BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Yoga Yoga for Beginners DVD

I finally broke down and got myself the Yoga for Beginners DVD -



http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Beginners-Barbara-Benagh/dp/B000H8RVSO

Yesterday I watched the intro "interview" and first set of instructions while riding my exercise bike, so I could get a feel for what it was about. Interestingly, Jill had been telling me I had to do back extensions to go with the situps I've been doing and the very first set of instructions are the back extensions!! So I think that's great

The videos are *beautiful* with a restful beach in the background. So that is very encouraging and relaxing to me.

The challenge for me is going to be clearing a space in front of the TV where I can do this - the coffee table takes up that area right now. I can slide it to the side I guess.

Any advice as I get started in this? Do I really need a mat? Any recommendations if I do get one? I'd probably get it via Amazon if I could ...

Cool, Lisa!

On carpet, you might not need a mat, but on a smooth surface, definitely. It keeps your hands/feet from sliding so you can maintain a pose like downward dog.

I have a big ottoman I push out the way when I'm working out with the TV. I quit coffee tables years ago--too much temptation to pile up stuff. I can cover up a table in no time flat!

One thing I have to say is when I tried to do yoga with videos, I overdid it. My instructor says do what you can do--everybody is different and your own body is different on different days, and listen to your body. Nothing should hurt. In fact, in class, it feels good, but challenging to me. Afterwards, I feel awesome! Another thing with DVDs is I got too impatient! LOL--See why I need yoga! In class, they dim the lights and play soft music, so the whole thing is a relaxing environment.

I think I have a DVD still, and I'm going to try it this weekend to see if I can do it now without feeling impatient or like I have to be a pretzel to do yoga.

Have fun!

OK yes we definitely have a carpet and I can understand the sliding thing. I wonder if I'll get carpet burn with the carpet though. The mat thing is making more sense.

OH NO they have trillions of them in gorgeous colors!!! I thought I would just grab one and be set. Now I have so many options ....

OK I ordered this one -



http://www.amazon.com/Extra-Thick-Deluxe-Density-Yoga/dp/B000PUFEYM

in light lavender

We both use laptops while we watch TV so we need the coffee table for those. I do agree it piles up with clutter but my boyfriend is in there most of the day so I try to leave his clutter alone as much as I can

OK I am going to go do 20 minutes of biking while I watch the intro yoga thing again, so I can understand what the steps are. I have to remind myself that the dancing works my lower legs mostly, but the biking works my upper legs so they are both important. As much as I just want to go dance some more ... but I can't watch yoga videos to learn things while I dance!

I LOVE yoga! I have been doing yoga for 6 years now and am still learning and improving my strength and flexibility, which is a wonderful accomplishment at my age (73).
Over the years I have gathered a collection of about a dozen DVDs and use them in rotation so I don't get bored of doing the same old practise every day. I particularly like the DVDs that have several different workouts to choose from, Barbara Benagh has one called Essential Flow Yoga that is good.
Have fun!

Lisa, you will have to document how the DVD is working for you. I was thinking of getting it too, but I am worried I won't use it.

Is it really all in the front of the ocean? Is there music? Myabe it would be peaceful in the background whether or not i am actually doing yoga, so i can absorb the techniques while I also do other things?

did you get your mat yet? Mine is still not in but some of the rest of that order did show up (balance disc, twist disc).

Most of the yoga DVDs are filmed in beautiful natural settings. Rodney Yee has some filmed high on a hill overlooking the ocean in Hawaii, others in the Joshua Tree desert in California. I have others DVDs that are set in Sedona, Arizona with awesome orange mountains in the background.
And you may be surprised to know that most Target stores have a decent exercise department that carries yoga mats.

Jill - YES this one is in front of a really pretty ocean and beach, it is very peaceful looking. To me that was a big advantage of this. I don't think there is any music - just her "talking over the moves". As in, the person on the screen isn't talking, she is just doing the moves. But you hear the gentle voice describing what is going on.

Yes that is what I was doing, watching it while I biked so I could enjoy the scenery and start to learn the moves.

My mat just came in today!! I'll do a separate thread on that

I had another woman I know (the Tupperware lady) who does yoga also recommend Rodney Yee's DVD's, I'll think about that once I get the hang of this one

Lisa, that sounds so great! Hope you enjoy the yoga. I would like to try it, but am 63 now and not sure if I could start something like that. I do a little Tai Chi once in awhile, but yoga looks pretty difficult to me. What do you think? Is there a version to start out really slooooooow to tone up first?

