Worried that P90x Yoga is going to make me give up P90x prog

golferd

Okay, I am going to sound like a whiner but here goes. I just "attempted" the first few minutes of Yoga X today. First of all, I'm not thrilled to do an hour and a half of any exercise, call me lazy but I like to stick to 1 hour workouts max. Secondly, I am not a fan of Yoga in any way, shape, or form as my flexibility is not great and I just don't dig doing it. So after about 10 minutes of trying I basically said, "screw this" and turned off the DVD. I've worked out with 4 other P90x DVDs and loved the challenges of each one. However, I have absolutely no motivation to do the Yoga workout.

I am certain everyone will tell me how beneficial it is and that it will get easier with time. Yet, I honestly don't see myself taking an hour and a half to do something I don't find any enjoyment in. Any suggestions? All the stuff I researched online basically stated you "HAVE" to do the Yoga portion or you won't get the benefits of the workouts. So does this mean it's pointless to do every other P90x workout?

I have been highly motivated thus far, with all the other DVDs, but the Yoga one just makes me want to throw the whole set out. Possibly I could find another Yoga DVD that is shorter and that might help? Anyway, just thought I would check with some of the other P90x users. Thanks!

Congrats on trying to get in better shape. I thought the same thing about yoga and laughed at many of the poses. However, my wife and I are giving the program 90 days. Yes, I have the same thoughts everytime before pressing play on the yoga.

I copied this from your profile: I am almost 40 and I'm sick of how inconsistent I have been over the past 12 or so years. I was in the best shape of my life in 1998 but through the years, exercise became a somewhat non-priority. I also have really bad eating habits, I crave junk food but at least eat it in moderation.

I've lost "up to" 25 pounds over the past 13 years but I always gain it back because I don't treat it as a lifestyle change. I am almost 40 and I have to stop with the excuses and lose weight.

Sorry, but your method has not worked. If it did you would not be on this site. I think part of the whole program is to train yourself of the different possibilities, and to build your mental strength. You said above "how inconsistent I have been." The program takes care of that for 90 days, all you have to do is press play.

Give the program 90 days and see what it can do for you (I have been impressed with just 39 days so far). If your doing AB ripper after all the videos your only talking about an extra 15 minutes. If you work at the videos you will find many of the exercises are incorporated into the different videos. If your saying it is too easy, do 2 pushups between the downward dogs to upward dogs. I doubt you can get your body into the wheel. Can you hold crane for 60 seconds? Toe lock? How is your yoga belly 7? Chair pose? How is your balance poses?

I am not a beach body coach, or a p90x pro, I have completed week 6 day 4 without missing, this has caused me to complete workouts at midnight, or sometimes very late dinners after 11pm. On some days I do additional exercising. Yet, I am going to complete the program.

My point is you can bench press 300 pounds and use only a "few" muscles in your body. To hold the crane pose you have to use your entire body. If the flexibility is the problem, my wife started with reaching 1/2 way between knees and toes, and now is beginning to reach her toes. I still am having a hard time getting into some of the postures, but I am getting better.

Good luck to you, bring it!!!

SaraTonin

I had to ask friends a while ago if their experience with YogaX was worse than yoga class, and they agreed it was.

It must be crazy intense!!!

I love yoga, hope to be an instructor one day, so I like to remind people that it's harder for P90X than normal yoga. Yoga is supposed to be relaxing even while you work hard..

AwMyLoLo

Oh, Matt, Matt, Matt... You and I are singing the same tune.... I just posted about not being excited about P90X Yoga... I haven't even attempted it yet... this will be my first experience with it and I'm not thrilled at all.... I have loved the other P90X vids I have done so far, but this one just sounds ... EEEKKKKKK.... I'm going to pop it in here in a minute and get through it the best I can.... Then, if I seriously HATE it (like I think I will) I am going to take these other people's suggestions and substitute it with something else... Good luck!!!! Stay with P90X... Let's finish this thing! :drinker:

YogaX will make your obliques 10X more sore than Ab RipperX!!

