Unflexible person needs gentle zoom yoga or tai-chi class now

September 24, 2021 9:31 AM

Help me find a zoom yoga or tai-chi class for a rigidly inflexible person.

The result of 30+ years of everyday running without stretching is that I am rigidly inflexible. The main problem seems to be in my hamstrings and quads. I have done yoga in the past but always found classes focused on the most flexible rather than the least flexible.

I am looking for a zoom class aimed at people like me. I feel a sense of urgency in that I don't want to go into older age stiff as a board. Either yoga or tai-chi is acceptable. Help me find the flexibility to go forward. Not looking for suggestions about how to become flexible.

posted by Xurando to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

my local yoga studio does a 'yoga for every body' via zoom on monday, wednesday and friday from 10:30-11:30am EST. i take the class m/w and can verify that they really mean every body- one of the regulars is an instructor's elderly (80ish) mom.
posted by noloveforned at 9:51 AM on September 24, 2021

I like Curvy Yoga. The sessions build on modifications instead of the other way round (here's the correct pose, but here are some mods if you can't do it).
posted by 10ch at 10:11 AM on September 24, 2021 [1 favorite]

If DVDs will suit at all, this oldie which is available on Amazon is one I've done, as someone who lifts a lot but doesn't do a lot of flexibility and it's good.
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:56 AM on September 24, 2021 [1 favorite]

I don't know if you're open to the idea/cost of private Zoom classes rather than a group class, but I've found that for dealing with specific issues, it's really valuable to have the individual attention and to be able to drill down into the precise positions and modifications that work best for you. I have a teacher I've been seeing for a few years who practices yoga physical therapy and has made an enormous difference for me dealing with some back injuries and a difficult mix of hyper-mobility and limited flexibility. She does group classes for Nike's corporate office, and may have some public group classes as well. I don't think she has a web presence, but PM/email me if you'd be interested in her contact info and I can pass it along.
posted by duien at 11:31 AM on September 24, 2021

I am a broken record about Glo, but I can't recommend it enough. It's an app with both recorded and live classes, including yoga, pilates, strength conditioning, muscle recovery, and even now some cardio/HIIT/barre classes, for $18 a month, with a diverse range of excellent teachers. Since you've done yoga in the past, their Level 1-2 classes are probably a good match.

There are "programs" that you could take that would go through a class sequence over a number of weeks; there are also a number of classes explicitly aimed at runners. I am a huge fan of Jason Crandell: he is focused on awareness of anatomy and breath, and is really helpful when I'm returning to the mat after a long time away.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 12:00 PM on September 24, 2021 [4 favorites]

Bringing it up because of the post above: Glo is the best $18 I spend every month. I’m a runner too, but yoga is almost as important to me. I’ve been practicing off and on for 12 years, but I’ve learned and progressed more in the last 1.5 years than the entire rest combined by working through Jason Crandell’s Glo classes in particular. But they have tons of other teachers that are all good in different ways.

I’m highly skeptical of random yoga teachers on YouTube, etc.

So I guess I’m saying that Glo is worth a trial sub if you’re okay with recorded classes without personalized teacher input.
posted by liet at 1:43 PM on September 24, 2021 [4 favorites]

I'm in the same boat as the OP and hadn't heard of Glo before - will definitely check it out based on your recommendations, rrrrrrrrrt and liet. Appreciate it!
posted by widdershins at 6:26 AM on October 1, 2021