Category: Crafts and Hobbies
I was just wondering if any of you do yoga? I am starting in next week. I'm getting a tactile mat and just going for it. does any one have any suggestions on how to make it easyer, or anything? thanks.
No, I've never done yoga before. But I think a podcast series was put out a couple years ago called something like, "Yoga with the Blind in mind." I'll see if I can find it, or maybe you can. Don't know if it'd help, but you could try it.
blindyoga.net offers an audio series you can buy that's supposed to be made for the blind to help them understand/learn basic yoga positions in order to help keep up with a regular class.
Haven't tried it, but seemed interesting.
I'm curious as to why you would need a tactile mat. I don't know much about yoga but that just raises curiosity. Is the mat situated in a way that you have to be positioned a certain way, and it would be hard to do that with a regular one?
That's a good question Ryan. I've done yoga once, and it was funny because I fell asleep during meditation time and started SNORING. I was the embarrassment of the group. I was with my blind transition group. Mind you, this was years ago. The mats we used, were more so raised up, so maybe this was the tactile mat? Not sure. But good luck in your endeavors with yoga!
I would love to do it. We did a bit in highschool but i hated PE then. My teacher was a bit to hands on for my cunfert levels.
I can see how that could be discomforting, but think of it this way. How are they supposed to show you the different poses if they can't make physical contact with you? You can't watch what the teacher / orhtrs are doing. Now, maybe she was a bit too overbearing and I have had that problem many times as well, but just figured I'd throw that out there.
from what I've read tactile mats are supposed to help because body placement for each position is essential to proper yoga. So the tactile markings allow the blind participant to ensure that he/she is in the correct position, e.g. hands are the correct width apart and aligned parallel with the mat.
Agreed about the physical contact. It's sort of needed especially since many people are horrid at verbal instructions.
I have no suggestions, but when I did it for a short while, it was absolutely fantastic. I've thought about the tactile mats myself, but they are pricey (or at least the ones I was looking at are).
I took one on one lessons with a yogi for about a month since I was worried about being able to follow instructions with no visuals. That went really well, but when I joined the whole group, I found that the instructor would give a verbal instruction and then do something totally different than what she said. The group just followed her visually, but there I was, down on all fours when they were doing the stork position! :) The instructor had been in a car accident and had brain injury and these things were a part of that. She would schedule sessions and tell three different times (9:00, 9:15, 9:30) to three different people and woe to the person who came in "late" even though it was not their fault.
I plan to get back to it eventually and I highly recommend it. It feels absolutely fantastic.
And, yes, most people are absolutely horrid at giving instructive verbal help and proper positioning is very important to yoga.
Nice. I'll have to check out the mats to see what they are like. The gym here probably has some. I'm not really in to yoga, more so in to high intensity workouts, but that doesn't mean it's any better or worse of a workout. It depends on what you want out of the workout that matters and whether or not you have the right goals in mind.
Yeah that is what it is all about. And I get the point you make Ryan. How can they make contact with you if that's the case?
I guess I get the point but I don't know. I guess like you guys were saying it depends on what the person wants and what you are into. As you all clearly know, yoga wasn't or is not my thing. As I found out when I fell asleep during meditation.
I workout to loose weight and for cardio purposes. I ride the exercise bike one hour a day five days a week, sometimes four. Going anywhere from 12-15 miles each time and burning 290-320 calories. Good right?
I will be checking at my gym as well to see if they have these mats too, just so I have an idea of what they are. I go to Planet Fitness. They're Nationwide.
What is a "tactile mat"? I have a "regular" one from Target. I went to a class for the blind, just to learn the basic poses, then transitioned to mainstream class. I like a hands-on instructor, and would have had a hard time learning from a podcast, alone. That said, a podcast might be a good way to keep up the practice.
There were better ways for er to have handled it. I have had other teachers do it with less of a forced manner as she did.
Dave, see this link:
http://www.maxiaids.com/products/11295/Tactile-Braille-Yoga-Mat-with-2-Instructional-DVDs.html
I hope this answers your question. Are you saying this would help you?
Nicky, sorry to hear that. :(
I tried to look on maxi aids for the matt and they were out of stock at the time but blind mice had it availible. it cost more but I was able to get it along with a travel bag to go along with the mat and two CD's.