Good Morning everyone!
I need to be quick this morning because my mother in Law is taking me shopping to a wholesaler to buy some bakery packaging! So I will get right into something that has been on my mind.
My Yoga Confession
As you may know I have been trying the free yoga classes from Yoga Today.com. I love the idea of the website- a ton of free 1 hour videos to choose from. It is like having your own personal yoga collection at the touch of your hand.
I have been trying these videos on and off before the injury, a tiny bit during the injury, and now after the injury.
And. I just. can’t. get. into. these. videos.
I started to think this week that maybe Yoga and I were not meant to click. Maybe I was one of those people who just couldn’t ‘get it’. I was starting to doubt my pursuits.
For whatever reason the Yoga Today videos are so slow to me. I have to skip through the first 10 mins. because it bores me to tears. The instructors also annoy me too. And I mean this in the nicest way possible of course. They say things like ‘far out’ and ‘groovy’.
Enter comment from the wonderful Maggie from Say Yes To Salad . Her comment last night changed my world. She referred me to her ‘Yoga’ page on her website where she has put together a wonderful wealth of yoga resources at the touch of your fingertips! How did I not see this before?
Anyways, she wrote some interesting things…
“The classes that I’ve found on Yoga Today have generally been a slower and calmer form of yoga. Even the Ashtanga classes (normally faster paced) have been slower than I’m used to.”
Bam! Now I am not saying that I am some yoga black belt or anything, because I am not. You would know this by simply looking at me. Or if you saw my downward dog. However, what I have realized is that I need a constant change in stimulation to stay content. Yoga Today doesn’t do this for me and I am glad to know I am not the only one! Maggie recommends the Yoga Downloads as well as the You Tube videos here. I must say I am a bit scared to do an audio yoga video, which is why I have never taken the leap and tried Yoga Downloads. I am going to give it a go though and take a leap of faith!
A few others recommended Yoga Downloads too, so thank you all for your advice!
Here I am last night in my office for some winding down. Lights out. Candles lit. Far Out.
I also tried Bryan Kest’s Power Yoga DVD last night. I have only tried the first section called Energize…but I couldn’t get into it. I think I was defeated after the 15 mins. of Yoga Today that I did just beforehand.
Has anyone else found certain Yoga videos/instructors to be too slow? Do you have a favourite instructor?
Well guys, I am off to make a Green Monster and then off to shop for bakery packaging this morning! See you this afternoon! :)
“If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.” ~ Mary Pickford
In the past, when I tried getting into yoga I also found it to be too slow and frankly a little flaky. I think the instructor has a TON to do with the overall experience.
Thus far I’ve found that I love Rodney Yee’s style. Not flaky. Not to slow. Calming and focused. Beautiful scenery (instead of a cheesy ’80s style studio). And a great workout!
Girl, I don’t blame you. I don’t love those videos either. I LOVE Shiva Rea’s Dvd’s. Yoga Shakti is wonderful. Very dance like and fluid. You may enjoy that!! I hope to study with Shiva one day..she’s a goddess!
No worries!! I recommend Sara Ivanhoe’s DVD series – LOVE THEM!!
Have fun shopping today!! :-)
have fun shopping!
This is a great post. I am just getting into yoga, so this will certainly help me in terms of where to go for slow and where not to go!
I am the SAME way, but with ALL yoga :( I just can’t get into any of it. I know its so good for you, and so good for runners, I just get so bored. Great job for keeping at it to find one you like!
I can’t get into yoga at all. It’s all just too slow for me! Maybe I just haven’t found the right class yet!
YogaToday doesn’t work too well for me either. SageRountree is also free and I love her’s they are much quicker and formatted for athletes
I have found that same problem far too often with online yoga routines. I really like the Gaiam videos and then there’s yoga classes which, if I’m able to go, basically rock my world :)
Hi Angela,
I feel the same way about Yoga Today, I turn it on and turn it off within 5 minutes, it bores me silly!
I really love yogadownloads, their voices and the way they explain the poses are much better. If you download the 20 minutes ones they are free and give you a good feel for them.
Try the Core yoga… its challenging yet still a great stretch!
