What is your opinion on Yoga?

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Replies

  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    <
    This is me heading off to bikram (Hot Yoga) this morning. I love it. I also find time for other form of exercise but I would not stop going to yoga classes because it has done wonders for my body and mental health.

    Cara4, you look great!

    And yeah, if you leave any form of exercise with a smile on your face, I think you're doing it right. :smile:
  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 962 Member
    I liked yoga. It is quite challenging for me. I remember every week the instructor would tell me to straighten out my arms/elbows, but I can't because they are actually under-extended.

    Wow!!! My husband is the only other person I've ever heard of with this issue - and he's in the military where they expect straight-arm marching, so you can imagine his struggles. lol



    Sometimes I'll do a yoga class the day between lifting, or on a week when I'm not doing a lot of hard exercise. There is a Vinyasa Flow yoga class here on the base, and it is definitely a workout. (heart rate gets up around 150!) Or I'll do some of the yoga poses on the Wii as an evening chill-out. I don't get into the "spiritual" aspect of it - for me, it's purely a form of exercise.
  • trilvr
    trilvr Posts: 22
    love Yoga, do it at least once per week to make me stretch!! also great core work.
  • petersoncl
    petersoncl Posts: 54
    I saw Sting and the only exercise he and his wife does is yoga. I would love to look like them, have their flexability, and strength. They look amazing.
  • Rayman79
    Rayman79 Posts: 2,009 Member
    yoga2.jpg

    Sorry for being off topic here, but is there any way you can get me this womans phone number?? :laugh:
  • tbresina
    tbresina Posts: 558 Member
    I honestly have to say I would never give up yoga, it not only keeps you limber but it is so good for quieting the mind. We live in a fast paced world full of distractions- cell phones, computers etc etc etc. My 1 hr twice a week of yoga makes me stop, breathe, concentrate on the inner workings of my body. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the simple fact of just breathing in and out and quieting our mind, exercise does that. I don't feel it is a ton of cardio, although I sometimes get pretty hot depending on the moves but it does so much more for the psyche!
  • OSC_ESD
    OSC_ESD Posts: 752 Member
    Yoga is excellent for building core strength ... it not only relaxes your entire body, but it induces positive energy to create entire well being. Some of the most " fit " people I know are all regular " Yoga " enthusiasts ... I personally love it and find the " Plank " to be one of the BEST core workouts imaginable. It is true you will lose weight with a healthy lifestyle while doing Yoga ... But it would not be my only choice of workouts. I consider my " stretching " behind my strength .... and my building of balance and calmness that every person should experience.

    With that being said ... If you can fit one or two classes in a week and then do cardio / weights on other days ... that would be a good mix and targeting of all groups of muscles.

    Just my opinion .. there will be fans and there will dictators ... but the fact is you have to find what you love and what you'll gain the most benefits from doing. Best of luck ! :smile:
  • bluetiger
    bluetiger Posts: 18 Member
    Before I started MFP, I did Bikram yoga for a month and lost 30 lbs. It was the ONLY exercise I did, because I hate exercising. The first class I was hot, sweaty, muscles burning, couldn't do half the poses, and cursing the instructor in my head nonstop :mad: . But after a few days, I realized that I felt great and I was sleeping better. So I went back the next week. Now I go 3-4 times a week and am really, really addicted. I would go every day if I had the chance, but my work schedule prevents it.
    You have to find a type of yoga that is right for you. Yes, there are the relaxing, breathing postures and then there are the oh-my-god-I-can't-feel-my-legs-anymore poses. I am a firm believer in bikram yoga for strength training. :bigsmile:
  • bluebird321
    bluebird321 Posts: 733 Member
    It depends on your situation or what you want. I do Bikram Yoga (hot yoga) because the poses are relatively easy and don't exacerbate old injuries -- most of the resistance is put on the joints that were meant to bear your body weight. There are other forms of yoga that will work your upper-body quite a bit.

    Even if I didn't have injuries i would still find a way to work Bikram Yoga into my fitness program.
  • Danhra
    Danhra Posts: 77
    Thanks for all the input!
    You all made very convincing points. I am going to give it a go. I'm looking forward to it :)
  • RenCara
    RenCara Posts: 300 Member
    <
    This is me heading off to bikram (Hot Yoga) this morning. I love it. I also find time for other form of exercise but I would not stop going to yoga classes because it has done wonders for my body and mental health.

