Vinyasa Yoga?

[Crankin]

Just my opinion, but I am betting you would not like some of these classes. All of the yoga I have done in studios has been Hatha/Kripalu style yoga. I got some DVDs that are more Vinyasa style and all I can say is that I am glad I didn't pay for a series of classes like this. At one point, when I was taking a lot of classes at my last gym and later at a yoga studio, I felt pretty proficient, strong and I really liked the poses. They helped my back and they helped me relax. The Vinyasa yoga is very fast and just didn't seem to meet my needs.
That's not saying you won't like it, but I found it to be very different.

[jessmarimba]

I am very thankful that the woman I take yoga from now is a nurse. Our hospital system offers subsidized classes (I think, based on the price) and they're usually quite small and the teacher is very knowledgable about who should avoid what poses and what modifications are acceptable for common injuries. It is less of a spiritual class and more of a stretching-for-rehabilitation class, but that's fine by me.

[indysteel]

Just be careful about introducing anything new right now--be it yoga, Pilates, bosu, etc.--while you are still healing. I just think you're asking for trouble. I love yoga and enjoy vinyasa classes, but I don 't think they are for everyone and aren't necessarily a good place to start for a beginner.

[Catrin]

I appreciate the advice and experiences, it really helps. I do like that the new facility offers a wider range of free classes than my current place, but I will use caution with whatever I decide to do. Working with my trainer I know what I can do with weights to provide at least a decent workout without tweaking my neck - and we've worked enough with TRX that I am pretty confident that I can avoid further injury with that.

I will set aside trying out the Yoga until some later time perhaps. I do, finally, start physical therapy for my neck this week to strengthen it. It does make sense that this isn't the time to take on something totally new as I don't need to risk further neck injury.

[Brandi]

I like all yoga! Flow is more for elderly or people with injuries. I would check with that gym and see what they mean and if that is what the class is for. I would try the one class or just sit in on one and see if it is for you. You want a teacher who will not force poses on you. To be able to just go into childs pose during a pose that might hurt you or you are tired is good to have. I have had teacher's hurt me because of how flexable I am. It is fine to push me BUT I got pushed to far and threw my neck out. Went to a gentle yoga class while hurt and went for a year. Just nice to have a slow class that really makes you familiar with the poses. Then you can move on to other types. I like them all now. From relaxing to the sweat your butt off types.

[SadieKate]

I'd inquire. Vinyasa yoga could encompass many styles and the gym could be trying to use it in a generic sense.

http://yoga.about.com/od/typesofyoga/a/vinyasa.htm

[indysteel]

I like all yoga! Flow is more for elderly or people with injuries.

I have to say that I've never heard "flow" used to describe a yoga class for seniors. Restorative, chair and gentle, yes, but not flow. Not saying you're wrong; it's just that at least around Central Indiana (where Catrin and I both live), "flow" classes tend to be for more active yogis. There is one studio that offers "slow flow" but it's not billed for seniors specifically. I'm also of the mind that slower doesn't necessarily translate to easier. Holding a pose for more than a breath or two can be hard.

[OakLeaf]

I would agree that vinyasa isn't for beginners, just because the teacher can't possibly check everyone's form closely when you're moving quickly from asana to asana. I'd recommend Iyengar or Anusara for a place to start.

+1 also that holding a standing or balancing pose can be very strenuous. Still, while there's a very valuable place where you hold through the fatigue and find strength in a pose, no one should ever feel pressured not to drop into child's pose or downward dog when they need a rest.