I like the purple mat.

Phyllis - it definitely starts out very slowly. It starts just with laying on the mat. You maybe stretch a leg out behind you or something like that - only as far as feels comfortable for you.

OK I have a new theory. I have my lovely purple mat and I am going to put it in front of the front door. I can then put my laptop on the stairs (which are in front of the door) and see on my laptop what I am supposed to do.

Off I go!

I got to both yoga classes this week. On Wed, our regular instructor got back from a yoga conference in LA. She had taken some course in hip and shoulder poses. My painful areas--I felt much better after class.

She also explained to us how yoga breathing also helps tone some of the chest & ab muscles that don't get very much action otherwise. That was interesting.

And, I am finally getting a bit better at the balancing poses.

Phyllis, several of the members of my class appear to be in their late fifties to mid sixties. Some of them are beginners like me, but there are a couple who have better upperbody strength, flexibility and balnace than I do. But, I am more flexible than my 24 year-old daughter, too. So it's totally a fitness thing you can do at any age and forever. I wish I'd discovered it earlier. (Like they were hiding it from me!)

OK I just did the 10 minutes backbend session - i.e. the first part of the easy set. It was lovely! The ocean waves were wooshing gently in the background. The sun was shining, although she was in a shaded tent (something I really like). Her voice was easy. I found that I kept looking "sideways" to see what was going on, because I had the mat laid out lengthwise in front of the stairs. So next time I will put the laptop at the end of the mat, so I can see it when I'm facing down the length of the mat.

It was very easy. It was all lying on the mat, just stretching the legs or stretching the arms. I am definitely not stretched out, and I was doing OK with it.

Well recommended!

Yes Deb it was a great conspiracy, the whole world was hiding the idea of yoga from you

I know! Shame on everyone!

I've probably recommended this before, but have any of you tried www.yogatoday.com. Check it out! It's AWESOME! It has seriously changed my life.

I was using DVD's before to do yoga, which are still great, but they do get repetitive after awhile. YogaToday has a new class every day. Some of the classes are geared for all levels, and some for beginning or advanced. There are 3 teachers, and I really like all of them (though do have a favorite).

Also, the classes are in Wisconsin in beautiful settings!

As far as DVD's, I've tried a few. I find Rodney Yee to be really challenging because he keeps you moving fast. A DVD I really like for beginners is "Yoga for Weight Loss" with Suzanne Deason. I always feel so good after that one, but not sure how much weight loss really happens. It helps my back feel better though.

Thanks Lisa and Deb for the encouragement. I am going to give it a try after I am settled in my new home. Glad you are enjoying it, Lisa.

That sounds like a wonderful way to welcome a new home! Although if it'll be a while before you move, maybe yoga would help you reduce the stress of moving

OK another update on this DVD. I just tried part 2 - the 20 minute "standing poses". These are definitely "harder" than the part 1 (as you might hope). They involved standing on one leg and lunge positions. So this will definitely be an area that I will (hopefully) show an improvement in over time. I can still see that they are "beginner type" things but they do give you a little bit of a challenge here. The voice is still soft and smooth and the background is very pretty and peaceful.

Ironically when I had done the first 10 minute "laying down" set I had put the mat sideways to the screen, and it would have been much better laid out head-on from a watching perspective. So this time for part 2 I put the mat head-on to the TV - but for this set it would have been much easier to watch from a sideways angle

OK I just did the part 1 backbend 10 minute segment again. This time I had the mat pointing towards the tv. It was easier to see this way although even with the coffee table out of the way I was still "too close" so it was hard to lift my head that high to see what she was doing But I'm sure with time I'll get to know what the poses are and just have to listen to her verbal cues without watching every moment.

Which brings me to a complaint about this video. Occasionally she'll make a comment about "cobra pose" but I never know if she means the pose we're in now or the pose we're about to do. She doesn't identify the poses as we go. Since this is a beginner video it would be nice if at each pose it said in the bottom right "cobra pose" or something so I could learn them ...

In time you will lember up enough so you can raise your head enough to see the tv NOW THATS MOTIVATION!!!!!!!!!

LOLOL ok that is too funny The TV is up on a pedestal thing so I'd have to have some sort of a snake neck to do that I think, but it can certainly be a goal of mine!!

Our yoga editor has asked me for some ghost writing help for the next few weeks so I think I'll make up some pages for her on the basic stances. That will both help me and help others, I think. The only question is how I'm going to get copyright-free images to go with them. I'll see what I can find!

