I took my first yoga class (vinyasa flow) ever this past weekend. Have been meaning to do it for a while but the final straw to make me suck it up and go was the latest in a line of injuries primarily caused by lack of flexibility.
I show up kind of nervous to look like the biggest goof in the world as I’ve never done most of this stuff before. Explain my situation to the teacher who is very supportive and helps me through the entire thing. I got through it pretty well for my first time and found that in some cases I was more flexible then I thought I would be.
So my questions;
Obviously this type of yoga is a sweaty type and gets the HR going the dude on the next mat over sounded like he was running 60 sec. quarters he was huffing and puffing so much. I used a mat that the gym provided but understand why people bring their own. What is the additional towel/yogitoes thing that they’re putting over it?
The block I get what it’s used for, but didn’t really see or understand why people needed or would even want a strap.
I’m hoping to make this a 2X a week thing in the off season to hopefully avoid the above mentioned injuries, if I buy my own stuff what should I get? Anything else anyone would want to pass along to a newbie as far as tips and tricks?
I also do a vinyasa flow class in a heated studio. While I think it is great, you might also want to consider a pose class once a week in the beginning. This will give you time to focus on the poses and learn how they are supposed to feel. You don’t always get the opportunity to do this in the flow class. Also, try to focus on the breath- it really does help. My yoga teacher once said part of yoga is finding the ease in difficult movements. If things are uncomfortable, focus on the breath and relax whatever unnecessary muscles you are contracting. Clenching your jaw doesn’t help you accomplish anything but prevent you from relaxing in the pose. I think this advice helps on the bike and run actually. Climbing up a hill it helps to focus on not tensing up muscles that really aren’t going to help me go any faster.
I have used the strap when I could not do a full bind. The yogitoes are nice because they keep your mat from getting slippery and are easy to wash. I would start with just a basic mat and you should be good. You can probably find a mat, block, strap set for $20. Eventually you will probably want the yogitoes just to make it easy.
Thanks. I’ll look to see if my gym has a pose class. The teacher in this class was pretty good to correct me when she could but I’m sure I wasn’t doing a lot of stuff correctly.
This studio was a little heated, but not like the 100 degree stuff. I have a pretty good sweat rate so by about 3/4 of the way through the class I had to flip the mat over to keep it from being like an ice rink.
I avoid all the props --the blocks and straps, extra mats, special socks, etc.-- and think they’re totally unnecessary. I’ve been doing yoga for years and all I actually own myself is a mat. If your gym provides a mat, all you need to consider is a (gym) towel if you’re doing the heated room/Bikram thing, or if sweaty palms are making for a slippery down-dog. Consider yoga the only “free” part of triathlon training and save your $20 for cable housing or whatever. =)
I have to say I was pretty impressed that I was pretty tired after that class, and how good I felt. Already having an over crowded gym bag is a motivator to keeping my “kit” down to a minimum.
After using the mats available at the gym, I finally broke down yesterday and bought my own mat - Jade/Harmony non-slip - because, like you, I sweat like crazy and found flipping my mat and four sweat towels weren’t enough to keep from slipping. Plus, when you think about it, how many other people have dripped sweat all over the same mat?? Even though I always spay/wipe the mat with cleaner afterwards, there’s no guarantee that everyone else does… really gross. The mat I bought was $57 including tax, but given how often I will use it, not a big deal. I will probably end up getting the yogitoes because it can be tossed in the wash to make things even easier (and clean
You could clean the mat BEFORE use if you’re that worried about it.
My yoga studio keeps disinfecting wipes on hand. Standard etiquette is to spend time wiping it down afterward or else everyone knows --like at the office when someone comes out of the bathroom but you don’t hear the faucet first? I also choose the most tightly and neatly rolled mat on the rack because I figure anyone anal enough to roll their mat that carefully also did a thorough wipe-down job. Hehehee =)
Oh, to OP: if you do get your own mat and it gets sweaty/rank, just take it in the shower with you and wipe it down with soap and water. That also makes it less slippery.
PC, I actually have tried to wipe it down before class, but then it’s slippery before I even start. Yes, I agree with you on standard etiquette (and picking a tightly rolled mat!!) and I’m not suggesting that most people don’t clean them off, however, there are those who leave before class is over and I have yet to see one wipe their mat down before leaving… I go to a really nice gym and most people are respectful of others but I still like the idea of having my own mat. Great suggestion to take the mat into the shower to wash it!
Great call about yoga. It’s awesome and the winter is a prime time to take the vigorous vinyasa classes.
I’d bring my own mat— The cleaning of the studio mats varies by studio and MRSA is the real deal. All mats are nice, but Manduka makes a particularly good one: http://www.manduka.com/store/product.php?productid=16206&cat=254&page=1
Prana makes a great yoga towel that is useful in the hot classes— it absorbs the sweat and grips better than plain towels do. They allow you to do the poses without sliding around: http://www.prana.com/002749-Surya-Yoga-Towel.aspx?colorid=47386 The straps are useful when you don’t have enough flexibility to get into a posture that requires you to grab something. For example, there are poses where you grab your feet and hold an outstretched leg in front of you or off to the side. Most beginners need to use a strap to hold their leg up to do these poses properly.
I was able to cancel 2x a month massages, fix my piriformis syndrome, avoid injuries, and feel a lot better through yoga. Some of those flow classes (like the ashtanga primary series) are no-bullshit challenges. I recommend that you approach those classes with respect and stay conservative during the poses as well as your transitions in and out of them. You are pretty exposed in some of the stretches and you can get injuries from yoga— They are actually pretty common among serious practitioners.
Not to be too much of a wise ass, but people tell me that about Cuban cigars and honestly having smoked a few, I can’t tell the difference between that and a tampa nugget.
hahaha…yeah, I get what you are saying. The higher end mats use a better quality rubber/materials. The lower-end mats just use that basic rubber crap you can buy in a hardware store. My wife (yoga instructor) has a bunch of different kinds of mats and the higher end ones don’t slip and really hold you in place, even when wet. The Walmart ones, you’ll be slipping and sliding all over the place.
M~
The Manduka mat does not stretch, twist or shift around under your hands and feet, does not retain odors, and offers more padding than other mats I have used (el cheapo and Prana). It’s just a really freaking good mat. If you get into yoga you’ll be doing headstands and handstands before too long and a better mat is a nice touch. Whatever gets you to the club is good, though. Definitely not required but I wish I’d bought one sooner.
