Excercise Question

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Excercise Question
5
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 1:18pm
Hi everyone:

Hope the day is good so far.

I have been doing a walking work out for the last week: started with 30" on Monday and up to 45" tonight. I have always been interested in Yoga, not so much for excercise, but more for peace of mind and relaxation. So for Mother's Day, my family bought me a Yoga starter kit with the mat, blocks and strap and a beginner yoga DVD.

I am not very flexible, and carry a lot of weight in my stomach. I am finding getting into some of the positions, even with the blocks and strap, very difficult because of my weight. Have any of you, that are still overweight and/or carry weight in their tummies, tried yoga and has it helped? How long did it take to get comfortable with the positions? I am really interested in this and want to keep up with it, and don't want to get discouraged too quickly because I am having trouble due to my weight in my gut.

Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome. :)

Have a great afternoon!

Kerstin
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
In reply to: kcwhat
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 2:37pm
here's a good article or 2:

http://www.yogajournal.com/health/132_1.cfm

http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/702_1.cfm

There was another article in YJ specifically about dealing with larger body parts and yoga, but it doesn't seem to be online.

HTH.


Edited 5/13/2004 2:38 pm ET ET by spamsammich

Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
In reply to: kcwhat
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 5:16pm
I got a tape called Denise Austin's Yoga Essentials the first time i did it was with my sister and we laughed at few moves caus they were so weird/hard to do. She's thin and had hard time too i think it has more to do with flexibilty. Don't be discouraged you'll be able to do it all eventually =)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: kcwhat
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 5:41pm
Thanks...I've laughed a lot the last few days thinking about how ridiculous I must look. Oh well, I'll keep doing it in my house and see how it goes. :)

Kerstin
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2003
In reply to: kcwhat
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 10:01pm
I don;t want to discourage you, but I had a bad experience with yoga. Two years ago I was doing a video and did one of the moves where you support yourself with your arms and legs and I injured my shoulder. I blame it on my weight. I just don't think my body could support 215 pounds. It still gives me problems and I expect it will for the rest of my life. My advice is to take it slow and don't do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. If you don't think you can do it yet ,do some of the other positions and work up to the harder ones . sharla
Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
In reply to: kcwhat
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 12:50pm
yeah i do my tapes at night in a room with windows all over..lol..so when i am doing em and a car passes i think boy i hope they aren't looing they'll see my shadow and think what the heck. Expec tae bo when i'm standing there doing kicks and jabs

Good luck with it!