Pros and cons of doing yoga with a DVD over a class
So, you want to start yoga. If you've recently decided to take up yoga, you've decided to take up a form of exercise millions of people around the world practice with a number of benefits.
One thing you will have to decide is whether you want to do yoga with a DVD or take a class. Considering the popularity of yoga, it shouldn't be difficult to find a class. The following are some pros and cons of doing yoga with a DVD over a class.
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Pros
- A DVD is cheaper. Regardless of how you go about taking a yoga class, whether it be from a health club or gym, yoga studio, or one-time class, a DVD will always be less expensive. Most gyms will require you to be members to take their yoga classes, and these memberships often have expensive sign-up fees in addition to the monthly fees. A yoga DVD can be purchased for under $20, but you can also rent them for free from the library, or you can get them inexpensively from Netflix or other video rental programs.
- A DVD is more private. If you use a yoga DVD, you can exercise and practice yoga from your own home. This is good for people who are uncomfortable exercising in front of many people or are intimidated by a gym setting. A yoga DVD will give you the benefits of yoga without having to leave your home.
- You can do it on your own schedule. Most gyms or health clubs only have a class or two a day, requiring you to work your own schedule around them. You can do a yoga DVD whenever you want.
- You can save time. If you want to do yoga but don't have the time to drive to the gym and take an hour-long class, a yoga DVD might be a good option for you. Times range from 20 minutes to over an hour, so you can save a significant amount of time while still enjoying the benefits of yoga.
Cons
Just as there are a number of benefits to using a yoga DVD, there are also some downsides, including:
- More personalized instruction. A yoga class has a certified instructor that can demonstrate each pose and personally help you if you are having trouble or have questions. With a DVD, there is no interaction or help from the instructor on the TV set.
- Safer. A yoga class with a live instructor can point out to you if you are performing the postures incorrectly, which could result in muscle strain or other problems. If you are doing the postures incorrectly on a DVD at home, you will not have anyone to point it out to you.
- Fewer distractions. One thing people love about yoga is the relaxation it provides. In a yoga class or studio, it is easier to focus on the class, the music, and the poses than at home, where you have a wide range of potential distractions, such as the phone, the kids, the dog, or someone at the door.
Yoga DVDs and classes are both a great way to practice yoga. The above will help you to decide which is best for you.
