Yoga/cardio/resistance split. Opinions?

Nessalee77

Hi all, just wanting some opinions on my current weekly exercise schedule. I exercise mostly in the morning before work, five days a week, in addition to riding to work some days and sometimes add a run on the weekend, but sometimes not. I don't like to exercise after work.

Previously, I was doing two days heavy weights (about half to equivalent of my body weight) with a trainer, and on the other three days I did some running, plus I would ride to work and back (About 35 mins each way, cruisy pace) at least 2 and sometimes 4 times a week.

As I was getting quite inflexible, I started a yoga course this week. This last week I've done two mornings weights, and three mornings Ashtanga yoga. My cardio has suffered, I didn't run at all and I only rode to work twice. This is because the yoga class runs a bit later and I didn't want to ride in after class and be late for work.

So, if I do the following

2 x 45m resistance sessions
3 x 1.25 -1.5 hr yoga classes
2 x ride to work and home
maybe add one run on the weekend (intervals perhaps?)

Is this a good balance? I'm tired today after one week of this but it might just be getting used to the yoga.

My goal is overall health and wellbeing. I used to be quite heavy and unhealthy. Since starting with my trainer my weight went right down to my goal, and then bounced up a little, which I am dealing with now. Since starting weight training, I also have fewer back and neck problems from my desk job. I am adding the yoga more for mental health and flexibility than anything to do with my weight.

I am a little worried about dropping my running and other cardio down because I want to keep my heart and lungs healthy. I know I don't need it to keep my weight down, I can do that with food, but I like to think of myself as fit also.

I'm also curious about the potential for eventually moving away from weights to just doing yoga and cardio. I'm thinking that might be better for me as I get older, but how would that affect my body composition.

Any thoughts or opinions greatly welcome. Just typing this out has helped me clarify a few things in my head.

Cheers,
Vanessa

DopeItUp

I don't think that's anything that any of us can tell you. You're doing a little strength training, a bunch of yoga and a little cardio. What do YOU think of this? You don't have any particular goals (strength, races, competitions of any kind, sports performance, etc) it seems a little of everything for general fitness is right up your alley. If you like it and feel like you will stick with it, then great. If you don't like it, change it up. If you decide to focus on one particular area, then increase the frequency and intensity of that type of training. Pretty basic stuff.

ETA: Regarding dropping the weights as you get older, I was confused and took a closer look at your picture. What are you, 30? Yeah, think about dropping the weights, maybe in about 40 years from now. Until then, keep hitting them hard.

DaFibble

If your goal is overall health this looks like a great balance afaik. Yoga is tough in a different way to cardio and strength training. Everyone tends to train to efficiency in various ways and lack in others. You're doing it all. I wish I was so sensible. If you want to make sure dropping cardio isn't a problem, definitely go with the interval training like you mentioned. Look at the research. Its remarkable. I've given up an addiction to medium level cardio because of what I've read about interval training.

You don't need to give up weights as you get older. Really. Your body will tell you if you're doing too much, which is the biggest concern. Obviously muscle is reduced with age but something like 80% of muscle is determined by the mount of strength style exercise in your life. Older people need strength training as much as anyone.

yogicarl

If you look at the Ashtanga Primary series (its on You Tube), I think you will find all the strength, cardio and flexibility training you will need without anything else.
I used to cram in yoga, resistance training and running/swimming until I changed my yoga style to Ashtanga and have condensed my weekly training to a daily Ashtanga yoga sequence and swimming two or three times a week simply because I enjoy sea swimming and have some good friends who meet regularly.

yoovie

The physical fitness table has 4 legs. Cardio and Endurance, Strength and Resistance, Nutrition and fuel, Rest and Flexibility. No leg is more important than the Rest.

Nessalee77

Thanks everyone for the comments. Dope it up, I do enjoy this balance so far, I was just wondering if anyone thought that the cardio element was too low really. Because I could do more if I pushed. And thanks for the inadvertent compliment, I'm nearly 38 so happy to be called 30

Thanks for the comments on not giving up weights as I get older. maybe yoga will help me with this, as I had started to notice that I am getting quite inflexible and I attributed it to the weightlifting.

Yogicarl, I can see that as I get more and more into yoga, this might happen in the future, because I can get really into activities for a while. I used to take ballroom dancing classes obsessively, and now that has passed and I only go social dancing now and then. But for now I'm still enjoying the other stuff. It will be a bit of an experiment if I start changing it up in favour of yoga, I will watch my measurements with interest if that happens.

That's a good quote yoovie I do need think that leaving weekends for mostly fun stuff is important too.

Cheers,
Vanessa