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After years of ‘going to start’, I am FINALLY taking yoga classes.
I can’t believe how much I love it. (I mean, I suck at it, but even wobbling through poses makes me feel fantastic.)
As you may have read, in November my body sent out it’s most recent demand that I take care of myself. And then a week later, Janice happened upon an okay-it-can’t-get-easier-than-this opportunity for us to start yoga.
One of Janice’s friends — a stay-at-home mom from Jackson’s school — had just decided to start a new business as a yoga instructor and was offering beginner classes in her home — one block from my house!
It is a perfect, small setting with a few other moms where we can all laugh at ourselves and learn together.
So it got me thinking about how helpful it is to find a couple friends and start doing a yoga (or another form of exercise) together.
Also, I was thinking, what a great business idea… If you’re already a yoga expert, starting up a small yoga class in your own home is a fabulous way to work at home, earn some extra income and have fun with friends.
It’ll be a long time before I really master many poses… but I’m excited about my taking this step towards my goal of getting healthier and trimming off a few pounds of padding.
(And by the way… if you’d also like to shed some weight, our contest entry deadline to win a Wii Fit is today, January 16th.)
So I’m wondering…
Do you do yoga?
If no, what is keeping you from it?
If yes, when did you start? How did you learn — a yoga class or video?
Do you have any recommendations of videos, yoga studios or websites?
Written by: Susan
Stephanie says
Good for you! It sounds like the perfect scenario – how convenient that the “studio” is just one block from your house!
I’ve been trying to walk regularly now that I’m in my third trimester. This morning I met a friend at a nearby high school and we walked for 40 minutes around the track.
Nancy says
I’m another who does yoga on the Wii Fit, and I love it! I try to do it every day, that of course doesn’t necessarily happen but I never miss 2 days in a row. I like to do the strength and yoga it suggests – do a yoga pose, then do the strength exercise that goes with it. If I don’t have time to do a full yoga and strength (it’s about an hour to do all of the poses and exercises) then I do 30 minutes. My balance has improved and I’ve definitely noticed my back doesn’t get as knotted up.
katie Holley says
Yes, I do yoga and teach yoga. I love it! I do private sessions. That is one of my favorite ways to teach since i get to be one on one and help make corrections. I also have a on line yoga clothing store:
http://www.swamibabyboutique.com
Angela Anderson says
Many years ago, I took my first Yoga class with a Yoga Fit instructor and I have been hooked ever since. I have tried many forms of yoga and many different commercial yoga videos, none have been as good to me, as Beth Shaw’s Yoga Fit. She integrates yoga into such a seemless, program, I have never been more comfortable with any other instruction. Check out Beth’s website and see all the instructions she offeres everything, from beginner to advanced and even offers live training all over the country.
http://yogafit.com/
the benefits of yoga are innumerable and you should definately stick with it!!
Amber Pollard says
They offer it at the college we have but they share the classes with other campues so I wont get to join until April. I hope that I can do it soon. I have it for the vcr but dont get to use it much. I am hoping to buy yoga for the wii soon. But I live in a small town so we dont have much services here like we would love to.
Erica says
I did Pilates for a while and loved it, but haven’t exercised in …ahem… a few years. I just did some yoga this morning on my new Wii fit, though! 🙂
Christie says
I always want to do yoga, but never seem to sign up. I have the wii fit, so I will be adding yoga to my routine THIS WEEK!! Thanks so much for the push. Once the baby comes (mid-late May) I want to take a mama and baby class.
Karen says
I like it when I actually do it. 😉 My favorite yoga DVD is Candlelight Yoga with Sara Ivanhoe. I love her!
Charmaine says
It’s been a long time since I was regular in my yoga practice, but what got me started was a class at the local community college. I got lucky and had a great instructor – for a great price!
Dawn says
I LOVE yoga…I had taken classes with a wonderful instructor. I’ve tried to keep up with it at home, but it’s not the same…but I try. I would love to find a new wonderful teacher but in the mean time I’ll work with the videos at home.
