Difficulty in Seat
I'm (36M) very new to yoga. I'm going to a studio for about a month, twice a week: one power flow and one deep stretch class.
I'm having a lot of difficulty with just basic poses/stretches from a seated position, especially anything straight-legged. Just sitting up straight (let alone folding forward) creates so much tension and engagement in my hips and core, like my center of gravity just doesn't agree with that position and my upper body just wants to fall backward. I feel like I get nothing out of these poses because I can't even engage the muscles I'm supposed to be stretching. I can get a good stretch if I place my hands on the mat behind me, but when I reach forward and don't support the weight of my upper body, I have to fight hard just to stay upright.
Is this a problem of core strength? General flexibility? Center of gravity? And...
If I keep working these poses, will this improve? Or would it be more beneficial to take different poses where I can actually stretch the muscles I'm supposed to be stretching?
Edit: Thank you for all the helpful tips, insight, and anecdotes!