Yoga and Meditation

[Smthn_Like_Olivia]

I am looking to get into Yoga and meditation, but I'm not sure where to begin. Can anyone provide some tips, links to good sites on info, etc?

[Gloria25]

Online - even YouTube, there are free videos with all levels/forms of Yoga.

 

If you have a gym membership, you can also go to the classes. I tried the ones at my gym, but didn't like the 2nd instructor much. She was all about advanced poses. The other one seemed to know how to do the common poses (i.e. the Warrior ones) at a level where you can be a beginner or advanced. She also walked around and checked/corrected your form. The other didn't.

 

I have VHS and DVDs I use at home and I must admit, I need to be consistent. From my experience and what I heard, practicing meditation and yoga needs to be done with consistency because you get stronger, better, and your body benefits.

 

In regards to meditation, go on places like Amazon, where you can listen to a sample before you make a purchase. I've used Belleruth Naparsteck and Beth Freschi.

 

When I was more consistent with Yoga and the meditation, I was in a stressful environment. When crap would be going on at the time, I'd just sit at my desk, put on the meditation and it was like I was "not there". Actually, the night before an incident happened with a troublemaker, I had done Yoga and when she started her crap, it just rolled off my shoulders.

 

You will feel weird at first with the Yoga poses, but continue, cuz you will get stronger. Also, both with the mediation and Yoga, you have to learn to let go. I, being a woman and all, have ten things going through my head. With practice, you will learn to shut them out and shut down.

 

Good luck!!!

[writergal]

Start with Hatha yoga. There are so many different kinds of yoga out there it's crazy. Here's a website that describes hatha yoga. And here's a Huffington Post article that shows a chart of all the types of yoga. What I like about Hatha is how gentle it is. It focuses on breathing which is really important when you do the yoga poses.

 

As far as meditation, I belong to a meditation center that also has yoga classes. Does your city have any Buddhist meditation centers? While there are YouTube videos and DVDs, there's nothing like taking a beginning meditation class with an instructor, which can last anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks depending on the type of meditation being taught. I learned Vipassana meditation which is common for the Theravada school of Buddhism. If you can find a Buddhist meditation center in your city, contact them and find out about their meditation classes which should be donation only, which has been my experience.

[dichotomy]

This will get you started.

 

Amazon.com: Yoga for Stress Relief: Movies & TV

 

Her soft slow flow routines include some meditation parts....plus how about 35 mins with the Dali Lama on how to meditate ?

 

This has been my main beginner yoga DVD, so many sections geared to many areas that need to heal.

Edited October 12, 2014 by dichotomy

[lyndaaxo]

I once bought a 'Yoga For Beginners' DVD, it was fun until the sequence got a little dull because it was always the same. I'd recommend classes, and then some DVDs or online videos to do at home as well.

[Toodaloo]

I have just enrolled in classes.

 

I have an old school friend that teaches and although she has always been very "off the wall" she is an amazing instructor. Very helpful and encouraging. I took Mother with me and she was brilliant with her and helped her find alternatives to movements when she was struggling and helped with posture and positioning.

 

Really looking forward to going again and am taking another "extra" with me!

 

I tried the videos and you tube but they are not able to assess you and help you with the movements the way an instructor can.