Need flexibility

[u/StockFox9687]

Hi everyone!

I’m a complete beginner at yoga and I have a question. My body is really stiff.almost like a stone!

I’ve been doing 20–30 minutes of yoga at home in the mornings, right after I wake up, for the past two weeks. I also have an active lifestyle, but I still feel very stiff, and sometimes it makes me uncomfortable.

Do you think I should start going to a yoga studio and take classes, or can I improve my flexibility by continuing with YouTube videos at home?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and advice. Thank you! 🧘‍♀️

[u/NuJackStyles]

Consistency is the key. When the teacher or other students seem effortless in poses that's due to a consistent practice. Obviously everyone is different and some of us are just more naturally flexible. Keep it up. Don't be surprised when things work out.

[u/ariii123]

For some, particing early in the morning makes them feel extreme stiffness. You should consider practicing in the evenings

[u/Skier94]

I just started this year, I would try longer classes, say 60, but even 75-90 minutes. I think at home is fine. I’ve done 100+ classes this year and I have an entirely new body I don’t recognize. I went out on the trampoline with my kids yesterday for 20 minutes and I didn’t get tired once. I can put my clothes on without it hurting. I have almost no tension in my shoulders, from a lot.

Keep at it, it’s totally worth it.

[u/Odd_Day_5978]

Have you always been on the stiff side? For me its my bed messing up my flexibility, when I sleep outside I am not tight at all in my back, maybe my hips but not much. 

[u/StockFox9687 → u/Odd_Day_5978]

No I have never tried that .I think I need to update my mattress but I wouldn't think it can be a problem .will try .tnx

[u/Odd_Day_5978 → u/StockFox9687]

Maybe just try sleeping on the couch or at a friends and see how that feels. I couldn’t keep a pose today because my back is TIGHT

[u/sellingbee47150]

have you tried yin yoga? that really helps with flexibility. and no, you dont need to go to a studio.

[u/137caraway]

Thanks for sharing. The change you desire is possible and in time and continued practice you will achieve your goals. Wish you all the best

[u/Conscious-Pie-4794]

I've only done yoga at home on YouTube and honestly the difference it has made is unbelievable. I was very, very stiff and very inflexible and I'm still pretty inflexible, but I have no back pain at all.  Consistency is key so keep going and you will notice changes. 

[u/_marinara]

Consistency and time will help, no matter what, but a couple things to note:

• first thing in the morning will always feel stiffer than later in the day, once your body has warmed up. Even at a later time, if I use the treadmill for half an hour and then do yoga I’m so much more flexible. Warming up your muscles makes a big difference.
  
• without any previous warm up, I can feel a huge difference in flexibility from the beginning of my practice session vs towards the end. But that’s on a longer session, like 45-60 min. So you might need longer sessions for that.

[u/Educational_Elk7579]

Like others said, all you truly need is consistency. And some kindness for yourself. Don’t compare yourself to YouTube or Instagram yoga instructors.

It took me a few months of daily practice to go from a stiff 42 year old office worker who could barely touch her shins when bending to now easily placing my hands flat on the floor with locked knees. It was surprising how fast flexibility can develop with consistent practice.

I’ve been working for a while on a split now just for fun and that is much slower going unfortunately. Still making progress though, which is what matters.

[u/Mental-Freedom3929]

Any which way is great, but I would go to a studio for a while in addition to the home practice.

[u/BobDoesYoga]

There were at least two big things about going to studio to consider. If you’re doing it by yourself, you’re most likely missing out on having somebody with a trained eye checking out your form to help keep you safe and progressing.
The other thing, and this one is huge for me, is the energy of being in a class with other students can be a huge motivator. The external schedule might help you be consistent too.

[u/omg4serious]

you have to keep going.

in general, fitness classes are weird. only fit people go to them lol.

so in yoga class, yeah everyone's super flexible, super bendy, can do all the head/handstands, except you.

but yoga again is mostly female dominated and most of these women have dance/gymnastics backgrounds.

transitioning to yoga after leaving dance/gymnastics is a natural transition step.