Is yoga the only exercise you need?

Yogi_Carl

Interesting article, suggesting that a daily visit to the yoga mat is enough exercise to ensure strength, flexibility and aerobic capacity - maybe not to be a bodybuilder or long distance runner, but the article suggests that the majority of people do not need such extremes.

http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/739?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=editorspicks

I go for a run once or twice a week and do bodyweight exercises three times a week and do a kettlebell routine over the weekend. The remainder of my training is yoga; either at class or at home.

Of that I would drop the running first as I am currently using it as a weight reduction aid - I am not a natural runner and colleagues have to wait for me to catch up or I wave them on so I can run at my own pace. I feel more akin to body movement and strength work.

Interesting article though.

odonogc

I think a person could have a great physique and fitness level with just yoga! I only added pilates because I wanted my abs a little tighter.

Thanks for posting!

Pema10

Interesting article. Thanks for the link.
The yoga routines and practices can yield awesome fitness results.
So yes, if yoga practice can be the only "exercise" one needs.

abibt

I read this recently too - as someone who only does yoga (vinyasa, mind :-)) and a few brisks walks a week, I wondered about my overall cardio ftness. I was reassured, but also interested by the additional impact of breathwork and meditation, both of which have well researched health benefits, I think. I do very little of this, despite a feeling perhaps I 'ought' to. I feel fit and strong and slim on the current regime, and look more athletic than I ever have done. Food for thought though.

bassmanlarry

I've entertained the idea of making yoga my only exercise. I hardly do any cardio workout. My workouts focus mainly on calisthenics and yoga, though I'm having to lay off the yoga for just a bit after pulling my hamstring last week. Found out that I can't deliver a head high roundhouse kick anymore. :ohwell:

pkw58

I believe yoga is the only exercise you need - but I have gone to a combination of yoga,pilates, ballet and walking this past year. This year my goal is to up the walking to running three times a week (my goal is to obtain the heart healthy 10 minute mile) and to firm up my core.

I start each day with sun salutations and warrior poses. I believe that 10 minutes of yoga wakes my body and balance up. I do it while my coffee is brewing.

I have several friends that have been doing nothing but yoga and walking for years. They look and feel great. I anticipate that the longer I commit to my healthy lifestyle the more I will gravitate to yoga and walking as my only exercise.

Yogi_Carl

I have several friends that have been doing nothing but yoga and walking for years. They look and feel great. I anticipate that the longer I commit to my healthy lifestyle the more I will gravitate to yoga and walking as my only exercise.

Same here. The older (and wiser?) I get, the more I gravitate to body centred exercise rather than body versus machine or iron or unbelieveable odds!

My current activities are Yoga, bodyweight exercises and kettlebell. I also walk to work on several days and go for a countryside run once a week. I have been known to do the Insanity "Pure Cardio" occassionally - usually when my cardio is due and it is pouring with rain outside!

yogibella

Just like the article, I think it depends on your definition of "fitness". I absolutely believe that you can be get fit, healthy and strong by yoga alone and make improvements on them by challenging yourself. I know I can feel just great on yoga itself.

That being said though, I started cross-training this year and I find that it improved my yoga practice even more. It's like I started to do them just so that my yoga would improve! Of course just like any exercise, cross-training and balance would benefit your body & sport. Now I run. I feel as though I do yoga so that I can run and I run so that I can do yoga. Does that make sense? :laugh:

KombuchaCat

I currently do yoga and a combination of running and gym equipment (aka elliptical) for cardio. This article is quite interesting and I had thought about trying exclusively yoga before, especially now that I am doing some more advanced poses and can move faster. Maybe I'll try it for a month and see how it goes. For now, though, I still have quite a bit of extra weight I want to take off so I think my current mix of yoga and cardio is appropriate for my needs.

fitnessfromfreedom

Yoga isn't my only exercise but it was for a while, and I felt great about that choice - I think if you feel good about yourself and you don't have health complications then it's good to do walking/yoga as your primary exercise if you eat healthy as well as do this routine.