Strictly Yoga?

mandylooo

I am fairly time limited with the amount of exercise I can fit in and am finding myself getting torn between wanting to practice yoga six days a week (allowing a rest day) and doing cardio and weight training as well, which means dropping some of the yoga practice.

I just wondered how other people have resolved this. Does yoga fulfill all your exercise needs or do you do other work outs?

yoginimary

I do cardio but not weight training. I usually skip yoga one or two days a week, depending on my schedule - or I do a short practice - maybe 15 minutes. I walk almost everyday as well and bike occasionally.

DaveJ_43

I think variety is necessary, but I have gone through periods where I havent done a lot of yoga and I felt like my fitness suffered. I am also crunched for time so I try to balance it as follows: 1/3 yoga, 1/3 weights, 1/3 cardio. If I wasn't interested in bulding muscle mass, I'd do less weights and more yoga. Also, I have trouble sleeping and rather than lying in bed and worrying about [whatever], I get up and do some BONUS yoga - really great way to counterbalance the loss of sleep and get in more yoga. Win-win ~ Namaste!

it_be_asin

Could you squeeze in a tiny bit of yoga (15 min) on days you do other training?

yogibella

I guess it comes down to what your goals are. I was consistent with my practice last year, including completing 30-day challenges, taking more vigorous classes, and there is no doubt that I've gotten much stronger, flexible etc, but I did not loose as much fat as I liked to have. That's why I joined MFP--to keep tabs on my eating and to make my workouts more efficient. As mentioned in the other thread, I've decided to add more cardio to supplement my yoga this year. It's a different kind of sweat work and I'm hoping that it'll help not just with my physical fitness but with my yoga progress as well.

mandylooo

Thanks for all your replies. It is my goals I am torn on. I think maybe I'll stick with the mix of getting to the gym for some cardio and weights once or twice a week and see how I get on.

Elizabeth2point0

If you didn't feel you needed to lose fat, would you recommend yoga as the primary form of exercise?
This is what I'm trying to sort through right now.
I really enjoy yoga, I do not need to lose any weight, but I do want to gain some muscle, core strength and flexibility.. Weight training will only be a reality for about 40 minutes a day, 3 times per week with my schedule.. I'm just wondering if it's necessary to throw in things like Jillian Michaels, p90x, or other high intensity cardio based workouts..

I guess it comes down to what your goals are. I was consistent with my practice last year, including completing 30-day challenges, taking more vigorous classes, and there is no doubt that I've gotten much stronger, flexible etc, but I did not loose as much fat as I liked to have. That's why I joined MFP--to keep tabs on my eating and to make my workouts more efficient. As mentioned in the other thread, I've decided to add more cardio to supplement my yoga this year. It's a different kind of sweat work and I'm hoping that it'll help not just with my physical fitness but with my yoga progress as well.

jeffazi

Yoga is my first choice but I do other stuff too. I have several yoga DVD and several of them have a variety of different routines varying in intensity and length. Perhaps you could get one like this and just do a short 20 minute routine on the days you do other exercise.