Michelle Wyson says
I actually just started Yoga too. I love it! I’m doing The Biggest Loser weight loss yoga, and it kicks my booty. I really enjoy Yoga and want to keep progressing in it.
Melonie (Momma & More) says
I’ve done yoga for more than a decade and love it. I’ve used books, magazines (Yoga Journal is one of my preferred ones), DVDs, and attended classes. I did prenatal yoga through both pregnancies (literally to the day of delivery) and I’ve used the YogaKids DVDs with my daughter, as well as Rodney Yee’s family yoga DVD with my husband and daughter.
I’ve tried Pilates but I think it was too soon after C-section #1 as it was really difficult for me and rather painful (which I know it shouldn’t be). So I dropped that and went back to yoga poses that I knew would help me in recovery instead of pushing too far too fast. (Funny how it takes PAIN to make us figure that out sometimes, about not pushing too hard! DUH.)
I do prefer to just do the poses minus any Eastern philosphies (I don’t meditate, I don’t use the mantras, I prefer English terms for the poses (aka asanas) – but in general I feel like yoga is a great crossover for ANY athletic venture. My husband is a runner and weight-lifter, and when I say “yoga” he balks. But when he sees me “stretching”, he’s interested. *chuckle*
Becky says
I do yoga on my Wii Fit and I LOVE IT! It’s so fun and easy. I love that it’s like having my own personal trainer.
oh amanda says
I started doing yoga/pilates w/a dvd years ago. And I am always kinda off and on with it. Once you know the poses it’s easy to just do whenever and wherever.
But a class is the best! I did prenatal and am joining a svaroopa yoga class next week. It’s so much easier, more motivating and you learn more! Have fun!
Cat says
I’ve tried the dvds at home a few times but honestly, I just prefer to go out for a brisk walk.
bethn says
I have been doing yoga for several years in a summer class where we vacation every year. Yes that meant a couple times once a year. I’ve tried classes, but with young kids it took until this past fall for me to be able to get into a regular practice.
I am loving it! It’s so nice to have an expert to correct problems and each week it’s a little different which is great! I feel so much stronger and more flexible and I’m starting to get a little less wobbly. I’m even thinking about working to get certified to teach and starting a small studio in my house.
Good luck and keep it up!
Lee says
I used to do Pilates 2x a week which is comparable in my book. I stopped when I hit 5 months pregnant with my daughter. I haven’t been able to make it back because of the times that it’s offered, but when Baby Girl gets a bit bigger and we get into a better preschool routine, I’d like to go back.
I don’t like the spiritual aspect either, but I love how long and lean it keeps my core. I’ve never been very trim in that area and pilates has changed that for me.
Lindsey says
Yoga never really appealed to me until I started doing it on the Wii Fit and now I LOVE it! It does make you feel fantastic, doesn’t it? And it’s a relaxing exercise you can do morning or before bed.
I can recommend the Wii Fit yoga, but beyond that I know nothing about it. 🙂 Would like to do more, though!
Veggiemomof2 says
I have been doing the Yoga exercises on the Wii Fit. I try to split 30 minutes evenly between the 4 categories of exercises. I have seen it improving my posture & will NEVER say it isn’t really exercising since it makes me sore in the spots it focuses on.
Courtney from Mommie Blogs says
ah I miss Yoga. I use to do it all the time. But since the little man arrived (18 month ago), I have only done it a handful of times. I can’t do the heated power yoga because that just makes me sick. But I really do like Yoga studios, so instructors can fix your position. Using the tapes did not really help me.
have fun!
Andrea says
I love yoga. I started almost 5 years ago after the birth of our son, using DVD’s. I love how flexible it makes me, how it calms me down, and the added benefits of lessened PMS!
The only thing I don’t like is when DVD’s or teachers try to infuse spiritual beliefs that are not in line with God. As an exercise, I love it. But I could do without all the other stuff.