal and to be expected. Keep trying, be patient, and you will improve. You don’t need to be stretched out completely at the beginning. Good luck and enjoy. Amy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am just begining to start yoga. I am having some trouble with flexability. The fact that I have none;-). One of my worst areas are my hamstings. Some of the poses I am attempting I can’t straighten my legs out compleatly. Some such as Halasana,and Paschimothanasana to name but a few. I was hoping someone could offer some suggestions for my unflexable body? Thanks in advance. Cheers, Scott
Response:
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