I can share my cousin's experience. She goes to yoga class three times a week, and has been doing this for years. We're the same age (68), but she has much better balance and far fewer aches and pains than I. Of course, I have fibromyalgia and autoimmune issues that give me a lot of joint pain, but still....I think if I'd been able to start yoga years ago I'd have a lot less pain today.

One of my water aerobics instructors offeres Water tai chi at the end of class. Love it! I get out of the pool feeling so relaxed.

Another instructor, who teaches yoga, incorporates some of it into our water class.

Gibby, thanks for posting this. Hubby and I have been contemplating yoga classes, but as we live in the boonies, the closest is almost an hour round trip and only has morning and early afternoon classes. A DVD would be much more convenient.

I have been doing yoga for 45 years. I'm 72 now and have more energy than most people my age due to the reverse breathing and keeping the body supple through stretching and relaxing. I handle stress very well due to knowing how to relax my body. Yoga can benefit all people of all ages at any point in their lives. It's wonderful that we have dvds available now so you can do them at home.
Years ago I gave one to my Mom when she was 70, told her to only do one exercise for the first week and gradually add one more etc. A few days later she called me and said every part of her body was killing her. Turns out she forgot what I said and did the ENTIRE programs for the prior four days lol. When I reiterated my directions she laughed soooo hard. Get the mats everyone and relax, stretch your body and go limp. lol.

There's a Yoga Class in my town that meets Friday nights. I went twice, it was too hard and strenuos and fast for me. I'm thinking of going back.

I tried it twice a week for months, and finally gave it up.
WAY too hard on my wrists!
I really liked the instructor and the class... but when it got so bad that I dreaded yoga days, I knew I should find something else.

I'm 79 and have been doing yoga for over 40 years. It's a wonderful form of exercise to help one stretch, relax, and still gain flexibility and some strength.

To anyone who thinks yoga is too hard, I offer the advice of my teacher: one does only what feels good to them. Yoga is truly individual; any pose can be altered/modified to fit one's needs/capabilities. As my teacher says, "If it doesn't feel good, don't do it!"

Thanks, Gibby, what is the name of the DVD? Four-Five yyears ago one of my friend's had a yoga class 3 times a week at her loft, I loved it. But interest seemed to fall off as soon as the nice weather hit and we never revived it in the fall. I loved it!

The name of the DVD is Yoga for Dummies and the instructor is Chris Freytag. There is more than one Yoga for Dummies DVD with different instructors. There's a good review of the DVD on Amazon that describes it in detail. It is a more active routine that does get your heat rate up. I can see why my friend recommended it because her classes are more like that as well. But you can take it easier to start - you can make it as easy or difficult as you want. She gives you tips on easy vs. advanced.

I had a lot of sore muscles at first so I knew it was a good workout. I LOVE hearing the wonderful reports from those of you who' ve been doing yoga for 30-40 years or more. That is very inspiring! Not sure I'll live long enough to say that but better starting late than never.

Can someone tell me the difference and the benefits of yoga versus Pilates?

I took a ballet for fitness class once and the instructor incorporated some Yoga into it. I was hooked and have used those moves ever since. When I lost my hearing my balance went with it. I credit Yoga with helping me regain most of it. I am going to check out that video as I don't have a lot of experience with the art but I know the little I do know and use has helped me.

I looked at the DVD at Amazon and sampled the video. The background music made it impossible for me to understand her. Does the DVD have closed captioning?

I've done both pilates and yoga. With pilates, you can use the machine (reformer) or mat. Mat pilates is, to me, a more active and strenuous exercise than yoga. It emphasizes core muscle strength and really gives the body a workout. Yoga is also great for overall toning and stretching but sometimes a bit slow-going for me.

Do you have a cat? If so, you might prepare yourself for this experience. LOL

Yoga with kitty

That cat video is hilarious! I have three cats and two of them are very interested in the yoga activity. No one has jumped on me yet. Of course my body doesn't go into the positions that woman gets into - so the landing spots aren't as good.

marita - I think you would find this yoga video does a lot of core muscle work and the faster pace is quite a good workout. I always thought of yoga as a slow thing (more like the cat video) but I guess that isn't always the case.

wildchild - I don't know about closed captioning but I have no problem clearly understanding the instructor.

Loved the video Alisande!!! I don't know how she kept from laughing, between the tickling, and picturing what she looks like perched on my back and butt, I'd be killing myself.

How did the cat stay there when she stood up??

Yoga is intriguing. My brother's girlfriend does the Hot Yoga. She's trying to get my brother to join as well.

down dog...up cat LOL!

I looked at the description for the subject DVD on amazon. com and it doesn't look like it has closed captioning. I bought a couple of yoga DVD's here in Canada that ended up not having CC, so I can't do them either. I find not many exercise DVD's have CC.

Thanks Dee. You just saved me 6 dollars.

Gibby - I am profoundly hard of hearing. Will be getting a cochlear implant down the road. I was considered profoundly deaf just a couple of months ago. It's not a matter of simply having "difficulty" like so many do. I'm straddling the world between the hearing world and the deaf community. I've become quite good at lip reading.

I started serious running in the 70's and did it for years until I switched to speed walking to save my knees. I walk the dogs three miles a day and go on the treadmill two more miles at 4.3 mph. So I thought I'd try a yoga class early last year when I belonged to a different gym. I went in cold turkey thinking how hard could it be since I do all this other stuff. Well, it was very difficult, and I ended up exhausted. I did find out I wasn't in the beginners class but in an advanced one. I think I'd like to do it at home maybe. My new gym doesn't have lessons. My doctor swears by it.

For anyone with arthritis, check the yoga sessions from Peggy Caffey. She has also done several PBS shows and will show you how to move and not strain sore swollen joints.

Pkramer, thanks for the tip. I looked her up on Amazon. Her last name is Cappy, if anyone else is interested. I think she'd be well worth a try.