Lisa, take pics of yourself heehee

ummmmm no, I've only done yoga twice so far, I doubt my posture is an ideal one

Plus I can only imagine the difficulty of getting my camera set up on a timer to do that!!

Okay, so my mat came in and I did the lying down and dog/cat type beginner poses with my book. It was hard to have to keep referring to the book while learning the proper breath and stance, etc.

DH and I did some together and it was easier to have one person hold the book and read from it and check on the other person's stance.

Then we remembered we had a Yoga DVD somewhere so we dug it up and tried that. No pretty background - just a slightly zen room. I don't know the name of the DVD since we had just labeled it "yoga."

It was okay. It was hard to figure things out and keep up with her, even though it was a beginner's DVD. Maybe because she started with standing poses and moving Asanas, which i don't really feel ready for. And it's hard to both try the poses and watch the DVD.

A real class would probably be helpful but as I don't like leaving the house I will probably keep trying the book and the video.

I do think Lisa's video sounds the nicest. The ocean would be very relaxing.

In spite of these issues I mentioned, I did find my half hour of yoga to be very cool - both invigorating and relaxing at the same time.

Bob can take the pics of you.

I found some art.com images which I can use as long as I link to art.com so that worked out well

I definitely recommend my yoga DVD for beginners. The first moves are all laying down and are quite doable. Then the next set are all standing and although one requires you to balance on one foot it is still something you can at least try. She goes very slowly and you have time to figure out what you're doing.

OK segment three was about strength and balance. Some of these were challenging (for me) poses, like lying on your side and then pressing up on one arm so your weight was supported with say your right arm while your legs were out straight down the mat. My arms aren't quite that strong yet. There were also push up style poses where you lay on your chest then put both arms straight into the mat and pushed yourself up and held there. So nothing 'strenuous' in the sense of being active - but muscle building in terms of being able to hold yourself up and stay balanced.

Again these all seemed doable to me, but ones I was weak on currently and could imagine myself getting "progress quickly" as time goes by. It was a 20 minute segment.

Okay, sold! I ordered the DVD that Lisa has. It sounds perfect, the ocean sights and sounds, and the sense that it is really *really* for beginners (not like the one i have, which may be for beginners but is still sorta too fast).

I DO like my Yoga book, since it tells me where to breathe and shows lots of angles on the same position and is very detailed. I have a few other yoga books but the one I have started using is fairly nice intro and I expect will be a good companion to the DVD i just ordered.

I think I will start a thread on yoga books, but tomorrow. Am tired and ready for bed right now.

I really meant to do segment 4 tonight but I just got too sleepy. I am also off to bed too Jilly - I'll see you in the morning!

Lisa, about segment three, i imagine as people are starting yoga it's a muscle memory thing instead of weakness per se. That's how it is with rock climbing. At first the motions in a new posture are ungainly, but once you've executed a move a few times, your body starts to recognize/remember what you are asking of it, and learns to get more efficient at it.

I don't know, it really was that my arm couldn't hold up my body's weight I think it will get stronger as I go ...

I just tried "Sun Salutations" which is the 4th out of the 5 basic programs on this DVD. There are also "full routines" on this DVD which are set up for a variety of purposes like winding down before bed. Where the full routines are generally long, these getting started sets are short - 10-30 minutes. Sun salutations was 20 minutes.

This is the first one I hit where I really felt like I couldn't do some of them It wasn't even that they were that hard! But because I want to review the DVD for you all I'm "moving up a level" every day. I think realistically that's too fast In this one you're transitioning from one position to another and my arms just aren't that strong yet. it's not that they are complicated, but my arms can't do it. Then there is the infamous "downward Facing Dog" where you make an inverted V with your body, with your hands going up to your hips high in the sky then back down to your feet.

Bob: "Are you supposed to look like the lady on the screen?"
Me: (gasp) "I am just trying to survive the 20 minutes" (gasp)
Bob: "Oh, ok."

I wasn't anywhere near an inverted V There were parts I could do, and parts that I couldn't do. But again, nothing looked "impossible". It was just that I wasn't that flexible yet. And I could see how practicing the previous stages more would give me that flexibility. So I do have hope.

This segment has a very relaxing warm up period - sweeping your arms around, stretching and such - before it gets into the full movements. So I think this will be a very enjoyable one once I can do it. But not yet

The final segment is on "Seated Hip Openers". I have no idea what that entails. I am a little nervous if it is "more challenging" than this one.

I know - let's just fast forward through it a bit.