Hi Angelea!
Well, I think that as far as exercise goes, I am pretty different from you. For a long time the only type of exercise I liked was yoga. I actually really like Yogatoday, but I know what you mean. Have you tried yogadownload.com that Kath, on KERF is always talking about? All the sessions are not free, but there are a number of free 20 min. classes that might be more your speed! Good luck finding one that works for you!
I would try yogadownload.com they are great and offer some free 20 minute sessions to try out.
I would try yogadownload.com I’ve done videos and can’t get into them either. I think because you’re focusing on following the people and not concentrating on yourself. I had to use the pose guides the first couple times I did the classes but now I know what they are and just follow what she says. It’s SO much better that way to me. You can get into your own thoughts that way and don’t have concentrate on anything else. I would try the free 20 minute class if I were you. It completely changed my outlook on yoga. Have fun shopping!!!
Angela – Hey! I don’t have anything informative to add about yoga but I just wanted to say I stumbled on your blog several days ago & have really enjoyed it. I have wanted to try green smoothies for a while but didn’t have the courage or know what to put in them. Thanks to you I’ve had them the past 2 mornings & really enjoyed them!!! I haven’t tried Kale yet – just baby spinach. They really do make you feel so good & healthy. I’m also amazed at how they do keep me full for about 2.5 hrs. SWEET! I’m a morning exerciser too so its nice to have a delicious healthy portable breakfast to whip up after my workouts.
Also, regarding your post yesterday about HRMs – I’ve noticed the same thing about my HR…it takes so much more effort to get it up there. Today on the ellip I felt like I was really going but it stayed in the high 160s the entire time (my HR is naturally higher than most ppl). It used to be 170-180s. Guess that’s the benefit of getting in shape! :)
At one time I could only do yoga at a studio because I found videos too boring at home, they wouldn’t hold my attention. I’ve recently bought a bunch of the Rodney Yee videos and am loving them. He has one of 5 20minute yoga sessions I think called AM yoga, definitely try them out. Check out Wal-Mart too for videos, they have a great selection and really good prices. Make sure you look though for the fitness video stand by the fitness equipment in the store.
Good luck and good on ya for continuing to give Yoga a try.
I like Rodney Yee! He’s not too annoying!
Diana
I love love love Yoga Downloads. My husband and I started doing yoga at home and we tried a few different DVDs (Baron Baptiste, Rodney Yee, Brian Krest) but at this point we mostly do Yoga Downloads. The pace is just right (and we’re both beginners, too) and there are so many different classes to choose from. We do yoga together 4-5 times a week now!
I hear ya on being afraid to try an audio yoga DVD…I am the same way! So I’m looking forward to hearing what you think about it. I guess I could give the free 20-minute ones a try, right?
I’ve been going to a yoga studio once a week and if you can afford it (which uh…I really can’t whoops) it’s a good way to get into yoga, IMO. You may have to try a few different studios/teachers before you find the ones you like. I also like Fit TV’s Namaste (I think that’s what it’s called) Yoga shows…only 20 minutes (fast-forward through commercials) and it’s a good mix of relaxation and strenth/balance poses.
Hi! Honestly, I have done yoga twice in my life. I am a runner and can’t seem to get in “yoga mode” although I hear such great things about it. I am VERY inflexible and am kind of intimidated by yoga, if you know what I mean. Anyways, I recently bought The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga video and it is pretty good! There are 3 different levels, but Bob moves at a pretty decent pace. Granted, it is still hard for me to put the DVD on and practice yoga after I just got in from a 5 mile run, but it is something that I do want to start doing more often! :)
Kath introduced me to yogadownload.com and I really like it! I’ve had the same issue with videos, even the fast ones, because I’m always craning my neck trying to see what they are doing. The audio helps you to focus on YOUR movements. I did one last night before bed and one first thing this morning. They have different instructors, and you can quickly figure out your favorite.
It looks like a few people commenting have used this sight as well. Does the instructor “Dawnelle” sound like a drill sergent to anyone else? “IIIINNNN -HALE….EEEEXX-HALE”. I’m like, Okay lady – I’m breathing!