    Cara4, you look great!

    And yeah, if you leave any form of exercise with a smile on your face, I think you're doing it right. :smile:



    Thank you very much! (BTW... I changed my photo... I do not go to yoga in a red dress :laugh: )
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Oh and dropkick anyone who tells you it's "relaxing." Unless you've been doing it for years to the point where it's easy for you, it will not be relaxing.

    Sorry but I disagree.. I find the Yoga class I take(Hatha/Vinyasa flow) to be very relaxing.. Esp with my teacher. The reason why I find it so relaxing is because we focus on our breathing, and are constantly reminded that it is about us and no one else... and that we should go at our own pace. So it's easy to zone with those thoughts going through your head.

    To OP:
    I just started yoga, but I'm loving it already. I try to take a class once a week but I may bump it up to twice a week if I have time :)
    I also lift weights at least twice a week, and do cardio on other days... so it's not really a toning workout for me per say.. more of a relaxing, stress reliving workout.
  • BenderFitness
    BenderFitness Posts: 349
    I teach yoga. It's fantastic for toning, it just depends on the style of yoga you are doing. Hatha and Ashtanga are ussually fairly high intensity with plenty of toning, and still have a cardio aspect. Power yoga is def high intensity. You can also look into yoga/fitness fusions. To be honest a lot depends on the instructor. When I do yoga I am ussually dripping sweat by the end, as are the people I teach.

    Prior to teaching yoga I had gotten away from it, and was spending all of my workouts running. Although I dropped my bodyfat percentage I didn't have the tone and shape I wanted. Once I started doing yoga again I started to get that back, and my hubby said I had never been in better shape in my life. Since then I started creating workouts that use a lot of yoga moves, along with fitness, strength training, and intervals and I think I have toned up even more.

    Anyway, that's my opinion on yoga. Hope it helps. :)
  • RenCara
    RenCara Posts: 300 Member
    Thanks for all the input!
    You all made very convincing points. I am going to give it a go. I'm looking forward to it :)


    I am glad to hear this. I hope you enjoy it and benefit from it as much as I have.
  • zeeeb
    zeeeb Posts: 805 Member
    yoga is awesome for everything, mind, body.

    i'm sorry, but people who find it easy aren't doing it right. doing a beginners class is one thing, but it should always be able to challenge you. even a beginners class.

    i've done yoga for years. and the instructor at my gym, my god, if you could see her muscles. when she does a headstand for example, there are about 50 little tiny micro muscles down her ribs that i didn't even know existed until i saw her do a headstand. it's INSANE!

    i work up a sweat in her classes. and i get muscle soreness from the strength work.

    if yoga is just for meditation, why does it seem that most of the people who regularly do yoga and instructors have fabulous bodies?

    one of my instructors from years ago was 86 years of age, and would still pull headstands no problem, she was actually the first instructor who ever taught me to do a headstand, and told me to just have a go... she slept 3 hours a night and was in the best shape i've ever seen for an 86 year old.

    i like to go to the gym say 4 times a week, and once would be a yoga class. you can do the same positions for a decade and still be challenged by them and still be working on improving your form.
  • MizSaz
    MizSaz Posts: 445 Member
    Yoga is how I start and end my exercise routine every day. It's the best way I've found to get my head and my body in the same place.
  • bevskiwolf
    bevskiwolf Posts: 296 Member
    I have been doing some wonderful challenging Yoga work outs on www.gainfitness.com

    Go to QUICK WORKOUT (up top) then choose the Yoga and the time and the level.

    Love it.

    Also the Strength work outs have been amazing. Love that site!

    ♥enjoy♥

    xxoxoo
    Bevy
  • mummyv811
    mummyv811 Posts: 237
    I have been doing some wonderful challenging Yoga work outs on www.gainfitness.com

    Go to QUICK WORKOUT (up top) then choose the Yoga and the time and the level.

    Love it.

    Also the Strength work outs have been amazing. Love that site!

    ♥enjoy♥

    xxoxoo
    Bevy

    Just checked out this site and looks incredible! Can't wait to try it! :)
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