Comments on Cranky Fitness: Advice From Your Yoga Instructor

Great post, and great advice to try different clas...

2008-04-21T04:16:00.000-04:00

Great post, and great advice to try different classes until you find one you like. They seem to vary so much, and just because two things are both advertised as "Yoga" it doesn't mean that the experience is the same, or even close.

I love this post because I'm one of those non-yoga...

2008-03-31T09:19:00.000-04:00

I love this post because I'm one of those non-yoga people who would just assume the class was for the Missi Stretchy's of the world, not us unflexible, wobbly folks. Were I brave enough to even go I'd hide in the back, hoping not to get in the way.

Great to hear from the instructor's perspective.

Thanks all! Glad you enjoyed it...Leah - cobra is...

2008-03-29T22:20:00.000-04:00

Thanks all! Glad you enjoyed it...

Leah - cobra is usually part of sun salutations although I usually try to warm up my students before I have them add it in.

Charlotte - the best advice I could give you would be to try out a few different classes. Not drop the Y but maybe explore some different teachers. Splits and backbends are great - as long as you do them properly. Hands on adjustments can make a huge difference and can help you figure out if you're alignment is good.

TK brought up a great point with using props - there are some excellent books and videos that explore using props both for beginners and to make poses more advanced!

Brianna - good for you for getting the family involved...my 17mo old and I do yoga together but as of yet I haven't convinced my husband...I won't rest until he's taken my class =)

Ah, you say that now, TB-M, but in another day or ...

2008-03-27T22:13:00.000-04:00

Ah, you say that now, TB-M, but in another day or so you'll be missing Miss Crabby! (Actually, you'll probably start to miss her tomorrow: I'm doing the Random Friday by myself and it's Just Not The Same. I'm glad she's getting a blog vacation, but it will be great when she comes back.)

These are all good comments. Heather, I think you've hit a subject that lots of people want to know more about.

I just want to say that I'm really enjoying these ...

2008-03-27T19:26:00.000-04:00

I just want to say that I'm really enjoying these guest posts. Can you do cross country moves more often?

Hooray for yoga! I've been practicing for about 5 ...

2008-03-27T19:05:00.000-04:00

Hooray for yoga!

I've been practicing for about 5 years now and am amazed at the difference it has made in my life (even when my practice is periods of weeks where I mentally reflect on how much I enjoy going to class . . . without making it out the door to go enjoy it physically, too).

The difference was so profound that my husband and parents all decided to give it a try and now regularly practice, too - and my dad has done little exercise beyond biking and snowshoeing for 30 years . . . it got him to break into something new and he's found an amazing inner strength that he puts to good use as a piano technician when he's fixing pianos! Thanks for shedding a fresh light on such an amazing activity/philosophy.

Namaste!

Thanks for the suggestions, Heather. Have to go to...

2008-03-27T17:58:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the suggestions, Heather. Have to go to town tomorrow, so will look for those DVDs!

Yoga For Inflexible People- Amazon has it. Boring ...

2008-03-27T16:20:00.000-04:00

Yoga For Inflexible People- Amazon has it. Boring because it's extremely detailed in describing correct positioning, excellent instructor has the ability to tell you how to "feel" in your body that something is correct (I'd think better than books etc. if you can't get to an instructor). Also has alternative positioning with blocks and blankets and chairs. Can choose degree of difficulty and length of guided workout, plus choose areas to work (shoulder, hips, etc.).

I'm going to check out the other references posted here, thanks!

AND, not least, WONDERFUL, wise post, great tag line, thanks for the inspiration! :D

Great post!I go to a yoga class at the local branc...

2008-03-27T16:07:00.000-04:00

Great post!

I go to a yoga class at the local branch of my mass market gym, but the instructor is fantastic. She makes corrections to a number of us, but I suspect more with those that actually respond to them or appreciate it (I thank her every time she corrects me).

I guess you could say I have "Missi-like tendencies", not so much that I compare myself or compete with others, but in that I always try the advanced option first.

Heather -thanks, will remember that! :-) Actually...

2008-03-27T14:24:00.000-04:00

Heather -thanks, will remember that! :-) Actually I feel great when I compare myself to me when I first started Pilates - I have come a long way and can do things that I never thought I would be able too. yay me!

Missicat

Twenty-four years of yoga, here, and still wobbly!...

2008-03-27T14:02:00.000-04:00

Twenty-four years of yoga, here, and still wobbly!

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Fabulous post, Heather. Really. But now I have t...

