Yoga - Yes or No?

I do a yoga video once or twice a week... During and immediately after, I feel totally relaxed. The first few sessions made my muscles a little sore, but I think I was trying to push my body past its flexibility limits.

If you don't want to invest money in a DVD or class, check out Namaste Yoga with Dr. Melissa West on YouTube... She has a really great set of beginner videos.

I do yoga occasionally and have for years. I love it and wish I could do it more often because it just makes me feel good and relaxed. I don't do it much though because I'd rather spend my exercise time on something that will give me different results (more intense strength training and cardio). It's great for you and can definitely help with some strength and flexibility though.

I took a yoga class at college for a term, and I must admit I LOVED it. I still practice, but due to my schedule, not very frequently (just the sun salutation every once in a while mixed in with random sequences I make up whenever I'm feeling particularly stressed). I highly recommend yoga to anybody- even if you aren't flexible- but I must warn you... There are a LOT of styles of yoga. Hatha yoga, what I do most of the time, is pretty low-key. I find it much more meditative, which is why I practice. It's slower and focuses more on holding the pose rather than powering through the poses. Ashtanga yoga and I don't get along as well, but for some it's even more peaceful. It's faster-paced and really breath-focused. I typically do my sun salutations as ashtanga. Then you get into stuff like bikram which is totally not my cup of tea.

That being said, just because you don't like hatha doesn't mean you won't like ashtanga- try out all the types before you decide whether or not you like yoga.

Another thing- I went in to yoga believing it to be flexibility-based. At the time I took yoga, I was also taking weight training and a cardio course and thought I had all of my bases covered. Uhm, no! Doing a yoga class is NOT a replacement for stretching after going to the gym. Don't think you're going to just be stretching out your muscles. You will, yes, but a LOT of yoga is actually isometric strength building. That doesn't mean it replaces weight-lifting either... it's just, well, more holistic.

I find yoga is incredibly relaxing and has increased my flexibility significantly. I now can put my palms on the floor from the standing position with my knees together, which I find pretty impressive. Unless you're doing a yoga based workout, I would not count on it to have any direct weightloss benefit (although stress reduction can aid weightloss.) I just wouldn't track it to add to my calorie deficit or anything.

I seem to get tight limbs A LOT! Yoga really helps me feel loose. It also cracks those hard to crack places haha. Its very relaxing if you can find quiet time to do it. Id say do it!!

I love doing yoga, and it is the perfect exercise for my current issues.

I have fibromyalgia and bad ankles and arthritis in one foot, so weightbearing exercises are right out as is serious cardio. Yoga helps with the stiffness and deconditioning of the fibro without exhausting me, and increases my strength and flexibility and kinesthetic sense, which due to my autism spectrum issues was somewhat lacking. I am not working to anyone's pace but mine, I am not doing what I can't do yet, and while I have a pose that I'd love to be able to pull off and hold for a solid minute, it forms a nice athletic goal that I can work towards every time I do hip opener poses and sitting poses.

If I could afford it, I'd also do some weight training at a gym, but that's not an option for me.

I do yoga as part of my workout just about every night. Some moves I either have to adjust though, like downward dog, so the blood doesn't rush to my head, or avoid altogether where I have epilepsy. However, I feel really relaxed when I do it and it's helped me greatly. I do it as the last part of my workout to help me relax. So far so good!!!

I've done the Yoga workout with P90X. Very humbling. I can sum it up in 7 words - Yoga is hard for a fat man!

I do yoga about once a week (sometimes less depending on my schedule). I absolutely love it! I've noticed that when I have pain in my back/shoulders/hips and feel out of alignment, or if I'm stiff from running, yoga balances out my body, warms up my muscles, and stretches me out, leaving me feeling awesome! It also works muscles all over, and strengthens the core.

I go to yoga classes, and my teacher is awesome. He's fun, funny, and knowledgeable.

Make sure that you're using proper technique and alignment, and that you're not pushing yourself to do things you're not ready to do yet, and you'll enjoy great benefits!