Do You Wanna Asana?
Yoga's one of those things you've got to try to believe. It can help
you achieve anything from muscle strength to mindfulness, depending on
how you approach it.
You might think yoga is too difficult for you, but it's not so. Poses
can be adapted, and most of the poses in yoga are a lot more mundane
than those fancy arm-balances we see so many pictures of.
Also, yoga is noncompetitive: it's not about achievement,
it's about practice at the level that's right for you.
Yoga practices, classes, and media range from the
ultra-spiritual to the thoroughly secular, from the aerobic to the
meditative, so just shop around to find what's right for you and for
your body.
What You Need
Your Body: Everything else is optional.
A Mat: I recommend one with a good bit of stickiness, which
will let you concentrate on deepening into the poses instead of being
distracted by how your hands insist on distancing themselves from your
feet.
A Strap: A long length of hardy material will help you get
the most out of some poses, when you need a little help to achieve
them. No need to get fancy here: anything about 8',
durable, and not too slippery will do.
Blocks: Like the strap, these will help you get the most out
of poses that are challenging for you. There are a wide
variety available to buy, but a good thick book works well, too.
How to Start
I don't have the expertise to give you an online tutorial, but I can suggest the following options:
Lessons: Probably the best option (depending on the teacher,
of course). In yoga lessons - especially explicitly
"beginner" lessons - the teacher will correct your posture so that you
get maximum benefit from the poses. Yoga has become popular
enough that most places have a range of options: keep an eye
out for classes at yoga studios, gyms, rec centers, etc.
DVDs & Online Vids: I started with Rodney Yee's Power
Yoga for Stamina, and I think it's a great beginner DVD for someone in
good overall health. As with any DVD, until you know the
poses, it will feel a little awkward. As you get to know them
better, you can work on deepening into each position, resulting in a
more satisfying workout. Check out the links at left for more
on Power Yoga for Stamina, as well as a couple of vids posted by Yoga
Journal.
Books & Magazines: If you're independently motivated
to practice, these are a good option too, and let you move from pose to
pose at your own pace. They often go into more depth
regarding how to do each pose than DVDs do. Rodney Yee's
Yoga: Poetry of the Body is definitely worth checking out.
All: Use common sense. If you have any injuries or
medical conditions that might affect your practice, talk to your doc
and/or your yoga teacher.