Yoga?

wizzybeth
wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone take yoga? How has your health / well being improved? How often do you go? My gym offers weekly classes at various levels - a gentle yoga, yoga for stress relief, yoga for all levels, and a hot yoga class (and a couple others sprinkled in.) Each class is only once per week.

Since I've never done it before I'm going to start out with one class - probably the stress relief one since I have some friends who want to come with me. The other one I'm interested in is the very next morning (but none of my friends can go then) - would it be overkill to take yoga two days in a row?

I don't care if my friends can't go, but wondering if it will be of any real benefit to take a 5pm class then an 8:30 am class the next day. Only once per week seems infrequent. But then again, I know nothing of yoga other than, I want to be flexible and serene like them. :P

Replies

  • hermann341
    hermann341 Posts: 443 Member
    Unless it's power yoga (which is pretty strenuous) you can pretty much do it every day. I typically go 3 times a week for power yoga, to increase flexibility and core strength, both of which are good for my running.
  • sunnyogachick
    sunnyogachick Posts: 10
    answering questions about yoga are my favorite!

    I began yoga almost two years ago. I give full credit to where I am now on my weight loss to yoga. Is yoga the only thing I do? no. but it is what set my life on a new path. I highly suggest it for anyone and everyone. I think everyone can benefit from it. Mainly, yoga helped with lower back pains I was having, it strengthened my core, it gave me "leaner" looking limbs (I felt short and stubby before). Friends and family would even tell me I looked taller just because I stood up better due to my yoga practice. If you do power yoga, you will definitely get a great workout and use muscles you typically do not use. I really love yoga, but I think every person is different. Once you find an activity you enjoy, it will be fun to workout. For me, that was yoga. For you, it might be yoga or it might be one of the many many many other fitness activities out there. Like others above me said, it's all about being active and a healthy lifestyle.

    I do yoga several times a week, mostly power yoga. I do not think it's overkill to go back to back days. But just listen to your body and do what feels right to you. But yes, my health has improved SO much. I highly suggest yoga. and if you are looking to do yoga more for the weight loss aspect and not the spiritual/flexibility/ ease of mind, then hot or power vinyasa are probably best to burn the most calories.
  • yoginimary
    yoginimary Posts: 6,788 Member
    I do yoga everyday.

    The only problem with going to a class the next day is you might be sore. It will be a different kind of sore than you get from cardio or weights. My suggestion is this: if you go to the stress relief class, and it feels difficult for you, plan something else for the next day: walking, cross training, whatever; if it felt fairly easy, try the second class.

    Enjoy.
  • AtmaKing
    AtmaKing Posts: 145 Member
    Yes to Yoga, I prefer the Hot Yoga but I like to sweat.

    I've never sweated so much in my life standing in one spot! Love it.
  • Lachelleofthesea
    Lachelleofthesea Posts: 24 Member
    I do yoga everyday.

    The only problem with going to a class the next day is you might be sore. It will be a different kind of sore than you get from cardio or weights. My suggestion is this: if you go to the stress relief class, and it feels difficult for you, plan something else for the next day: walking, cross training, whatever; if it felt fairly easy, try the second class.

    Enjoy.

    I agree with this. Especially starting out, you may be sore and not want to go back to back days. It's something to work up to if the first class is more strenuous than you expected.
  • GillianMcK
    GillianMcK Posts: 401 Member
    I've started yoga to help with my running so I don't have time to do it on back to back days, however if I had the time, then yes I would, was quite sore after the first couple of classes with muscles stretching that don't normally stretch that far or for that long, but now I feel I could do it back to back if I had the opportunity.
    Wait and see how you feel after your first class, it might be something that you want to adapt to over a couple of weeks, I'm knackered after yoga!!
  • crazybookworm
    crazybookworm Posts: 779 Member
    I have a daily home Yoga practice, and I also go to classes about 3 times a week.

    I have to give credit to Yoga for my success on this journey. Yoga has taught me to listen to my body, to nurture it. It has given me the tools I need to truly take care of my body. Yoga has done so much more than make my body stronger. It has helped me manage stress, wind down, relax or boost myself up.

    I started practicing regularly about 2 years ago purely for the physical aspect(mostly power Yoga and Ashtanga). Now, the physical aspect is one of the last reasons why I practice!
  • Amitysk
    Amitysk Posts: 705 Member
    I've just started yoga too and I love it! I haven't been able to go more than once per week so far. I can't really comment on going back to back days. I agree with the other posters and suggest listening to your body. It will tell you if you can go back to back!

    Good luck!
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    Thank you everyone for the feedback!!! I am going to give it a go and see what happens...looking forward to it.
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    And I'm not really doing it for calorie burning as much as for gaining flexibility and de-stressing.

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