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Yoga, Stress, Meditation

850 Views 9 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  renmerc446
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First, Hi... I'm Sue... still kinda new... but with many ideas.

Ignore me if you think I'm nutz! :toothy:

So I've been practicing yoga for nearly 15 years. I'm not here to preach about anything - I just want to be informative.

I'll go ahead & state, feel free to contact me directly if you are interested in further info or more details.

I'll describe how it's benefitted me - but note, it's not to say that it'll benefit everyone the same way - or at all!

I got into it many years ago as a teen where earth-religions completely intrigued me.
I found myself more capable of adapting to a quiet, low-stress form of exercise (call me lazy! *lol*).
I was sore - and continue to get sore when I up the scale - I lose/burn fat by maintaining muscle tone, and I have gained more patience than I could ever have thought I could develop.

There are many forms of yoga - but the one I chose is concentration on breathing/meditation as well as on the physical plane (that is to say "get more in tune w/my body - as it works").

No, I don't sit in the lotus position for hours on end seeking enlightenment. Yoga is my workout routine - every day for up to an hour at a time.
It gives me patience (to deal with kids), it gives me clarity of mind (ability to concentrate - when i'm feeling super tired, but still have laundry, homework & run the kids here & there)... among other benefits.

So, if you're interested in more info... I don't want to make this too long of a post - feel free to contact me.

Hope this makes some sense & maybe I could be of some reference to anyone out there interested!

Sue!
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I have never really understood Yoga and have always wanted to learn more about it. When you first started, where you able to do everything they suggested? Or is it like most exercises, you work up to it?
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Yoga...

Michelle,

Yoga is a cumulative exercise... like all others.

When I first started I couldn't touch my toes!!! (Could barely get down half past my shins!)...
Now, I'm able to palm the floor behind me.

Don't get me wrong... you stop doing the stretches/positions, you'll lose flexibility.
Over the past years I've somewhat started/stopped (due to restricting schedules) - but I've been able to get back to where I once was w/in a shorter period each time.

So, If I dont practice for say a week (they say 3 days past doing an exercise, when you start again it's like you're back at square one)... then I try for instance to palm the floor - I'll be able to touch my toes... but no further. By two days in a row of stretching, I'm back to palming the floor.

Your muscles only "remember" for so long! ;)

I'd say if you've never done yoga before and are in decent shape (that is, able to touch your knees or further down, dont have too many ailments (joints & nerves), and so forth)... I'd give it a month (minumum!) to see results.
You'll be able to hold many positions for at least 15 seconds (it's recommended to start holding for only 8 seconds and work your way up).

There are so many positions and the great part is you can take away or add as you like. I have trouble with my knees - so I try to stay away from the ones that keep my knees bent for _too_ long.

That's what I love so much about it. You can fine-tune it to you, your needs.
Also, you see and feel the results immediately. Unlike aerobic workouts where you're just full-body sore the next day and you wont see results for about 2 months...

after (nearly 9 mos (due to injury & working 3 jobs) off of exercise/yoga)... I was able to get back down to my average dress size (as I'd gained an embarrasing amount of weight (for my small stature of 5'5") w/in a matter of 4 months.
But note, that was an hour every day of some intermediate and advanced positions.
(All that means are some of the positions are a little more complicated - but generally intermed. & adv. mean all the basic positions you've learned from the start you simply hold for a longer period of time (say from 30 seconds to a minute or more).)

Hope that helps.

Any further questions... just type away! :)

Sue.
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Thanks for the reply Sue. Do you suggest a starting point? A book? A yoga video? I would love to give it a try.
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Michelle,


First I apologize for not getting back with you sooner.

Been a little busy.

Anyway, the following links are of the books I have. Each one getting more advanced with more variations than the previous.

:)

Btw... i got these books at a half priced book discounter near me... so I didn't spend more than 5 to 10 dollars on any of them.

Amazon.com: Yoga: The Path To Holistic Health (0635517071658): B.K.S. Iyengar, Daphne Razazan: Books

Amazon.com: Yoga: The Iyengar Way (9780679722878): Silva Mehta, Mira Mehta, Shyam Mehta: Books

Amazon.com: Yoga Mind And Body (DK Living) (9780789433015): Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center: Books

...
Sue
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Hi!

I don't do yoga but I'm sure several places might offer it since it's becoming popular. (Which is a good thing. Personally, I try and keep up with my T'ai Chi. :) ) You might want to try either your local YMCA/YWCA, community center, or see if your town has a Continuing Community Education through their Board of Ed. I know that last is how I found my T'ai Chi class.
I actually have a couple of yoga videos and keep meaning to really give them a try. Thanks for reminding me. I am just so lazy and so worn out by the end of the day and I am not a morning person. I am going to lay those videos out where I have to see them all the time and maybe that will help get me started too.
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i'd totally recommend starting on a wkend... you may be sore... in a bad way if you do a decent amount of the beginning level.

just a warning.

:giggle:
True. Although I didn't have much of a problem when I started T'ai Chi. Perhaps because they're different forms. :) While I'm not currently interested in starting Yoga, I'd personally rather start off with a small class because I learn better that way.
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