YOGA!
Posted by NewShoes522 on Oct 06, 2009 · Member since Nov 2007 · 406 posts
So, I'm curious. How many yogis and yoginis do we have on VegWeb?
My yoga teacher talked for about ten minutes at the beginning of class today about the relationship between yoga and veganism. It might be a surprise to some, but only two out of the ten people in our class were not vegan (or transitioning). The yogic texts teach us to practice compassion for all sentient beings... human and animal alike. In my studio, teachers emphasize that the practice of yoga doesn't end on the mat. It permeates all aspects of life, especially our diet!
So discuss...
Do you prefer a certain style of yoga? Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Iyengar, etc?
Why do you practice? Exercise? Psychological support? Spiritual pursuits?
Did your yoga practice lead you into veganism?
Do you prefer a certain style of yoga? Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Iyengar, etc?
I've really only practiced Ashtanga and Vinyasa.
Why do you practice? Exercise? Psychological support? Spiritual pursuits?
I really like how I feel after yoga..... so, exercise and mental/emotional effects.
Did your yoga practice lead you into veganism?
No... not at all. I became vegetarian way before I started with yoga. I try to practice twice a week. I really need to make more of an effort to get in there at least 3 times a week.
I love yoga, but I'm a beginner. When I'm in the right frame of mind, it really calms me down. I started doing it after I became vegan, and had made several changes in my life.
I have a question regarding yoga, I'm wondering why everytime I have tried to do yoga I get really sick after and shakey.. I'm able to do pilates just fine but would like to start taking yoga for the psychological support as well as the exercise.
By the way I saw your pictures and you look amazing, do you run too?
I have a question regarding yoga, I'm wondering why everytime I have tried to do yoga I get really sick after and shakey.. I'm able to do pilates just fine but would like to start taking yoga for the psychological support as well as the exercise.
That's really weird. I'm no expert, but two things come to mind:
1. Are you drinking plenty of water before you go to class? If I'm not really well hydrated, I get similar symptoms after yoga class, especially if it's hot yoga!
2. If you think you're getting plenty of fluids, it might be an issue with your breathing. The breath is EXTREMELY important in yoga; staying aware of the flow of your breathing keeps you connected to your body and aware of the changes that are taking place. When I first started yoga and didn't know to pay attention to my breath, I would get dizzy and weak both during and after the class. Not only that, but I would find myself agitated and tense for no reason at all! Then my teacher walked up beside me and was like, "breathe, girl!" lol. Best teaching I ever received in a yoga class.
If you feel comfortable doing so, I think the best thing to do would be to ask the yoga teacher about it. Most teachers are really knowledgable and love when students ask questions.
By the way I saw your pictures and you look amazing, do you run too?
Aaw, thank you! I've never had a great relationship with my body, so all the compliments made me feel really good. :) Nope, no running, just yoga. I'll go on a bike ride in the park or take my dog for a walk every once in a while to get out side, but otherwise my physical activity is limited to yoga. I hate exercising just for the sake of exercising. Maybe I'm just lazy, but I get bored and frustrated when I've tried to go to a gym or "work out" for health benefits. Running might be different, but I never could figure the breathing thing out lol.
i really want to try it but it seems intimidating... is it easy to pick up? do they have beginner classes? isn't it expensive?
i really want to try it but it seems intimidating... is it easy to pick up? do they have beginner classes? isn't it expensive?
It depends where you go for $$ and most places offer beginner classes. This is some stuff I found based on the zip code in your profile (please don't think I'm some weirdo stalker person). Don't be shy about calling around and asking for free introductory classes.
http://www.mission-viejo-yoga.com/
http://events.pe.com/mission-viejo-ca/venues/show/999578-yogaworks-mission-viejo
Dahn Yoga
www.dahnyoga.com - (949) 583-9133 - More
ArtForm Pilates & BodyCode Studio
www.artformstudio.com - (949) 837-9999 - More
Yoga Bungalow
www.yoga-bungalow.com - (949) 489-1998 - More
Adelanto Studio Yoga & Life Arts
www.adelantostudio.net - (949) 705-7344 - More
Sjc Pilates
www.sjcpilates.com - (949) 248-1088 - More
Cherry on Top
maps.google.com - (949) 365-0007 - 1 review
Touch of Goddess
maps.google.com - (949) 215-5374 - More
wow thanks i'll look into it :)
i really want to try it but it seems intimidating... is it easy to pick up? do they have beginner classes? isn't it expensive?
It isn't very hard to pick up. You could check out some beginner's videos as well if you're interested, it's cool to try different types of yoga that way and get more familiar. Yoga videos are what I mainly do now as there are no classes where I am living now and I'm actually preferring them to the classes I have taken - I can get more of a workout and find it more relaxing. Good luck to you!
I agree, I didn't find it too tough to get the hang of either. However, it did take me a few classes before I really felt comfortable and not self-conscious. Most of the people in the classs will be familiar with the names of the poses, and it takes newbies a little while before "downward dog" cues: get your butt in the air! lol It helps to remember that everyone in there has been new to a yoga class before... no one will be judging you for not being able to do all the poses the first time you try.
I have brought several friends with me to classes, and I find that those who have been physically active in the past pick it up really quickly... maybe because they have more of that kinesthetic intelligence (body sense). A few classes, and they're hooked. I hope you decide to try it! Let us know how it works out if you do. :)
I think some yoga would do me good right about now. I haven't done it in a while. It's so relaxing, though, and it makes me feel like I can conquer issues more easily.
