Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Trying something new - Yoga and the #TaketheLeap Challenge

It's Tuesday and I am linking up with hosts Jessica Joy and Jill Conyers for their The Fit Dish Link-Up every Tuesday.
Today's topic is "Try something new." I had mentioned on Friday that I am participating in prAna's #TaketheLeap 30 day yoga challenge with Sweat Pink. Yoga is something that is still very new to me. And even newer is doing a yoga challenge. However, yoga is one of my goals for 2015 and what better way to do it than to just dive right in and do a 30 day challenge.

Lately, I have been doing PiYo here and there which is a mix of pilates and yoga, but I have not seriously done just plain yoga. I did take an outdoor class this past summer but that was once and I was in over my head in that class. I thought it was very difficult but it was nice to get an idea of what yoga was about. Before that, I think I did a yoga video once with some friends at her house 7 years ago but other than that, that's all the yoga I've ever done. I have lots to learn.

So how does a beginner start doing yoga? 
I went online of course! I figure I work best with videos so I went to Greatist.com (because I love their site for tips and their layout is awesome) and searched for yoga videos. I came across this very helpful article The Best Free Yoga Videos for Newbies. It listed some great sites.

 These are the ones that I have tried so far:

Yoga for Dummies - I did this one last Friday and it's great! It's nice and easy to follow. Lots of useful information is given and I like how there are tips and little alerts that pop up during the video that are just like in the "for dummies" books. You learn 12 basic moves that she calls the daily dozen. 
Dr. Melissa West's Beginner Yoga Videos - I did some of videos 101 & 117 on Monday. These were ok, but after doing the Yoga for Dummies routine it was a bit slower and actually kind of boring for me. She talks a lot in the beginning, but once she gets into the moves she explains them well but it seems at a slower pace. If you like a slower routine, I suggest you go with these videos.
17-Minute Flow to Boost Energy Levels - I also looked at this one and really liked it. I did a bit of it and liked how it was a lot faster going from move to move, however this one was more of an intermediate video which maybe why it is faster paced.

If you are doing the #taketheleap 30 day yoga challenge, another great place to turn to for tips and inspiration is this facebook page:

I definitely need to work a lot on my flexibility. Some things I'm hoping to work on and am looking forward to during this month's challenge:

 1) Flexibility - It's my major weakness when it comes to some of the poses. I hope to increase flexibility.
2) Learn new poses - I'm excited to learn new poses
3) I would love to learn crow pose. Let's see if in 30 days I will be able to do it. 

 I'm really excited that this challenge is underway and I am looking forward to seeing what 30 days of yoga will do for me.

 Do you practice yoga? What's your favorite pose?
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

26 comments:

  1. MarciaFebruary 3, 2015 at 4:42 AM

    I hope you master crow! I started doing yoga when I signed up for my first class at the YMCA when I was 19. That said, this year, since I've been focusing on learning to swim, I let yoga slip away. Bad, I know! I need to get it back in my life!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MB JacksonFebruary 3, 2015 at 5:34 AM

    I do love yoga and just started last year- I am not good with videos, I need more instruction than that. I found a local studio and can usually only go 1 time per week but it makes a big difference! Enjoy your challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  3. FarrahFebruary 3, 2015 at 6:46 AM

    Yay for yoga! I'm attempting to take part in that challenge as well, and hope to learn new poses too! :] My favorite is pretty much anything that has to do with back flexibility, because that's the only flexible piece of me! :P

    ReplyDelete
  4. LarissaFebruary 3, 2015 at 7:27 AM

    Crow/crane is a great one! It looks cool and is pretty attainable for yogis venturing into arm balances. Perfect place to start! Enjoy your yoga journey!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Erin CampbellFebruary 3, 2015 at 8:01 AM

    I keep trying to do yoga, but I guess it's just not my time yet lol. I SHOULD also be participating in the SweatPink challenge. I did do a DoYouYoga 30 day challenge this past fall and I really enjoyed it. I totally need to make it part of my permanent routine though. Great tips for beginners, I will be keeping them in mind once I DO get around to doing more yoga! :(

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bri @ Simple DelightsFebruary 3, 2015 at 12:20 PM

    You go girl!! Crow pose is yours.. you will so get it after these 30 days. I am committed to more yoga as well and February is my month of getting more flexible and diving deeper into poses. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. RunJennyFebruary 3, 2015 at 6:19 PM

    Oh fun! Dancer is so pretty, hopefully one day my form will be nice :) Good luck with the Crow pose!

