If you have taken a yoga class

[Jalapeñomel]

Not necessarly an answer to your question, but one thing I hear a lot is that people associate yoga with lots of deep breathing and not a rigorous activity.

[hopecounts]

- stress
- a advertisement about using yoga to relax
- only one option intone but the ad led me to it.
- they had a great intro to yoga series that introduced yoga and gradually increased in difficulty.
- anything soothing and relaxing.

[Deleted]

Mar 7, 2013 20:23:44 GMT -5 namasteak said:

-What made you decide to take yoga? I always wanted to and one day I decided to take it. 

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it? My friend told me that it would help me relax. I take power yoga. I like that it is fast moving. 

-How did you find your studio? I take it at the gym I am a member at. 

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken I would like to take a intoduction to yoga class. 

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class? I don't really pay attention to the music. 

[hopecounts]

Also I really loved their prenatal yoga class and am glad I took it.

[lola]

Mar 7, 2013 20:23:44 GMT -5 namasteak said:

A few questions for you as I brainstorm marketing ideas.

-What made you decide to take yoga? I hate running, and I wanted to do something that was good for me. Also, I imagined that it would be really relaxing.

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it? Same as above. Except I'm not a "Working out person" I guess! lol.

-How did you find your studio? Google.

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken None, that I can think of.

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class? Calm, quiet music.

I'm super intimidated by yoga, even though I've taken classes a few times. I always feel like (wonder if...) my teachers are totally judging me for being so clearly uncoordinated and not knowing what I'm doing.

[ckinla]

-What made you decide to take yoga? 
I took ballet growing up and thru college - but I found it difficult to devote time (and money!) to it when I graduated. Yoga seemed like a natural off-shoot of that. Also - it's the only exercise (dance aside) that I actually LOVE.

-How did you find your studio? 
Groupon, honestly. But I've tried others in the area and was less than impressed. I love my studio!

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken 
I mainly do core power (style - not official), vinyasa, etc. I do yoga for a workout! Rarely I'll do a restorative class, which I do enjoy from time to time. I've never taken workshops, because I honestly can't justify the price, but I would love to do an inversions (handstands, specifically) and arm balances workshop. I took one hot yoga class and wanted to die - but my studio is adding heat so I'm going to give it another go. 

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class?
Contemporary stuff - I love anything from rap and rock to softer stuff. Since I do yoga for a workout, I prefer more upbeat songs at first that kind of progressively slow down to savasana. 

[Doc_Lobster]

Mar 7, 2013 20:23:44 GMT -5 namasteak said:

A few questions for you as I brainstorm marketing ideas.

-What made you decide to take yoga?

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it?

-How did you find your studio?

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class?

I started because I was doing endurance and strength work, but was neglecting flexibility and I think that is an important part of overall fitness.

I don't know if I was a yoga person or not, it just seemed like a good idea.

I do (and always have) attended classes offered through the rec center at work, so I do not go to a studio.

I would like to try hot yoga some time.

I like relaxing new-agey music for yoga. The kind that is subtle enough that you don't really notice it.

[lola]

namasteak - come in here now and tell me how you teachers don't judge the people like me that are terrible! lol.

[HiC]

Mar 7, 2013 20:23:44 GMT -5 namasteak said:

A few questions for you as I brainstorm marketing ideas.

-What made you decide to take yoga?

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it?

-How did you find your studio?

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class?

1. I never liked yoga until a couple of years ago.   I started to go because my knee was hurting me from running and dd's yoga instructor suggested I try it.  She and I became yoga buddies and good friends.

2. My dd's yoga teacher.....see above.

3. I began at the studio that dd's instructor practiced and taught at.  It was a brand new studio and very fancy.  I now go to several different studios, but my home base is the fancy one.

4.  I attend lots of different workshops.  I'll be attending another inversion and arm balance workshop in a couple of weeks.  I love going to wall yoga workshops.  We have tons of celebri-yogis come and do weekend workshops too.  I don't always go to those though.

I practice 6 days a week.  I do mostly vinyasa and hot vinyasa.  I'll hit a gentle class once or twice a week before one of my regular vinyasa classes.  I like to do a basics or fundamentals class every now and then to revisit my form.

