Discussion
I am a relatively fit person but for the past year I have been suffering from lower back ache. I tried chiropractor, acupuncture and have seen an nhs physio too and although it is now better than it was at its worst point it still aches every day
I want to improve my flexibility as I think this would help and to that end, I think yoga will be beneficial.
There are very few classes near me and they're at very inconvenient times.
Does anyone do home based dvd/YouTube online based tuition as that see,s to be my best option
Can anyone recommend a good dvd or such like for a beginner, there seems to be so many on the market
Help!
I want to improve my flexibility as I think this would help and to that end, I think yoga will be beneficial.
There are very few classes near me and they're at very inconvenient times.
Does anyone do home based dvd/YouTube online based tuition as that see,s to be my best option
Can anyone recommend a good dvd or such like for a beginner, there seems to be so many on the market
Help!
Don't do it with a DVD to start with, make sure you go a good instructor and I don't mean someone who has some certificate for 200hrs of yoga training. With some asanas a holding an incorrect posture for any length of time is going to do more harm than good.
If you wan to start very simply, youtube 'sun salutation' (it's a well known sequence)- use one that actually explains whether to inhale/exhale when moving from one position to the next rather than one that only describes the posture - repeat several iterations and also hold each individual position for one a minute or two
If you wan to start very simply, youtube 'sun salutation' (it's a well known sequence)- use one that actually explains whether to inhale/exhale when moving from one position to the next rather than one that only describes the posture - repeat several iterations and also hold each individual position for one a minute or two
OP - definitely try to make the effort find a yoga 'studio' or a private tutor for a couple of sessions, just to get the hang of it, even if it means going out of your way a bit. There are so many different types of yoga and one may suit you better than another with your injury.
A good class, with a bona fide yoga teacher - and by bona fide I mean somebody that has adopted yoga as a way of life, (not some gym bunny that's spent all day teaching spinning/aerobics classes) will set you back between £10-15 per session.
On Sky fitness channel there are some yoga sessions, but be warned, this is potentially 'Eric Prydz' style viewing and you could end up distracted and doing yourself further injury
A good class, with a bona fide yoga teacher - and by bona fide I mean somebody that has adopted yoga as a way of life, (not some gym bunny that's spent all day teaching spinning/aerobics classes) will set you back between £10-15 per session.
On Sky fitness channel there are some yoga sessions, but be warned, this is potentially 'Eric Prydz' style viewing and you could end up distracted and doing yourself further injury
YogaBunny said:
A good class, with a bona fide yoga teacher - and by bona fide I mean somebody that has adopted yoga as a way of life, (not some gym bunny that's spent all day teaching spinning/aerobics classes) will set you back between £10-15 per session.
THISI started yoga around 4 months ago as a means of easing off stiffness/improving my flexibility as I'm very tight from years of lifting weights. I go to a Vinyasa class every Monday night with a "proper" teacher and pay £8 for 90 mins. It works wonders on whatever pain/stiffness I happen to have and is a fantastic way to relax/take stock of things emotionally. A DVD would in no way shape or form be a match for being taught by someone who's passionate about yoga and can encourage/support you along the way.
Oh, and beware the 'wind relieving' poses. They sneak up on you. LOL
But seriously - a big part of yoga is about relaxation (which comes through the breathing). If your mind is tense, so is your body. It takes a little while to allow yourself to embrace it, but stick with it.
Om Shanti
But seriously - a big part of yoga is about relaxation (which comes through the breathing). If your mind is tense, so is your body. It takes a little while to allow yourself to embrace it, but stick with it.
Om Shanti
Bigbox said:
Can anyone recommend a good dvd or such like for a beginner, there seems to be so many on the market
One of the dvds in the P90x program is Yoga. Can highly recommend.Have linked to it below, but note Ignore the selling price -it can be picked much cheaper online/ebay/gumtree etc. Also has a stretching dvd and a Core body one too which you may find useful.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beachbody-P90X-Hortons-Ext...
Had a look on Amazon for you, OP and to be honest, there isn't anything I would recommend that would substitute as tutor for you as a beginner.
Watching/listening to a DVD and trying to mirror what they're doing is actually quite difficult when you're learning, but failing you finding a decent tutor near you, follow this link. Its free, basic and you can work through it at your own pace. http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/search/filter?Filt...
Another option is to buy a good yoga book - Anatomy of Hatha Yoga (to help you understand the physiology) and the New Book of Yoga (to get you started) are very good.
A tranquil environment will help you relax. Put the phone on silent, dim the lights, light a few candles and room fragrance (if you have it) put on a relaxing cd (ideally without words at this stage - you tend to focus on them rather then clearing your mind) and start with the relaxation/breathing.
Hope this helps.
Watching/listening to a DVD and trying to mirror what they're doing is actually quite difficult when you're learning, but failing you finding a decent tutor near you, follow this link. Its free, basic and you can work through it at your own pace. http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/search/filter?Filt...
Another option is to buy a good yoga book - Anatomy of Hatha Yoga (to help you understand the physiology) and the New Book of Yoga (to get you started) are very good.
A tranquil environment will help you relax. Put the phone on silent, dim the lights, light a few candles and room fragrance (if you have it) put on a relaxing cd (ideally without words at this stage - you tend to focus on them rather then clearing your mind) and start with the relaxation/breathing.
Hope this helps.
You may find that some positions aggravate your back, depending on what the problem has been. If it's weak core muscles/general pain then yoga tends to be very good, if you have problems with discs or hernia then make sure the instructor knows this.
I had problems with lower back muscle spasms for a while, and yoga once a week for 3 months pretty much put a stop to this, so it's definitely worth a shot.
The worst thing about doing yoga on your own is lack of discipline - I've tried to start it at home a few times with no success, although I can now find a quiet corner of my gym at the end of a workout to go through some sequences.
And if you're not sure about the first class you try, try another - each instructor is different with a different balance of activities and approach, from extreme pain and Twister-style masochism at one end, to brown rice and dreaming of rainbows at the other.
I had problems with lower back muscle spasms for a while, and yoga once a week for 3 months pretty much put a stop to this, so it's definitely worth a shot.
The worst thing about doing yoga on your own is lack of discipline - I've tried to start it at home a few times with no success, although I can now find a quiet corner of my gym at the end of a workout to go through some sequences.
And if you're not sure about the first class you try, try another - each instructor is different with a different balance of activities and approach, from extreme pain and Twister-style masochism at one end, to brown rice and dreaming of rainbows at the other.
Sorry, nothing new but I can echo the comments above about proper one on one tuition to start.
I started dru yoga in January, six one hit sessions at £40 each but I learned so much it's money well spent. Still a lot to learn but really enjoying it as well as getting real benefits.
I now do 20 mins after breakfast, a few poses before during and after weight training and a session or two a week. Never felt better. Best move I've made since starting weights, which was to help with my dodgy back!
I started dru yoga in January, six one hit sessions at £40 each but I learned so much it's money well spent. Still a lot to learn but really enjoying it as well as getting real benefits.
I now do 20 mins after breakfast, a few poses before during and after weight training and a session or two a week. Never felt better. Best move I've made since starting weights, which was to help with my dodgy back!
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