My coworker (once back at the office) mentioned that there are very slight adjustments you can make to the position of your spread hands that minimize wrist impact. But of course I'd need the teacher to take a second to show that to me--which I hope the next one will. (And I'll make a point of mentioning the existing problems before the class starts.)

I know that a lot of my discomfort was from pure disuse, which is of course why I want to take yoga in the first place. I'm really looking forward to regaining some flexibility.

I'm sort of excited by all the input you and other DW-ers have given me on this post. I feel very encouraged to continue!