She does say frequently "If you cannot do this yet, do x instead" - so she eases you along.

OK I just fast forwarded through it and I feel very encouraged. Nothing "hard" in there at all! It's all stretches from lying down or sitting. I'm not saying they're easy stretches - but they are all good stretches and ones you could do "as much as possible". So I think I will try that tomorrow.

Maybe you are pushing through it too fast, my friend. I plan on trying my yoga lessons really really slowwwwly when my DVD comes in. I mean, you are kinda doing the higher level stuff within only, what, two weeks of starting yoga?

I am obviously not a yoga expert (or even beginner yet), but I do know about fitness and proper progression of workouts/physical skills. I actually know a lot about it, from my instructing Outward Bound and teaching rock climbing and my whole 20s, early 30s as a wilderness instructor.

So think about it this way. You were pretty sedentary and now you are biking like a rock star. You are also bowflexing and dancing - that is all incredible! But things requiring slow movements and flexibility and proper breathing are far harder than one might think looking in from the outside. Slow motion requires more minute attention to detail and is actually harder than direct *pow* action.

Oh definitely if I just had this for me I'd be going much more slowly through the lessons, staying on a certain lesson for a week or two to really learn it

So I don't mind that it's challenging, but I want to be able to explain what each segment is like to everyone without taking 2 months to do it

OK I just finished with "Seated Hip Openers". What's interesting is in the beginning I thought 10 minutes was a long stretch but now I'm doing 30 minute segments without minding. I am becoming more relaxed

This one was actually pretty lovely and relaxing. It was just long stretches. Sure, some of them I couldn't do well, like the "split" stretch, but I could still do them slightly and could imagine that I'd get better over time.

This is the first one that I thought I'd want an "accessory" for. In other ones they talk about using blankets or pillows if you want. In this one they talked about having foot "straps" which I think would feel really nice, to stretch your hamstrings. You hold an end of the strap in each hand and press your foot out into it to let you stretch more.

Now oddly I thought this was a rubber stretchy strap but looking on Amazon it appears they mean a woven belt-like strap ...

Yoga straps are woven, like a canvas belt, but you can certainly use a resistance band, too. In fact, last night, my instructor said she liked them for hamstring stretches. I am using the regular band for shoulder stretches--I think they're called cowface or something goofy. Yep, here it is:

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I just use the belt on my bathrobe, any kind of belt, the tie from the curtain...anything within grabbing distance.

lol I'd be afraid I'd snap something that wasn't meant for it!

Deb - I am actually really tempted to get one of those cool meditation pillows now. I suppose I should post that in the meditation forum

OK before I forget the five advanced sessions are:

basics - 70 min
energizing - 40 min
strength - 70 min
rejuvinate - 30 min
quieting - 55 min

because it's 3am now I am going to go for quieting and then go to sleep. So I'm doing these out of order but I'll try to make sure I review them all for you.

ooo, my DVD should be at the post office today! I am excited to go get it.

I did the quieting - 55 min set. It was very relaxing, lots of long stretches. Having done all the "basics" it was quite doable. During several parts I wasn't even watching the screen, just listening to her and doing the moves with her. I needed the strap again but I used a substitute since I hadn't gotten my real strap in yet. I really enjoyed it a lot and while I thought 55 minutes would take a "long time" it did go by nice and relaxed and quickly.

I think tonight I will try the 30 minute set to see how that goes

That sounds very nice nice and relaxing Lisa. I can't wait to get my DVD.

It wasn't at the Post Office yesterday. Boo.

Aargh. I just checked my tracking at Amazon - my DVD probably won't show til march 28th!

That's okay, I still have my yoga books.


I am thinking not to use my free 1st yoga session until after i try the DVD a bit. Advice on that?

In good news, DH says he will go too and do it also.

Jilly, I know (from another post) that you live in a tiny town, so you might not have the kind of cable I do where there are "On Demand" channels. But, in case you do, try the Exercise on Demand or FIT TV channel. They have some yoga shows on there. Usually pretty short, too. I think they're still too advanced for me (at least the couple I tried), but it's worth watching.

And, here's a freebie you can download on your computer--20 poses. I haven't, because I have no space to do yoga in my office, and I have another DVD, but I might watch this one just to see what they do. (I think they do a headstand, which is admirable, if not downright show-off-y! I'm sure I'm years or even lifetimes away from this pose!)

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I'm going to check that out.

Jilly and others,
There are free new yoga classes every day on the www.yogatoday.com website. You need DSL, but they're totally free and great!!! They have all levels. Try it out!

