Yoga vs weights for strength training

AndreaWyland

Im on the journey of losing the last of my problem areas in terms of fat and have a really good routine. I do usually 6 days a week of working out doing something different each day (p90x dvds plyo, cardio x, core synergistic, and kenpo, stretch; Yoga dvd by Baron Baptiste; running; snowboarding and turbo jam punch kick and jam). I see new muscles and feel like there is muscle growth going on, I feel stronger, I can kick higher, do more stretches and yoga moves/more flexible, run farther, snowboard better, etc. I feel like Im on the right track. I was doing the p90x weight training videos as well, however, its really hard to fit those in with everything else Im doing and quite frankly I dont like those videos and they dont give me the cal results I want either. I dont have a lot of time to workout so I want something thats going to both burn cal and build strength/ give me long lean muscles.... my question:) Can I substitute weights for what Im doing above? Using my body as resistance (I do this a lot in the plyometrics with jumping and squats its super hard and in yoga as well as the core synergistic, pretty much all of them have some sort of body resistance workouts). Or is it imperative for keeping/building muscle ( I would strictly want long/lean muscle) to use weights? Would it be enough to do one day a week of full body weights or is that necessary? Im sore almost everyday still from the yoga, p90 videos and if I do a long run, which is why 1 day a week I take off of vigorous workout and maybe do a walk or something like that. Did that question in its roundabout way make sense? Any input would be fantastic. I looked it up online and find the info extremely conflicting. I would be happy with continuing on my path Im on and even adding more yoga, its healing quality is powerful:) instead of adding weights back in.

kdiamond

Yoga is nice, I like to incorporate it in once in a while, however, it is nothing like weights, completely different motions, calorie burn, all together different! I would give up yoga before the weights, unless you prefer to look like Gwenneth Paltrow as opposed to Jessica Beil. Yoga is good for stretching and overall relaxation and "feel good", but it doesn't have the same impact on the body as weight training does. Your choice overall, but to answer your question, would it be the same to substitute yoga for weights the answer is absolutely not.

AndreaWyland

Lifting free weights, correct me if Im wrong, build short muscles while yoga builds long lean muscles, right? I would be absolutely happy with either Gwenneth Paltrow or Jessica Beils body:) truthfully:) although I know which body my husband would pick;) my body is nowhere near either of theres. Im FAR from that! I totally disagree with your interpretation of yoga though, I still get really sore after a good yoga workout so I know there is much more going on than relaxation and feeling good cuz that only comes in spurts. I dont do yoga for the calorie burn I do it for the spirituality, limberness I get, range of motion, agility,flexibility, new muscles I see, and of course the calm I have when during and after. I just wondered since strength training is recommended so you dont lose muscle mass and so you build more to burn more if my regimen Im already doing is enough to do all that. Your opinion is no? I dont just do yoga, Im getting a lot of cal burn every other day I workout, yoga day is for mind and body (and usually following several really hard days of really hard workouts) and strengthening/lengthening mind and body and its hard to incorporate another several days for weights if I dont have to is all... does that make sense?

AndreaWyland

And might I add... you look great! I read on your page you do very little cardio, you do more weights and strength training then? Cool, its working for ya!

mlb929

Have you ever done a kettlebell workout? It's strength and cardio at the same time.

melaniecheeks

I think you're right to incorporate a variety of workouts, so there's no reason why you shouldn't do BOTH yoga and weights (and cardio , and flexibility training etc)

Keep at it!

AndrewTheWise

The best possible workout in a perfect world would be cardio three times a week, strength training three times a week, and yoga once a week. Just my opinion. I don't get enough exercise, but that's how I want to be.

Still_Sossy

Pilates is the method known for building long lean muscles. I do both Yoga and Pilates, and enjoy them.

AndreaWyland

I guess part of what I was trying to say too was that Im often too sore to do my yoga that I love from weights. I found an idea though, maybe doing yoga on the SAME day as weight training, like the weights after the yoga 2xs a week:) thank you all for your feedback:)