I want to try this as a way to relieve stress. I don’t want to take classes however and am thinking of bumming my ex-roommate’s book on it. Anyway, I need some advice from those who do this (aside from joining a class). How did you get into it? What kind of yoga do you do? How often, what particular positions etc. At what time? How do you get yourself in the mood? I really want to do this because when I am really stressed out, my mind is never at peace. I literally can’t think of anything else aside from the stressor, can’t feel any emotion but stress. Any help would be appreciated!
I performed hatha yoga, 7 days a week, 20/30 minutes each day for years. I had a routine of 38 asans that stimulated muscles of my entire body in 3 days. I stopped performing it regularly years ago, and started again last month only to find my body very rigid. I did it for two weeks and stopped. I have started again from the beginning today and will slowly increase the difficulty of my holds/stretches over the next month. For me the best time is in the evening that is when I feel more flexible, everyone has there ownl time of the day where they have peak energy, you decide what is yours.
Hatha is physical yoga and relieves stress from the joints and muscles, if mental stress is your main concern you need to develop meditating skills through raja yoga that deals with the concentration of mind. This, however, will require a lot of discipline and you still need to learn proper breathing exercises of hatha yoga.
One of the simplest concentration techniques is ‘tratak’, candle concentration. You sit in a crossed legged posture with a candle in front of you. Concentrate on the flame for one minute then close your eyes and imagine the flame. Try and not to lose the image of the flame and don’t let your mind wander. All this time you breathe through individual nostrils in a proper breathing technique where you extend your stomach, suck it in, and then expand your chest and shoulders during inhalation and the reverse during exhalation.
I learned through books and some people. You need to do the same, as it is not possible to learn advanced yoga by simple reading. You have to be very patient but the benefits of regular yoga exercises are amazing.
The problem is I don't know anyone who does yoga and I don't want to do anything complex anyway. Just something for relaxation so hopefully the book will be enough.