I have a question regarding yoga, I'm wondering why everytime I have tried to do yoga I get really sick after and shakey.. I'm able to do pilates just fine but would like to start taking yoga for the psychological support as well as the exercise.
That's really weird. I'm no expert, but two things come to mind:
1. Are you drinking plenty of water before you go to class? If I'm not really well hydrated, I get similar symptoms after yoga class, especially if it's hot yoga!
I have never gone to a class, I have done some videos which I still have. This is how I do pilates, is at home. BUT a Yoga class just opened up right across the street, well around the block and across the street, but it's in walking distance ( 3 minutes) so I would like to get the courage to get over there and talk to the instructer. I would hope it was all female and no males, that would be too embarrassing sticking my butt up like that.
2. If you think you're getting plenty of fluids, it might be an issue with your breathing. The breath is EXTREMELY important in yoga; staying aware of the flow of your breathing keeps you connected to your body and aware of the changes that are taking place. When I first started yoga and didn't know to pay attention to my breath, I would get dizzy and weak both during and after the class. Not only that, but I would find myself agitated and tense for no reason at all! Then my teacher walked up beside me and was like, "breathe, girl!" lol. Best teaching I ever received in a yoga class
If you feel comfortable doing so, I think the best thing to do would be to ask the yoga teacher about it. Most teachers are really knowledgable and love when students ask questions.
By the way I saw your pictures and you look amazing, do you run too?
Aaw, thank you! I've never had a great relationship with my body, so all the compliments made me feel really good. :) Nope, no running, just yoga. I'll go on a bike ride in the park or take my dog for a walk every once in a while to get out side, but otherwise my physical activity is limited to yoga. I hate exercising just for the sake of exercising. Maybe I'm just lazy, but I get bored and frustrated when I've tried to go to a gym or "work out" for health benefits. Running might be different, but I never could figure the breathing thing out lol.
i love yoga but can't really practice because of the expense. i've only done "real" yoga (aka, in a class) 2x because they had a sale 1wk for $1. we used to have a donation class where i live, but no more :(.
does anyone know of any really good videos?
i've done vinyasa, but i'm a total beginner and i'd be willing to do any that gave me an ok work out.
i love yoga but can't really practice because of the expense. i've only done "real" yoga (aka, in a class) 2x because they had a sale 1wk for $1. we used to have a donation class where i live, but no more :(.
does anyone know of any really good videos?
i've done vinyasa, but i'm a total beginner and i'd be willing to do any that gave me an ok work out.
There are a few I do regularly that give me a pretty good workout: (links to the dvds on amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Yoga-Total-Body-Workout/dp/B0000A2ZQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1255435687&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Total-Makeover-Alanna-Zabel/dp/B000UUX2JG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1255435757&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Minute-Solution-Yoga-Lara-Hudson/dp/B000A3DGGC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1255435793&sr=1-1
Right now I'm doing a pretty challenging and good prenatal yoga video as well that I may keep doing after I have my baby even. I've tried a lot of videos and these have been the best for me so far. There seem to be a lot of cheesy ones out there or ones that just didn't do much for me physically or mentally.
Good luck with your yoga video search! Let me know if you find any good ones!
i love yoga but can't really practice because of the expense. i've only done "real" yoga (aka, in a class) 2x because they had a sale 1wk for $1. we used to have a donation class where i live, but no more :(.
does anyone know of any really good videos?
i've done vinyasa, but i'm a total beginner and i'd be willing to do any that gave me an ok work out.
I have been doing Yoga and Pilates for about a month now. I have been working from Yoga Zone DVD's: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=yoga+zone&x=0&y=0 - particularly the ones for flexibility and stress release. They explain the poses precisely, and have multiple people to follow doing both full poses, and easier simplified poses. On the opposite days of doing yoga I am doing pilates from something that I downloaded for free. Both routines are 20 minutes, and than I am doing 12 miles of walking a week with that. A few months of this, and I will let myself buy a wool coat that I have been wanting for awhile.
I'm all about free yoga, and you can get several video podcasts with GREAT sequencing and instruction available on iTunes without paying a dime. Just search yoga, and you'll find quite a few. I've enjoyed a few of the YOGAmazing videos myself.
Also, a google video search came up with several results: http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&q=free%20yoga%20online&revid=647102066&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#q=yoga&hl=en&emb=0&dur=3
If you can invest a little money, I've heard very positive things about Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman's Gaiam Yoga Club, which acts as a sort of online yoga studio. For $5 a week, you get access to tons of videos and instructional information, plus there are chats and message boards for interacting with other students. I think Rodney and Colleen even answers questions submitted by students on their blog. http://www.gaiamyogaclub.com/
Many yoga studios are willing to work with individuals in tough financial circumstances. I'm a struggling college student myself, and my teacher offers reduced rates and is even willing to barter with those who don't have much income. Videos are great, but nothing beats having the personal instruction and presence of a teacher. You might see if studios near you offer reduced rates. Either way, it's great that you're making the effort to develop a practice and I hope you find what you're looking for! :)
unfortunately i can't get any student discounts because i'm a student no more, i just still make as much or less than i did while in college. it's very sad. thanks for the video recs!