Question for Yoga people

[tripperfunster]

I am considering doing some yoga this year, but am ... horribly unflexible and out of shape. Will I shame myself if I just show up at a yoga class and flop around like a landed trout? Or should I use the internet to learn some poses and build up some strength first?

Are you expected to hold the poses for the required amount of time? Or do people 'tap out' and sit quietly/stretch while everyone else does the downward dog for an hour?

also? I've done some looking on the internet, and uh ... they all seem pretty ... spiritual? I don't want to do a sanscript prayer before I stretch. I just want to stretch.

Comments

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

I don't think all yoga studios do the spiritual thing. (I haven't taken any yoga classes, but only going by what I've heard from others.)

I've only heard of a couple yoga-ers who went to a place that did Eastern spiritual stuff, several yoga-ers who went to places that didn't do anything spiritual, and one yoga-er who went to a place that played Christian music/Biblical stuff during yoga class.

I would say to go to different yoga places, ask questions of the teacher, and ask if you can sit in on one class to see if their method is right for you.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Well, as long as they don't play Christian music I'll be fine. ;)

thanks!