Beginner Yoga – the First Month

Peaceful

Well it has been about a month since I started practicing yoga. Practice is the key word.  I am far from doing any pose with ease or proper form.

I did go out and buy the much-needed yoga mat.  You know, the one that is going to make this journey so much easier.  The mat that is going to make me look like I have done yoga for  years.  Quite honestly I find it a little more slippery when my feet sweat then just the carpet, but I will continue to use it because it I think I should.

One of the most surprising things that I have noticed is the effect of the breathing on my muscles.  I always thought the breathing in yoga was to relax mentally, and it is, but I didn’t realize it had an immediate effect on the muscles.

On the exhale the muscles noticeably relax and you are able to go deeper into the pose.  Try this.  Do a forward bend and touch the floor with your finger tips or if  you are already flexible, touch your palms to the floor.  I am not quite able to touch the floor yet, but this is where I can notice the effects of the breathing most clearly.

Do not jerk or bounce to try to touch the floor.  Inhale and on the exhale just relax and let gravity pull you a little lower.  Do this for 6 breaths.  Notice on the first breath how far down you are and on the sixth breath notice how much further you have gone.

My goal, palms to the floor.

Have a Flan-tastic day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  I woke up one day and realized I was unable to do a cart-wheel, a back bend or even touch the floor doing a forward bend.  Harsh reality.  Had I done each one just once a day, could I still do them today?

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My yoga journey – DDP yoga

Love the shirt, but that is not what made her tough!

I hadn’t heard of DDP Yoga.

Found out there were some real inspirational stories on his site.

Click here for a short jaw dropping video.  Could change the trajectory of your life too.

Have a Flan-tastic day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  Compassion, a big part of my life right now.

Beginner Yoga, Enjoy

My JOY!

I mentioned before that I am not able to do the beginner poses with ease or grace

but I am grateful to be able to do them at all, regardless of my ability.

Yoga can be for anyone.

There are poses for the disabled, the elderly, the expert and the beginner.

I plan to ENJOY my yoga time.

Have a wonder-filled day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  The feeling of JOY exploded in my heart when I had grandchildren.

Beginner Yoga, my first day.

Beginner yoga pose ??

 

Keeping it real, I have absolutely no experience with yoga.  I have no preconceived notions on whether it will be right for me or not.

Day one was actually quite comical.  I was pretty sure I didn’t really have a beginner DVD.  “Simply Yoga” doesn’t mean simple yoga.

So I started searching for an easier video.  That is when I realized that many videos use the word “beginner”, but in my opinion they are beginner for the only for the experienced!

I found even the easiest of poses somewhat difficult. The only pose that was working for me was the corpse pose and that is scary at my age!

The fact that even the easiest pose was difficult,  opened my eyes quite quickly that I need this.

The video instructors make it very clear that you can take this at your own pace and that yoga is a practice and not a performance, so just do the best you can.

That made a HUGE difference to me.  Since I am doing this in the privacy of my own home, I can set my own pace.

Have a Flan-tastic day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  I listen to spiritial tapes in the car while I drive.

Yoga for Dummies

Hidden Yoga Pose
not as easy as it looks!

I am starting with two very simple yoga videos.

1.  Simply Yoga by Yolanda Pettinato – bought this one at a yard sale for $2.00

(this one is on youtube but it is not in english) clickhere if  you just want to see it

2.  Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies – found this one on Youtube click here

Simply Yoga is 20 minutes long

Workout for Dummies is about an hour long, but it is because they explain each post in great detail.

I really enjoy both of them and no I cannot do all these poses, but that’s okay for a beginner.

Have a Flan-tastic day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  My beliefs are just that, my beliefs and I have no right to think mine are better than your’s.

Beginner Yoga, taking it slow

Hidden yoga pose.

Well, I have added beginner yoga to my already overloaded life.

I like it way more than I thought I would.

I will be taking it slow.  Not by choice but by physical ability.

Who knew?

Have a flan-tastic day,

Donna Flanagin

Random me:  Way more out of shape physically than I would like to admit.