5. I love listening to all different types of music while practicing.  All my instructors have great playlists ranging from clubby type music, to classic rock to typical yogi, meditative music all mixed in.   It all works.

[Deleted]

-What made you decide to take yoga?

Managing stress, not wanting a typical gym work out

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it?

It was on the main floor of our old apartment- so very convenient to stop in.

-How did you find your studio?

See above.

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken

I love flow and traditional hot. My studio also offers a yoga sculpt class that incorporates weights- I've been meaning to try it.

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class?

I like a mix of indie, top 40 and more traditional "yoga music"

[regencygirl]

I joined a gym to get into better shape period. I had always wanted to try yoga because I'd heard it was good for stress and would improve flexibilty and might help with my total lack of coordination. I've never been to a studio, all the classes I've taken are at my gym. The class I take regularly is just called Hatha. I've also taken one that was a lot more fast paced marketed as Vinyasa and one called Prana Vinyasa Yoga. I've done a few workshops using the Yoga Wall, and if those classes didn't cost extra I'd take them all the time. I never pay attention to the music.

Can I ask you a question? My MIL has Parkinson's and I've seen classes at some studios marketed as Yoga for Parkinson's. She refuses to go to a class by herself, so I was going to take her to my gym over the summer so she can try a few classes before joining a studio. What is anything do you think would be different in that type of class vs. a regular Hatha class? I'd go with her to the Parkinson's specific classes but they're during the day and I can't get out of work to go with her.

[ckinla]

Mar 7, 2013 20:41:15 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Ckinla- do you practice at core power yoga? I loved taking classes there when we lived in LA

I have always uses "yoga CDs" in class and am totally clueless on how to use contemporary music...

No, but it's power yoga and my teachers all teach at core power also! Core power is too far away from me to make it realistic :-(

[Gato]

-What made you decide to take yoga?  Started with pre-natal yoga, liked it so much I kept up doing it after the baby was born.

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it?  I totally AM a yoga person.  Hatha yoga.

-How did you find your studio? They offered both pre- and post-natal.  It was close to my apartment and many of my friends recommended it for pre-natal. 

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken  I love gentle yoga best.  Also yoga for flexibility.

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class? Pretty much anything as long as it's not too intrusive.  I don't like lyrics, just instrumentals.

[sonrisa]

For me, it is all about the teacher. I've taken it off and on. I have trouble going back if the teacher repeatedly suggests or implies I shouldn't be there (doubly so if it is prenatal yoga).

[wannabe]

-What made you decide to take yoga?
My boss told me that after a few months of yoga classes, his wife saw serious changes in her body. She was leaner, stronger, happier. I wanted that.

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it?
See above

-How did you find your studio?
Currently? Groupon. I'm cheap like that.

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken
I'm about to try aerial yoga. Can't wait to see how it goes.

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class?
The studio I go to now plays top-40 and dance-y music. It was a little odd doing standing half moon during "Gangnam Style" my first time there, but I really love it. I hate the new age crap.

[lime]

Mar 7, 2013 20:23:44 GMT -5 namasteak said:

A few questions for you as I brainstorm marketing ideas.

-What made you decide to take yoga?
I first took yoga in 2000, when my stress from work was through the roof and it seemed like a way to relax and exercise simultaneously. 

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it?
My sister and I had taken adult gymnastics classes and my joints were not holding up over time. I wanted to still work on inversions, so yoga seemed like a way to continue with this. 

-How did you find your studio?
13 years later, I'm on my 7th or 8th studio. I look for the type of classes I want, which are either advanced or specialty, and check out what each has. It's great when a studio has a first week for a flat rate or one class free, etc. (I realize that might not be possible here.)

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken
I've loved everything! Sorry, not much help here. 

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class?
I'm fine with yoga music (like Krishna Das) or those relaxing CDs that sound like a waterfall or standard music you'd hear on the radio. 