    ReplyDelete
  8. SharonFebruary 3, 2015 at 8:19 PM

    Thanks MB! Yeah, I'm not sure if I'm up for a studio yet, but now that I'm getting a bit more comfortable with some of the poses, I just might hit a local studio!

    ReplyDelete
  9. SharonFebruary 3, 2015 at 8:26 PM

    Thanks Marcia! I hope so too!! Hope swimming is going well for you, that's something else I would like to work on at some point.

    ReplyDelete
  10. SherryFebruary 3, 2015 at 10:14 PM

    Great info! Yoga is definitely something I need to work on! Have fun in your challenge! You will get the crow pose!

    ReplyDelete
  11. jillconyersFebruary 4, 2015 at 12:06 AM

    Great post! My favorite pose right now is Bound Extended Side Angle. Just mastered it this week!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. SharonFebruary 4, 2015 at 4:56 AM

    Thanks Larissa! Let's see if I can do it in 30 days! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. SharonFebruary 4, 2015 at 5:26 AM

    Awesome Farrah! You will do great!

    ReplyDelete
  14. SharonFebruary 4, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    Thanks Jill! Awesome! Great job on Bound Extended Side Angle!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. SharonFebruary 4, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    Thanks Sherry! I hope so!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. SharonFebruary 4, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    Thanks Bri!! I hope so! Great that you are committed to more yoga as well this month! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  17. SharonFebruary 4, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    Thanks Erin! I hope you DO get around to doing more yoga! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. SharonFebruary 4, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    Thanks Jenny! Hopefully I'll be able to do it. They say practice lots and it will get better, you'll get good form. I can't even do downward facing dog right, as it always seems so uncomfortable for me. :p

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jodi TFebruary 4, 2015 at 1:41 PM

    Love yoga and have joined this challenge also. My favorite pose right now is pigeon...it just feels so good on these running legs and butt! However, crowe/crane is the one I am trying to get!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Confessions of A Mother RunnerFebruary 4, 2015 at 2:26 PM

    I really enjoy hot yoga. I am so not good at it but I really like how I feel afterwards.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Runaway Bridal PlannerFebruary 4, 2015 at 9:27 PM

    Yoga isn't my thing. Mostly because I am one of the least flexible people on earth, LOL I know I should work on it! I used to do Pilates, and I did enjoy it. It's similar to Yoga but with a little more slow movement involved. Probably since I did enjoy it, if I gave yoga a try I'd likely enjoy it too! I am so impressed with how strong some who do it are!

    ReplyDelete
  22. SharonFebruary 5, 2015 at 11:09 AM

    Haven't tried hot yoga, but it is something I'd like to do one day! Must feel really nice afterwards!

    ReplyDelete
  23. SharonFebruary 5, 2015 at 11:10 AM

    I hear ya. Yoga isn't really my thing either, but that's what practicing is for. The more you do it the easier it gets they say, so we'll see. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. SharonFebruary 5, 2015 at 11:27 AM

    Awesome Jodi! Pigeon does feel great on my running legs too! :) Enjoy the challenge this month!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Jessica Joy @theFitSwitchFebruary 5, 2015 at 9:02 PM

    Sharon, I love how you just dove right in. WOOT! Press play and go! I am so excited for your yoga journey and your photos are seriously inspiring me. They all look so relaxing! Cheers to a great 30 days!

    ReplyDelete
  26. SharonFebruary 6, 2015 at 6:16 PM

    Thanks Jessica! I'm liking it so far! :)

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)