YOGA WORKOUT

I have recently started doing yoga for the first time, but I am not to sure how much time I should spend doing this any suggestions?

alexguerra15
Are you doing it at home or going to a studio? Usually yoga sessions last between an hour and an hour and a half. If you are really into it 3-4 times per week would be fine to do.

What type of practice are you following?

Hey there! I love yoga so hopefully you’ll love it to. With my schedule being so busy I usually try to do yoga at least 3-4 times a week 30 minutes each session. I also have a dvd that I follow, so that’s my way of telling how long I should do it. It’s really up to you.

Hi there,

I enjoy doing yoga and have a DVD that is yoga for dummies. The problem with this video is it goes through the instructional portion for each pose and therefore takes much longer than the actual workout. I am unable to attend a class and want to know if anyone has a recommendation for a great yoga, beginners category, that doesnt require complete explanation everytime you do the video.

Thanks!

I highly recommend yoga – I really enjoy it. I only get one class a week, but I still see benefits from it.

I would also recommend a class if you can do that, and try for one longer than an hour – 1:30 is perfect. I don’t get as much out of the shorter classes – not enough time to warm up, stretch, do strength, stretch and cool down/meditate a bit. The 1.5 hour classes will get all of that in normally, and I find it very effective for both body and mind!

I practice the classical styles, like Hatha Yoga. I’ve also done breathing and meditation yoga, but that’s out of topic here, that doesn’t belong to the fitness gym.

If you go to a class, and it’s good to go, at least sometimes, take the length they propose. The length of a yoga class (of any class of anything, in my experience of teacher) is more often than none decided by the hosting school/gym habits, marketing and scheduling. There can be lots of talking to explain new positions, lots of repetition for the beginners. I have been to 2 hour beginner classes when we did less than in a 15 minutes class elsewhere.

As a start, I think a 5 to 10 minute workout is well. Most beginner series are shorter than 10 minutes.
It’s important to take sequences designed by teachers (videos, etc), because one position will be compensated by the next. You need to do the whole set to get a balance.
So, you put yourself in a position and you keep it 3 breaths, then move to the next… Repeat the series. When you progress add up to reach 12 repetitions. Or keep the positions longer, to reach 12 breaths each step.

If you don’t know where to start, try this :
2 minutes warming up (anything is OK, walk briskly, clap your hands above your head, it’s really meant to get warm and/or wake you up), then Sun Salutation, the first half only. Try to get each position perfect. Repeat twice. A few days later, do the whole series. Repeat more times. When you do it smoothly, work on a new 10 minutes program.
I am probably a slow person, as I do a program at least 20 times (about a month daily, 2 weeks if 2x a day), before going further.

If you want to progress, in my experience, increasing the frequency is much better than doing it longer. Try to do a same sequence every morning, then morning plus night. When you know several series, you can do them in a row and do longer yoga sessions. The Sun Salutation will be useful as it is often used as a warm-up.

@Sziske,
I think your video is good, and all the good ones will be as you describe. You should use it to study the positions, the good form. The best is to have video + book to study the technique. Then stop the video, have a look at the printed pattern of your series, and do it by memory on the music of your choice, at your pace.
You will find many videos without the explanation, doing the sequence in real time. Like Shiva Rea :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGXgoW70IB0
I have a few videos like that on my walkman and never use them. You cannot watch the video while doing it….unless someone is carrying the screen in front of your face each time you move.
You can also browse MP3 yoga, or something like that, you will find many podcasts telling you do that position, then that position… I don’t find that useful as I can remember the series I’m doing and I prefer setting the pace with my own breathing.