[regencygirl]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. I love my MIL, but she is so stuck in her ways and even though she is supposed to be doing some type of exercise she is pretty much refusing. I'm hoping I can get her hooked on yoga, or at the minimum buy her a class card to the studio so she feel obligated to go and use the gift.

[luckyval]

Mar 7, 2013 20:23:44 GMT -5 namasteak said:

A few questions for you as I brainstorm marketing ideas.

-What made you decide to take yoga? Time for myself and activity to tone my body

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it? Finding a more rigorous class that was more than sitting in meditation with the ocassion stretch

-How did you find your studio? The token yoga studio in town was my only choice, but it's a great studio

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken - I am really enjoying my warm yoga class.

I've become the only regular student and the instructor is taking advantage of that by focusing on things I want to do (core work) and playing with advanced poses since I have good flexibility

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class? I enjoy a mix of new age and (for lack of better term), easy listening: Nora Jones, Jack Johnson, Iz, etc...

[weelass24]

Mar 7, 2013 20:23:44 GMT -5 namasteak said:

A few questions for you as I brainstorm marketing ideas.

-What made you decide to take yoga?

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it?

-How did you find your studio?

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class?

-Anxiety and depression. And I'd always wanted to try hot yoga.  That was the kick in the arse to get it done.

-See above

-I'd seen it in my neighborhood.  When I changed studios, I found it on google.

-I'm a hot vinyasa girl, or a hot power hour girl.  Just a general yoga class is boring to me.  I want a workout.

-I don't really care.  I started out with "typical" yoga  stuff, but when I changed studios, they played every thing.  Soothing, 80's, Black Eyed Peas.  I liked the change, but I was also in a very different place at that point.

[sawyerthedestroyer]

Mar 7, 2013 20:23:44 GMT -5 namasteak said:

A few questions for you as I brainstorm marketing ideas.

-What made you decide to take yoga?

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it?

-How did you find your studio?

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class?

I liked the idea of a low-impact exercise. I continued to go because I liked how relaxed I was at the end of each class.

I've never been to a yoga-specific studio. My early yoga classes were at the community center in the city I was living in at the time. I found out about it because they put their class offerings on the city web site. Classes I took later on were at the Gold's I started going to. When I moved I found a studio located in town online, but I won't go because they only offer hot yoga, which I am not interested in.

I wish I had taken prenatal yoga classes, but they were a 45-minute drive away. There is a little thing on an episode of Sesame Street where this little girl describes going to her children's yoga class. It was adorable and I wish there was something like that in my area so I could enroll DS when he's older.

Because there isn't a studio (other than the hot one) within a reasonable driving distance I've been using the videos on the doyogawithme.com web site. I like the music that Melissa McLoud uses because it's not all new-agey weird, if that makes any sense.

[HiC]

Mar 8, 2013 11:19:38 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Mar 7, 2013 20:23:44 GMT -5 namasteak said:

A few questions for you as I brainstorm marketing ideas.

-What made you decide to take yoga?

-If you were "not a yoga person" what convinced you to try it?

-How did you find your studio?

-What workshops or class series are you glad you took or wish you had taken

-What kind of music do you like to hear in class?

-- Pregnancy.
-- I'd heard good things about prenatal yoga, and was also desperate for a way to stretch out my sciatic nerve.  lol.
-- Word-of-mouth.  She came highly recommended by partners' wives.
-- I'm sort of glad I did it, in that the poses and stretches and exercises were both brutal and felt awesomely necessary; but I really, truly hate things like mantras, chanting, oversharing ("Has anyone else started leaking colostrum?"), and the spiritual aspects of it, which felt kind of bizarre.
-- I'd prefer instrumental.  In my class they played a lot of mantra-chanting songs, and it felt oddly to me like the times we'd go visit the Hare Krishna village near my cousin's house in Potomac.  lol. 

I've never done prenatal yoga, but I imagine that it could potentially be way too Mother Earth, overshare, body functions are beautiful, for me too.  Like, pass the stuffed Earth pillow around and give it a hug.....I couldn't do that.   My friend was at a laughing yoga workshop (I guess you fake laugh for an hour?!) and she snuck out on her hands and knees when everyone was laughing with their eyes closed....it was too much for her to handle.