I just got back from taking my first yoga class. It was the most basic class, but the stretching felt really good. I am hoping it will help with my fibromyalgia which is in a flare up right now. Any yoga participants out there?

Absolutely love taking yoga. I find it helps on so many levels, not the least of which is getting me to disengage the little voice that has so much to say. Stretching feels really great I agree. i also have learned to be easier on myself and listen to what my body is saying while holding a pose rather than worrying about how I'm doing that pose. I don't push like I used to which is not to say I don't take more challenging classes just that I've learned to go to but not over, the edge, my edge, and not compare myself.
I don't have FM so I can't say if it helps but I"ve heard that any sort of gentle movement and stretching can help relieve the inflammation by getting the blood flow going.
I hope you do get relief in some way,
mscoach

This is something I've always wanted to do but my body said try it and you die....so I've been scared. Okay, bit fat lie, but I feel that to benefit from it, one may need good instructions to get started and I just haven't taken the time to find a class.

What do you Yoga-a-nites think? Is this something that can be learned on one's own? Or do you favor a class?

I love Yoga and do it on my own. JJ, it depends on the DVD you use. I'm told one should go to a class to be sure you're doing the moves correctly but I always feel wonderful when I done.

I took two sessions and absolutely loved it until the very end of the class when they made you be still for FIVE whole minutes. I couldn't stand it. I kept thinking of everything I had to do. Type A. What can I say.

But I loved the rest of the class. I think a lot depends on your instructor. Mine was a delightful woman who bled peace and kindness.

I had to stop due to knee surgery and haven't gone back because I can't kneel. I've had extensive surgery on both knees. I'm hoping this time next year I can begin again.

The instructor I had shared all the positive things the stretches were doing for our internal organs which I found fascinating. Just commenting on it makes me want to get back there.

And hotflash, do you get this magazine? Fibromyalgia Aware? I just learned about it at a neighborhood meeting this mornig and jotted it down so I could share it here. Check out www.fmaware.org. My neighbor friend has fibromyalgia and just raved about the magazine.

After 2 wks. of not doing it, I did my stretching exercise routine, a few simple yoga, pilates, etc.

Now my back feels relaxed. Small aches gone. It always works for me.

I've always, always wanted to take a yoga class for beginners but just haven't gotten around to it yet. It seems it would be SO useful, especially as we age. I do have an unopened video tape, but it doesn't do any good sitting in its wrapper.

This is something I still want to do. Maybe a goal for 2008? I wish now I had not of taken the front of my VCR/DVD player off in a fit of rage...whattt? Oh it wouldn't open, so I dismantled it. My son put it back together, through laughter, but I haven't tried it to see if it will work again...Anyway, if it does, I may try a tape like you have LJ...

Once again, ladies, I caution you to take a class to learn rather than try and learn from a tape. Yoga has subltle moves and stretches. One way will be soooooo beneficial another could do very little for you, or at the worst, hurt you.

Anyway, I think every community has community education classes and almost all offer yoga. They are cheap and you can be among other beginners.

Once you learn, then do it on your own.

Anyway, just my two bits.

Anno, good point...thank you!

Dotsie, you wrote "when they made you be still for FIVE whole minutes. I couldn't stand it. I kept thinking of everything I had to do. Type A. What can I say." This too shall pass. The more you practice yoga as well as the still ness, the more you will enter the stillness without worrying about all that you have to do. In the beginning, I would leave the class so I did not have to do the stillness. But I challenged myself to stay with still, and sooner or later, my mind and body responded. I was not able to close my eyes to be still with others around me! I had to know what, if anything, was going on. Then, I learned to allow myself to feel safe and secure, and little by little, I responded. It was amazing! It took 8 sessions or so, but two minutes of still was built on the one, three minutes built on the two, and so on. I am one who cannot sit still, and there is a rocking chair in every room, as well as a glider outside. So it was hard for me to not fidget while in down dog. I actually got tired of thinking about laundry and errands during yoga, and started to train my mind to think peace and harmony, and feel it during yoga. I too say that you should start with a class, and when you feel confident with basic moves, you can move on to a DVD. What DVDs do you yogas recommend? I would have be having a raging case of PMS (PMDD) before yoga, go to yoga, and come home a different person.

Thats why Tai Chi is so difficult, you have to be so still and quiet...shhhhh!!!

I started doing yoga at home with the help of a book that I happened to pick up at some bookstore. One of the best purchases I have made in my life! Yoga isn´t about perfection or pushing yourself to unbelievable limits. It´s about doing something that feels good for You and is good for you. Well, I see it that way and that´s why I do it almost every evening..which is very unusual for me. I am glad that I don´t have to go to classes (at least, I don´t think so) and that I can do it in the time and the pace that I want to. I can do 10 minutes of it or almost 1hr..depends on what feel that I can do and what my time scedule allows(or I think it allows).

Yoga started a long long time ago in India..as dancer informed me and I have read myself. Yoga is actually quite a spiritual thing..it sets both your mind, body and spirit free by getting everything flowing. I am not going to expound on it here..but it does do alot for me just because I can do it on my own or go to a class, if that is what I need. Classes in Sweden are quite expensive and I think going to a class would stress me out just now..so may be I´ll do that later.

However, some tips on a good yoga dvd would be very interesting..if any one has one? I also know that dancer has been doing yoga since she was 3 yrs old. I am sure that she could give us alot of info and help..if she´s around??

I just returned from my Saturday yoga class and am feeling G-R-E-A-T! I love my yoga and have been doing yoga off and on since I was 16.

There are lots of good DVDs, but I like GAIAM the best. They have lots to select from but I swear by my Power Yoga with Rodney Yee. Not for a beginner, however. I also have a GAIAM weight loss with Suzanne Deason that is good and has a varity of levels.

It's too bad classes are so expensive, humlan. Here, we have all sorts of places that offer classes and at a whole variety of prices. I take one class a week with only 4 women in it, so we get lots of individualized attention. I practice at home the rest of the week.

Yoga is practiced by some serious/regular cyclists for both men and women, because their upper bodies can become stiff from being on bike for long time periods/riding hard. Also good core/ab muscles are useful ..believe it or not, for cycling.

I integrate some simple yoga maneouvres in my whole floor stretching exercise routine at home. If I don't do it for a few days/wks., I get backache and feel too stiff in general.

I also sleep better.

My new boss is a Tai Chi practitioner and has been doing classes for the employees at the Humane Society where I work. I have been going now for about a month and am having some difficulty remembering the routine - she adds a new move every couple of weeks or so. What I have found is that Tai Chi energizes me (she teaches the class at lunchtime) and has helped my balance, focus, and concentration. I haven't tried Yoga yet but it's on my list to do this year. Between working full time in a new position and having to learn all kinds of new things and my 2 classes starting this week, I'm going to be busier than a one-armed paperhanger until June.

Yea, over 120 different movements in the simplest tai chi routine to memorize. Some neat positions in tai chi to hold, that are named after animals, monkey, tiger, etc. I'm sure if you realize but there are different types/styles of tai chi. There is one style that requires you to lunge closer to the ground with more stretch in limbs. It's beautiful to see.

My exercise routine borrows movements from yoga, tai chi and simple pilates. It is something I've made up over the years and add-on an movement here and there over the years.

Thanks Anno.. I am going to look into those DVDs. Could be the next best thing to going to a class.

I just wonder..what are "yoga toes"??