That is great news about Dan going with you!! I'm sure that'll be lots of fun!

My personal take on the class/DVD thing would be to watch the DVD a few times first and get the hang of some of the basics "doing it live" and following someone. That gets you into the rhythm of listening and watching someone for instructions. You can get yourself used to doing that before you go do it with an actual live human

OK today I did the

rejuvinate - 30 min

session. It was wonderful! You don't need the strap for this one, but they do have you use pillows, and at one point you lay on your back with your legs up against a wall / chair / other solid thing. It was VERY relaxing and refreshing. I really did feel much more relaxed after it was through. It was a lot of deep breathing and slow motions. So I really like this one.

I think I have three left to try? They all seem more active. I'll try to try one tomorrow!

Deb and Frieda, those are great resources, thank you. I will try those and let you know what I think.

yes I will be so pleased to learn yoga with Dan. it sounds like a nice "couple" activity.

I don't think I can get Bob to do yoga with me - there is *barely* enough room for one mat in front of the TV right now and when I lay down and stretch out my arms they're laying on piles of cables But maybe someday when we get this living room really cleaned up ...

I'm sure Bob will enjoy just sitting back watching you.

OK I have just finished the energizing - 40 minute cycle. Ironically I have these nifty new straps and this set didn't use ANY props at all!

This began with a number of stretches and then went into a backbend set - lots of downward facing dogs, segueing into lunges, segueing into supported front push-up positions. My arms were killing me, but unlike the other time, I did actually go through it all without having to give up on a pose. I definitely didn't do them all "fully" but I did at least stay on my arms. I will be building up some arm strength here in a while!!

It was nice and energizing, but I think mostly because my arms just aren't that strong yet I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the other sessions. This probably goes on my list of "sessions to do in a while when I am better at this".

This means I have two left to test out for you guys -

basics - 70 min
strength - 70 min

These are the longest ones. 70 minutes sounds like really long to me but I just did 40 minutes which used to sound quite long to me. So I'll try the basics one next. To be honest, I may just half-watch, half-do strength when I get to it. If it's harder than this I don't think my body is up to it yet, but I can at least give you a sense of what it's about

you are such a trooper Lisa!

I think I will try basics tomorrow, it is definitely next on my list! I realized I hadn't gotten my taxes in yet to the tax processor so I am hard at work categorizing everything and filing everything, trying to bring some order to my office ... I really do need the yoga

OK I did the 70 minute basics routine today. By this point I understand all of her instructions so I really don't have to watch the screen much, just follow along with what she's saying and pay attention to what I am doing.

I still have a *lot* of progress I can make. When I sit with my legs spread apart to either side, they are more V shaped than straight My arms still wobble when I hold myself up in lunge positions. But I can "go through" the routine from start to finish, and I can see progress happening. So that is good!

That just leaves one session left - the strength building one which is also 70 minutes. I'll try that one next. I have a sense that I won't be able to make through it - but I'll see what I can do!

My Yoga DVD is here! Yay! I will give it a shot with DH today.

Okay, I watched a few sections while on the treadmill, then put on the standing poses part of the DVD to actually do. DH and I did them together and we felt great! I will do the 10 minute back extensions next.

It's great that you've got your DVD!!

Yes it really does feel so nice to stretch out, and the breathing part becomes almost a normal part of you. I was doing the breathing today while filling up the humidifier and it relaxed all of my muscles.

Today I did the last session I hadn't tried yet - the strength 70 minute one. As I had expected, it was a bit too hard for me right now. I had to "give up" on one of the downward dogs, and I completely couldn't even try one of the other moves. It was a move where you stretch out lying down. Then you get up on your hands and balls of your feet - like you're doing a push-up. Then you go to just one hand and reach the other up at the sky. My wrist completely failed me on that one

But still, I'm not discouraged by that. I'm actually encouraged that the DVD has things for me to "grow into" as I build up my strength.

So again by this point I can follow along with most of her directions without looking, and I really like several of the sessions. So now I can start doing them by what I'm in the mood for (relaxing, stretching etc).

I really like this DVD still, and am quite glad I got it!

Wow, you did it all Lisa! I am impressed. That seems like a pretty fast learning curve - you go!

Today I did the Standing Poses again and the Back Extensions. They were lovely, although it's tough to have to turn my neck to see what she is doing when i should be hanging my head or looking up or such. But I really liked the Back Extensions and the relaxed poses like crocodile and child's pose.