DaveGlasnost

I think as several already mentioned, you could sub in Cardio, X Stretch, or Kenpo.... or maybe Plyo in place of Yoga. I personally would not pick Plyo due to the more high-impact-ness of it; I am always worried about shin splints and knee/back pounding that the 1x a week already provides me.

My experiences with it might suggest to you to stick with it, but I wouldn't say you were in the wrong to avoid it if it simply isn't or wont ever be your thing. Anyway:

The first week, when I did Yoga X, it was terrible -- a train wreck. I did the whole DVD, but definitely had to give up on a fair number of the moves. And, it took me two hours, pouring sweat, pausing seemingly every 5 seconds, to do everything (shoddily) up to the happy baby part, where I turned it off since it was getting late.

It was just so ridiculous for me: I had this stupid gut in the way of most of the moves -- made some of the twisting moves very frustrating. My leg swings forward into runner's stretch were pathetic. Sweat streaming from all over, hands sweaty and sliding around in downward dogs, unable to do those half-pushups into upward dog with anything like good control or strength, and the upward dogs were exclusively exhausted cobras. Balance? Forget it. Maybe passable on Tree but not much else.

Yoga X, therefore, was not a fan favourite for this fan, early on. Back then it was Plyo X, later it was Chest & Back, then Legs & Back.

Things have gotten better over the last 11 weeks.

Today I can swing my legs forward into runner's stretch with only a small adjustment (as Tony shows you). That gut is no longer in the way. I still sweat rivers (and don't expect that to change), but no longer does it cause nearly the issues it did early on. I am much better at the whole pushup into upward dog thing (I still don't do extra pushups!). Most of the movements feel much more natural to me.

I can just about make it from the start of the DVD till the point where he says take a break now if you like (I think around the point where you get to Warrior III and the half-moon moves), and then make it to the balance positions before I take another minute or so break. Then beyond that maybe a very short pause or two during parts of the ab portion of the workout.

There are still lowlights: All that Warrior III, half moon, twisting half moon stuff still is very difficult. Also when you have to reach under your leg and behind your back and get your hands together, my leg is usually in such pain, feeling on fire, that I can't do it because I have to come out of the stance. I still don't do crane, or sometimes take a stab at it but still fail to do it.

But overall, it is a much, much more doable workout for me.

Today, while my favorite workout has been a moving target, it is, strangely enough, currently Yoga X. I actually look forward to this workout perhaps more than any other. I hate parts of it while doing it, but for some reason look forward to the overall workout. Even though I don't get quite the sense of tranquility, etc., from it that many people seem to, I do feel more relaxed at the end, more limber, and I get the benefits of the exertion and the enjoyment of seeing real improvement, however slow that is.

P.S. I don't do the ohms and only sometimes go past Happy Baby. Even though I do like the relaxation of the moves leading up to the ohms. Also, I am glad I am sticking to Yoga X for another reason: I have been able to do X Stretch exactly once in the entire 12 weeks I have been at this thing, and flexibility is something I need a good amount of work on.

drjennelle

i didn't get to read everyone's replies, but what i wanted to add was just that the schedule/ workouts that come with a program like P90X (i do Turbo Fire and Chalene Extreme) are not set in stone. if you really hate a workout - don't do it for example, i really dislike the cardio workouts in the Chalene Extreme program, so whenever the schedule would require cardio, i would sub an equal length cardio routine from Turbo Fire (i swear Chalene never knew!)

honestly though, do what you like and what works for you. there's no need to abandon an entire 11-workout program because of one workout you despise (and not just despising it because it's too "hard", but because you don't find it interesting, engaging, or enjoyable in anyway0. do what feels right for you, and if you continue to challenge yourself, you'll get the results that you crave

abyt42

Gaiam has made some of their yoga videos available through hulu.com...I enjoy them on the days when I don't have yoga classes (and find them more instructive than the yoga available through netflix.)

