Yoga - sounds great, but what kind? help!

shuttlefish · 03-31-2009, 04:25 PM

I'm thinking of taking up yoga. I've seen and read all about how great it is and life-changing and all that! I'm already fairly fit (though there's always room for improvement right?) but my flexibility needs help big time!!!!!

I live in a big city and there is a bewildering selection of different types. I know from previous experience that doing it on my own with a book or DVD won't work for me. It has to be a class that I spent money or else I probably won't do it.

All these different kinds though - hatha, ashtanga, power-hot, this - that. Can anyone shed some light on this. I would truely be a beginner if that's any help.

TIA

NowandZen · 03-31-2009, 05:17 PM

I would start at extension classes at a university. It's cheap, and you can sample, so if it's not for you, not much wasted.

cafecomleite · 03-31-2009, 05:56 PM

ashtanga is the best.

purpleduckie · 03-31-2009, 07:23 PM

it's all really subjective.

hmm1 · 03-31-2009, 07:51 PM

I -think- hatha is the most common one. Doing poses with pauses in between.

Ashtanga is much more intense because the poses flow into one another - no pauses.

Hot yoga is even more intense - afaik it's like Ashtanga but in a heated room...

knightingale · 03-31-2009, 10:49 PM

I really want to try Bikram Yoga (heated yoga). You are put in a room ranging from 90-98 degrees, and you do yoga in there for an hour and twenty minutes. The sweat allows you to sweat out toxins in the body and drop unwanted weight, as well as keeping the muscles nice and warm so as to safely elongate and stretch them.

It's expensive, though. I plan on doing a month trial of it once my classes let out in May.

Hackuuna Matata · 04-02-2009, 09:09 PM

I recently started Hatha and really enjoy it. I like the pauses and some of the strength required for some of the poses. It has been great for my back and neck and overall strength/flexibility. Highly recommended for beginners too.

waveseer · 04-02-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knightingale

I really want to try Bikram Yoga (heated yoga). You are put in a room ranging from 90-98 degrees, and you do yoga in there for an hour and twenty minutes. The sweat allows you to sweat out toxins in the body and drop unwanted weight, as well as keeping the muscles nice and warm so as to safely elongate and stretch them.

It's expensive, though. I plan on doing a month trial of it once my classes let out in May.

I do this regularly, I love it but omg I sweat from everywhere even the inside of my ears!

03-31-2009, 04:25 PM	#1
shuttlefish Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,667	Yoga - sounds great, but what kind? help! I'm thinking of taking up yoga. I've seen and read all about how great it is and life-changing and all that! I'm already fairly fit (though there's always room for improvement right?) but my flexibility needs help big time!!!!! I live in a big city and there is a bewildering selection of different types. I know from previous experience that doing it on my own with a book or DVD won't work for me. It has to be a class that I spent money or else I probably won't do it. All these different kinds though - hatha, ashtanga, power-hot, this - that. Can anyone shed some light on this. I would truely be a beginner if that's any help. TIA

03-31-2009, 05:17 PM	#2
NowandZen Offline Gold Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hurricane Alley Gender: Male Age: 43 Posts: 782	I would start at extension classes at a university. It's cheap, and you can sample, so if it's not for you, not much wasted. __________________ Call me butter, 'cause I'm on a roll. <----- Who Dat? 9-0. Comes down when they lose. "Ah, Billy Clyde wasn't insane. And if it doesn't work out, there'll never be any doubt that the pleasure was worth all the pain"- Jimmy Buffett "The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful"

03-31-2009, 10:49 PM	#6
knightingale Offline Gold Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Gender: Female Age: 25 Posts: 700	I really want to try Bikram Yoga (heated yoga). You are put in a room ranging from 90-98 degrees, and you do yoga in there for an hour and twenty minutes. The sweat allows you to sweat out toxins in the body and drop unwanted weight, as well as keeping the muscles nice and warm so as to safely elongate and stretch them. It's expensive, though. I plan on doing a month trial of it once my classes let out in May. __________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss.

03-31-2009, 05:56 PM	#3
cafecomleite Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 108	ashtanga is the best.

03-31-2009, 07:23 PM	#4
purpleduckie Offline Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Canada Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 1,309	it's all really subjective.

03-31-2009, 07:51 PM	#5
hmm1 Offline Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 94	I -think- hatha is the most common one. Doing poses with pauses in between. Ashtanga is much more intense because the poses flow into one another - no pauses. Hot yoga is even more intense - afaik it's like Ashtanga but in a heated room...

04-02-2009, 09:09 PM	#7
Hackuuna Matata Offline Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Gender: Male Age: 26 Posts: 21	I recently started Hatha and really enjoy it. I like the pauses and some of the strength required for some of the poses. It has been great for my back and neck and overall strength/flexibility. Highly recommended for beginners too.