I enjoyed the tree poses more than the bending down ones in the standing section. Mountain pose feels really good after those bending stretches.

Then i got on the treadmill and watched the other beginning segments. The Seated Hip Openers looks wonderful and I want to try that next. Strength and the Sun Salutations look the hardest out of the beginner sets.

Dan just came and took over the TV to play Xbox Live so I decided to reread what Lisa wrote here about her experience with the DVD. It's like having a friend introduce me to it!

I will also take a look at the other resources listed on this thread. My plan is: spend some weeks in the beginner segments. Move slowly into the moving segments. Work through my yoga books and maybe some of the websites like Yoga Today.

Once I feel more confident about the poses and moving between them i will go to that free class lesson in my town so a live human tell me if i am doing proper stances/poses.

Okay, that's my plan. Now, to go find something to use as a strap!

Jill - definitely in the beginning it felt a little frustrating to try to do something plus watch her to see what I was supposed to be doing. But hang in there - after a few times you hear her words and know what the move is and it all starts to fall together. Just "expect" at the beginning to be a bit stuttery as you figure out the things.

Yes mountain pose was very relaxing and nice!! I am getting better at tree pose too - it's almost starting to feel like I can balance on one foot

Bob is playing Turok on the Xbox right now Those boys!! Interfering with our yoga experiments ...

I definitely recommend just practicing with the beginner ones for a while. Then when you go into the longer sessions, you will flow smoothly through them because all the things she says, you'll know right away what she means. You just glance over occasionally to keep in tune with her.

and then yes, you can go to the class and get some "fine tuning" done

Well I did the Backbends and Standing Poses sections today with Dan. It was lovely. I love the backbends! The triangle pose is still not my favorite but i was more comfortable with it today.

I want to try Seated Hip Openers maybe tonite or tomorrow.

Anyway, so that was 30 minutes and then I used two of my books for pose refinement and did 30 minutes more with those.

I look forward to getting better at this. have not needed a strap yet, but I dug a length of webbing from my climbing gear, so am ready to try that.

I think there was only 2 sessions that used the strap, so it's not very necessary. Still, it's good to have something when you hit those moments!

It's so great that you're doing things together with Dan!

I've grown to really like the triangle pose, but didn't at first either. Now it feels like it loosens my lower back. The pose that's still hard for me is the side angle pose.

For those who need visuals, a triangle pose involves you having your feet fairly wide apart. You then lean over and touch one foot with the opposite hand (so say your right hand reaches down to your left foot). Then you stretch the free hand up to the sky

Today I did the Back Extensions again (it's a nice warmup for the other sequences) and then tried the Seated Hip Openers. That was very nice and most of it was pretty easy. The hardest part was the last part with the 'split.' That one is going to take some work before i can put my head on the ground. We are probably talking years.

You mean the one where you sit down and have your legs spread, and try to make the right leg go far right and the left leg go far left? Yes I think that is something that I will work on for years too

Yep that's the one. The last pose. I am no where near close. lol. I think I can do a little further than a 90 degree angle with my legs spread and that's about it. Forget lowering my head to the ground! Yet I have faith it will come eveeeentuaaally.

But the rest of the moves in that section are basically just normal stretches, stuff I do anyway.

I still need to do the Balance/Strength one and the Sun Salutations one. Not sure which is the best seque.

I don't think I even reach 90 degrees I remember I used to do much better with this pose so it was pretty amazing to me when I sat down to do this with the yoga DVD thinking "Oh this is easy". And then I tried to stretch my legs and said "Hey wait a minute, what happened here???"

Yes definitely this is one of those poses where you can sense how it will get so much better over time

Both of those ones have some "strength required" moves in them so as long as you go into them knowing you might not be able to do every pose yet, you'll be fine And heck, you probably could breeze right through them where my arms were trembling!

Well, we shall seeee.

It's funny - I came to my first pose where she said to use a strap and I was so thrilled! I was absurdly excited to use my strap in a pose. Isn't that weird?

he he he

I felt the same way when I finally got to use my strap! And I *really* like the strap poses. They feel great for my legs.

heehee, I am glad i am not the only one, Lisa.


Tonite Dan and I did the Strength/Balance section. It was for sure the hardest part yet. Dan was better at the sitting ones and I was better at the holding yourself up ones. it was pretty cool - i felt the blood rushing through my forearms immediately after, and got the sense that Dan was impressed with my stamina.

Not sure how to do the core breathing. There is a lot to concentrate on at one time.

Still have to try the sun salutation one. for some reason, it's the one i am most nervous about.