2008-03-27T13:53:00.000-04:00

Fabulous post, Heather. Really. But now I have to admit I'm a Missi. I'm actually really embarrassed about this. I'm not so much about being competitive with other people but am totally about relying on my flexibility and not on strength or good form. I so need you as a teacher. My teachers at the Y (God love 'em) don't ever correct. I think they got certified in a weekend class for 50$. And your line about the splits and backbends? So me! I do them every day. Should I stop?? I don't have any pain... yet.

Is Sun Salutation the same as Cobra?I do a few yog...

2008-03-27T13:50:00.000-04:00

Is Sun Salutation the same as Cobra?
I do a few yoga stretches each morning. Makes a wonderful difference.

Great discussion all! Go Terrie! I hope you enjo...

2008-03-27T12:44:00.000-04:00

Great discussion all!

Go Terrie! I hope you enjoy your classes.

Bag Lady and Merry - I can recommend some of my favorite DVDs for you. I like Bryan Kest for a power series. Seane Corn gives great instruction and focuses a lot on breathing. Desiree Rumbaugh is one of my absolute favorite instructors and she has two brand new videos out in a series called Yoga to the Rescue. I haven't seen them, but she has been one of my primary teachers and I would highly recommend her to anyone.

Merry is also absolutely right that if you primarily do a DVD 'tis helpful to take a class every once in a while so the instructor can check your form. And sometimes the instructor will say something that will just click for you and from then on that pose will never be the same.

Thickchick - a great place to find classes is through your community or local colleges - and a lot of times you'll see the same instructors teaching at studios and at rec centers - especially if you're in a small to mid size town.

Missicat - Just remember that what they might have in flexibility, you have in life experience =)

I have to say:All this talk is making me rethink m...

2008-03-27T11:45:00.000-04:00

I have to say:
All this talk is making me rethink my 'position' on yoga ;)

Reb, have you tried taking classes as well as DVDs...

2008-03-27T11:44:00.000-04:00

Reb, have you tried taking classes as well as DVDs? I ask because it just occurred to me -- I know with Pilates, "they" say you should try to take a class to make sure you're doing the positions correctly. I wondered if yoga was similar. (I know little about Pilates, and much less about yoga!)

Wow, double exercise session, Terrie! Running to t...

2008-03-27T11:42:00.000-04:00

Wow, double exercise session, Terrie! Running to the phone /and/ signing up for the classes. That's the best way to make sure things get done, do them right away.

Bag Lady, you reminded me of that book 'yoga for people who can't be bothered.' Definitely sounds like time for a new DVD.

(Heather -- do you recommend DVDs as well as classes? Any favorites?)

Missicat, I know it's hard not to compare yourself with others in a class. (Or on a DVD for that matter.) Sometimes I wish class instructors provided blinders so I won't get distracted by comparing myself to fellow students.

ThickChick, it is hard to know where/how to start. I think I'll check the rec center or the Y to see if they have classes. Can't hurt to look :)

Like the Bag Lady, it is time for me to get back o...

2008-03-27T11:39:00.000-04:00

Like the Bag Lady, it is time for me to get back on the mat. The thing I like about DVD's, the instructors can't hear me fart on the mat ;)

Heather, I wish we lived in the same city....... I...

2008-03-27T11:16:00.000-04:00

Heather, I wish we lived in the same city....... I would love to take your class! Thanks for the inspiring post, I've been wanting to give yoga another shot for awhile now and haven't taken the time to do it.

Thanks!

I take a Pilates class with a friend who is, well,...

2008-03-27T10:10:00.000-04:00

I take a Pilates class with a friend who is, well, "of my generation". We do have a couple of stretchy children in the class and I do TRY not to compare myself. Fortunately my friend is there to support me and vice versa...

Missicat

The Bag Lady loves yoga. She's just too freakin' l...

2008-03-27T09:37:00.000-04:00

The Bag Lady loves yoga. She's just too freakin' lazy to start again... Maybe, though, if she bought a new DVD, she could get back into it. She's perhaps a little bored with the DVD she was using. Note to self - buy new yoga DVD!!

I actually have a flyer on my bulletin board for a...

2008-03-27T09:30:00.000-04:00

I actually have a flyer on my bulletin board for a free five session yoga start up at the local library. I was hesitent to call. Watch me run to the phone. Thanks for this!

Terrie

Thanks for the tips! I've always thought of yoga a...

2008-03-27T09:25:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the tips!
I've always thought of yoga as something that I was too unflexible to try, but maybe it's time for a change :)