thoughts on yoga?

I say it's time to take a Yoga class. Be sure to keep track of how well you are learning the postures and techniques.

If your goal is to lose weight, yoga is the wrong way to go.
Yoga is to tone your body, strengthen your stability - physically and mentally, increase your flexibility, control breathing and a lot of people swear that it calms them down and decreases anxiety and stress levels.

I disagree with this... Yoga has helped with my flexibility and balance and core to such an extent that my aerobic exercises are easier (I hike, mountain climb and bike)... My endurance is better and my flexibility is off the charts...

I think it shouldn't be the ONLY thing you do to try to lose weight... But it can help

Pretty sure I said it increases flexibility............... but regardless, you cannot do yoga alone to lose weight. Simply impossible. It is not a cardio workout. It should be mixed in with cardio, weights, etc., and with a proper well-balanced diet.

I got caught up in all the "yoga hoopla" when I first started, i.e. went all organic/raw/vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, kombucha-drinkin'. People swore to me it would make me lose weight, clear my skin, help me sleep better, keep me energized, regulate my breathing. I definitely didn't lose weight from that alone. And that was hot yoga 4-5x a week, where you sweat 3 gallons and "burn" 1000 calories. In fact, I GAINED it because I was developing/building muscles I didn't know existed, ha!

Looking into yoga teacher training, and having friends that are yoga teachers, they have told me that yoga will not allow for successful weight loss.

Weight loss is 80% diet + 10% exercise and 10% genes.

If your goal is increase flexibility, tone your body and muscles, increase balance, increase stamina, control breathing and anxiety and stress levels, it is for you. If you want it to help get you in better shape for more cardio-esque exercise, it is for you.

Definitely try a beginners class and let the teacher know you are brand new. She will come over and help with postures and show you modifications, especially if you have injuries or whatever. I started with Bikram, my first class I threw up for 20 minutes post-90 minute class and swore it off to never go again. I now practise Moksha-style yoga (a take on Bikram), and go 3x a week now.

Just remember, it takes getting used to. I used to think people were judging me in the room because they were all so skinny and flexible. But then I remembered that at one point they started yoga, too. No student or teacher of yoga does a pose perfect; your pose is perfect in itself, whatever your capability and body allows for!

I used to think yoga was too slow and kind of boring. I love my spin classes and the pace was just too slow for me. However, I have learned to love yoga and incorporate it several times into my workout routines. I might not love it much while I am doing but I love how I feel afterward! :flowerforyou:
Just a word to the wise-do not apply hand lotion before doing yoga. The yoga mat will soon feel like a Slip and Slide!!:noway:

Yoga pants are hot

You're obviously referring to hatha yoga. You seriously can lose weight with kundalini. How do I know? I've done it! Kundalini has much more of a cardio spin.

If your goal is to lose weight, yoga is the wrong way to go.
Yoga is to tone your body, strengthen your stability - physically and mentally, increase your flexibility, control breathing and a lot of people swear that it calms them down and decreases anxiety and stress levels.

I disagree with this... Yoga has helped with my flexibility and balance and core to such an extent that my aerobic exercises are easier (I hike, mountain climb and bike)... My endurance is better and my flexibility is off the charts...

I think it shouldn't be the ONLY thing you do to try to lose weight... But it can help

Pretty sure I said it increases flexibility............... but regardless, you cannot do yoga alone to lose weight. Simply impossible. It is not a cardio workout. It should be mixed in with cardio, weights, etc., and with a proper well-balanced diet.

I got caught up in all the "yoga hoopla" when I first started, i.e. went all organic/raw/vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, kombucha-drinkin'. People swore to me it would make me lose weight, clear my skin, help me sleep better, keep me energized, regulate my breathing. I definitely didn't lose weight from that alone. And that was hot yoga 4-5x a week, where you sweat 3 gallons and "burn" 1000 calories. In fact, I GAINED it because I was developing/building muscles I didn't know existed, ha!

Looking into yoga teacher training, and having friends that are yoga teachers, they have told me that yoga will not allow for successful weight loss.

Weight loss is 80% diet + 10% exercise and 10% genes.

If your goal is increase flexibility, tone your body and muscles, increase balance, increase stamina, control breathing and anxiety and stress levels, it is for you. If you want it to help get you in better shape for more cardio-esque exercise, it is for you.

Definitely try a beginners class and let the teacher know you are brand new. She will come over and help with postures and show you modifications, especially if you have injuries or whatever. I started with Bikram, my first class I threw up for 20 minutes post-90 minute class and swore it off to never go again. I now practise Moksha-style yoga (a take on Bikram), and go 3x a week now.

Just remember, it takes getting used to. I used to think people were judging me in the room because they were all so skinny and flexible. But then I remembered that at one point they started yoga, too. No student or teacher of yoga does a pose perfect; your pose is perfect in itself, whatever your capability and body allows for!