Reddit reviews Journey Into Power: Journey Into Power

That's great that you were able to stick with yoga because I personally would have been very turned off by that kind of approach. Ultimately, it did embarrass you though and I think that teacher could have handled it better. There are ways to adjust students without pointing out they are doing something wrong and subsequently embarrassing them. My favorite yoga teacher always demos poses she sees us " doing wrong." She will also say things like draw your belly button into the back of your spine, or shoulders parallel to the floor, etc. Those cues may help. It also eliminates any embarrassment because she is not singling out just one person.

Some of the things I have heard my teachers say that really made me stick with yoga:

• There is not right or wrong way to do yoga
  
  
• Adjustments do not mean you are doing a pose wrong, it is also to guide you deeper into a pose
  
  
• Accept that where you are right now is exactly where you need to be
  
  
• The success of yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.
  
  
• All that matters is you made it to your mat and have taken time out of your day to honor yourself
  
  I think your intentions are good. But, please try to be more compassionate towards "'complete' beginners/students who are confused" who "don't know poses." People show up to their mat for many different reasons. And for me it is my safe place, away from my anxiety and stress of the day, a place I feel that no one is judging me and I can just be. If I want to do a chinstand, I will damn well do it because it is for ME and no one else.
  
  
  I had a similar teacher to you when I was fat, overweight, and could barely hold crow. Needless to say, I never took her class again. What worked for you may not work for others so please keep that in mind. It is easy to judge the flaws of your students, especially beginners, but try to put yourself in their shoes.
  
  Give them some credit for showing up to their mat.
  
  
• Guide them into being proficient yoga practitioners both MIND and BODY.
  
  
  Yoga is not just about performing postures, it is also how your practice translates into your life. Being mindful, being able to breathe through stressful times in your life (similar to when you are in difficult poses), and being present in your life.
  
  If you have the time please read this book by Baron Baptiste: http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Into-Power-Baron-Baptiste/dp/0743227824

My dad has had some pretty bad sciatica for 30+ years, but refuses to have surgery. He also hasn't been able to touch his toes or sit cross-legged since he was in his 20's (no coincidence, I think). I forced him to do some heavily-watered-down seated yoga with me once, and it alleviated his pain for a few hours. I think for him, stretching and getting the soft tissues to loosen up would take care of some of what's pinching his sciatic nerve. There's other reasons the nerve may be pinched (due to injury, ruptured discs, etc.), but I think warm, dynamic stretching would be a good place to start.

tl;dr: Try some yoga.

Congratulations. While not every practice is great, the best sessions get even better.

Take at least a few classes, it is really hard to know what you're doing in terms of alignment until an instructor corrects you. In a similar vein, I think everyone should work slowly through a book that describes each asana in great detail. It might take ten or fifteen minutes to translate what the book says into physical posture, you might only work through one or two poses per practice, but you really learn it. I'm not a huge fan of Baron Baptiste's style, but Journey into Power has great descriptions of the asana. Dynamic Yoga is another book with great descriptions of the poses.