PJilly

i didn't get to read everyone's replies, but what i wanted to add was just that the schedule/ workouts that come with a program like P90X (i do Turbo Fire and Chalene Extreme) are not set in stone. if you really hate a workout - don't do it for example, i really dislike the cardio workouts in the Chalene Extreme program, so whenever the schedule would require cardio, i would sub an equal length cardio routine from Turbo Fire (i swear Chalene never knew!)

honestly though, do what you like and what works for you. there's no need to abandon an entire 11-workout program because of one workout you despise (and not just despising it because it's too "hard", but because you don't find it interesting, engaging, or enjoyable in anyway0. do what feels right for you, and if you continue to challenge yourself, you'll get the results that you crave

^^^^*LIKE*^^^^

AndreSF

I would consider the reasons (or the main reason, as there is always that one thing that makes you move) you started the P90X program in the first place. Let's not even talk about benefits of yoga, etc., but think about benefits of pushing through of what seems uncomfortable, but is a part of the program you decided to do and committed to doing...
Can't do 90 minutes of yoga? Do the first 45 of it or whatever you can. If so inclined, purchase one or two yoga routines form Tony Horton's One on One series (I particularly like Fountain of Youth yoga one, but there are several yoga disks).
You were worried about looking like a complainer in your original post, but it does look a lot like that... and I sincerely apologize for my statement. However, many of us need a good kick in the butt to get off that couch, so please consider that a friendly "off the couch kick"...
Most importantly, don't give up! It's great that you are seeking advice and not just shutting down, storing those DVDs in the basement somewhere, etc.

I hope you stick with it and good luck!

melzteach

I didn't get a chance to read all of the reply's to your post so please ignore this if someone already posted it.
I finished a round of P90X e few weeks ago. Yoga was pretty tough. I'd do as much as I could of each move/pose. Even if was too hard, I'd attempt it and then skip to the next move/pose. Each time some of the moves got a little easier. There are some that I'm still not able to do for very long or not at all.

Good luck!

PJilly

I can appreciate the sentiment behind the comments saying he should push through the Yoga X no matter what, but my personal experience as someone who has done three rounds of P90X is that that's exactly the advice I was guilted into following when my instinct was to do otherwise, and I regret it. I realize that may not be everyone's experience, but it sure was mine. I like doing yoga. In fact, I incorporate yoga into my workouts now. But I dreaded Yoga X (not because I can't do it; I can), and I almost threw in the towel on the whole program because of that. I know exactly what I want out of my next round of P90X, and I don't need to do Yoga X once a week to accomplish it. There's nothing wrong, in my opinion, with personalizing the program. If that means not doing one of the workouts, so be it. Your mileage may vary...

faithgin

It's hard, sometimes I do it and feel awesome afterwards, other times I reach for one of the other videos. Tony won't come to your house and beat your *kitten* for not doing it. Don't beat yourself up over it.

DaveGlasnost

Can't do 90 minutes of yoga? Do the first 45 of it or whatever you can.

If you decide to try to stick it out with Yoga X, I would specifically suggest the following, rather than just doing the first 45 minutes:

Start the DVD, and try to go up to the point where Tony says take a break if you need it -- I think it is sometime around when you are introduced to Reverse Warrior or maybe Triangle poses, hmm, maybe it is right after the chair poses. Anyway, it's some time after when you've been introduced to Warrior II and Reverse Warrior and the like.

Then, fast forward or chapter skip to the start of the balance poses. After all the work you did so far these balance poses are actually easier on you in the sense of a lot less exertion. You can be pretty wiped out but these are still doable for the most part and you can recover your breath, heartrate, energy. Skip some of the tougher or more technical ones, but at least do Tree, Royal Dancer, the one where you hold your leg out in front of you, bridge (wheel is more advanced and can be rough early on, so stick to bridge), and table.

Depending on your mood and energy level you can go ahead and do Yoga Belly 7, or skip this, too. That will give you a little extra meat to your abridged Yoga X workout so I would try to work it.

Definitely do the stretching afterwards, some of the relaxation stuff, to bring yourself down, work on your flexibility, and relax a little especially right near the end. The ohms at the end you can take or leave -- I always leave, just not into that too much plus I have a houseful I don't want to scare.

Doing the above gives you a good chunk of the workout and also the variety of the workout, yet cuts it to size pretty well. Also, saves you from, or delays you from, having to buy another Yoga disk.

If you want to explore more of the workout, you can either build up to more and more of the DVD, or you can swap out different parts for other parts. For example, instead of starting like I describe, maybe just do a small bit of the beginning to kind of get in the flow of it and get some initial stretching, then skip *TO* that break I described after chair poses, and do that part instead of the warrior II, reverse warrior stuff.

DaveGlasnost

P.S. all this talk makes me wish tonight was Yoga X night -- too bad that was last night =(

kentlass

i HATE the yoga with a passion...i find it so boring...but i still do it anyways

you can always substitute yoga days for a cardio workout, or some other kind of stretch??

reepobob

I will throw in my two cents and keep it brief...

I am in Phase 3 with only 3 weeks from finishing. I hated Yoga-X when I started. I had no balance, I couldn't hold hardly any of the poses, my flexibility sucked, and it felt like a chore. I kept pushing play and as I went through the routine week in and week out, my balance has improved, my flexibility has improved, I recover quicker from the strength and conditioning workouts from earlier in the week and prepare better for ones to come.

It has gone from my most hated workout to my absolute favorite. I still struggle and I am in no way an all-star, but I am leaps and bounds better than when I started.

I firmly believe in Tony Horton's methods behind his madness. All routines in P90X are a puzzle and each routine complements and allows for overall improvement and I think Yoga-X ties all of them together.

I would just ask that you push through at least 2-3 more routines of Yoga-X...you might actually grow to love it like I did.

knewbill72

Do the Yoga. Bring it! I know there's a lot of folks saying its ok to sub it for something Easier. Yoga x brings you pain like you've neverfelt before so its natural to look for a way out. Look for a way in instead and you will appreciate what you will accomplish. It's only 90 minutes of your life and it brings a sweat like no other.

Hard Right.....Easy Wrong. All the best!

lwhippleintx

Last time I tried p90x yoga made me quit. It was rediculously too hard, I didn't enjoy it and couldn't devote 90 minutes to torture. I LOVE winsor Pilates though and will substitute her accelorated body sculpting DVD. Its an hour and its intense but its no where near as frustrating as yoga x :-) you can watch it free online

gingerveg

You can sub it, but if you stick with it you will get stronger. It also sounds like it might help you with the mind over body issues we all have. It is considered ashtanga yoga so it burns a bunch of calories too. P90x yoga was not my favorite kind (and I do yoga) but I pushed through it and by the end I was able to pretty much master every pose--since it was so long and challenging it was probably my biggest mental and physical accomplishment of the whole program.

ETA: and now you have officially made me miss the binding poses...I'm mostly doing hot yoga now and there really are no binds. So yeah I'm going to have to do the P90x yoga sometime soon. thanks for the reminder

bpotts44

First time I did it I quit the dvd and went for a 5 mile run and started insanity.

imfivebyfive

I've been doing yoga for about 10 years. Yoga is great because it conditions the body in ways no other exercise can and also reduces stress.

This is my favorite video and its a 60 minute workout.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Yoga-Total-Body-Workout/dp/B0000A2ZQE

ShannonECTD

My husband and i both hate the p90x yoga! It's WAY too long! What i had him do was my CLX recharge video a couple times in a row since its only about 20-30 minutes. It's got a lot of yoga poses and lots of stretching. He liked it a lot better, he's probably the least flexible guy on the planet so this was less repetitive and not nearly as long.

BobSassafrass

Like others have said, there is nothing wrong with subbing it for another cardio type dvd; eg: plyo, kenpo, cardio. I started p90x only doing the cardio dvds, once I felt good enough I moved on to the rest. Doing the cardiox dvd in particular really helped me get ready for the first bit of yogax.

I will agree that yogax is crazy difficult, but strength wise it only has a few really difficult spots that can be toned down or subbed with jogging in place. Such as the one leg superman kinda thing. The truly hard part is balance for me but I feel like there is no other way to really improve balance other than doing the yoga.

You should really try and go to some studio yoga classes, bikram is kinda situated the same in that you have half strength and have flexibility. Having a whole room of people, some of which are bound to be in worse shape than you, really helps to motivate.

Trueray

I took it out all together. I use that day as a rest day:)