Yoga - Might Give it a Try

Wookinpanub
Wookinpanub Posts: 635 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I keep going back and forth on whether to take the dive into Yoga. Probably hot yoga.

Pros: Hot chicks in tight outfits in funky positions, I really enjoy working out in hot temps, want to increase flexibility as I get very tight by the end of the day, additional workout

Cons: I am not very limber, seems intimidating, extra cost, I hate stretching

Any advice?

Replies

  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Do it.

    Pros: Hot chicks in funky positions. Lululemon. Feeling good.
    Cons: You might sweat. Funky positions can be funky. You might come dangerously close to what we call feelings.

    I do it to help me work with some ROM stuff for lifting. I really need to open my shoulders and chest up, and it's pretty damn helpful. So it the balance aspect.
  • jpapp13
    jpapp13 Posts: 73 Member
    Only advice is to try various versions of yoga to find one that works for you.
    I started with Bikram yoga but find Heated Vinayasa (flow) Yoga more of a challenge as depending on the studio the poses / method will vary. Bikram is hard at first with adjusting to the heat so I suggest being by a door or window at first if you go that route and don't feel bad about sitting a few poses out .. also hydrate!
  • futuremanda
    futuremanda Posts: 816 Member
    Re: Your Cons.

    Yoga is awesome for people who are not very limber. That's where you get the benefit, yeah?

    Cost. Classes are great for a variety of reasons, but there are also some amazing free vids available on YouTube if you decide you can't swing the cost. I also recommend practicing outside of your classes, especially if your class is infrequent. Since you list being tight, even searching for bedtime or morning routines (which won't be too strength intensive, will focus more on flexibility/relaxation or feeling energized, respectively) to fit in some short extra sessions will help.

    Yoga isn't really stretching... it improves flexibility, but it is not the same as stretching. See #1:

    http://breakingmuscle.com/yoga/increase-strength-by-integrating-yoga-10-essential-postures-for-strength-athletes

    Intimidating. You don't really say why you're intimidated, but I'd point out that yoga is actually about learning more about YOUR body, like where you are tight today, where you have asymmetries or limited motion, where you maybe have pain or weakness, and addressing it. It isn't actually about achieving perfection in a pose, at all. Many poses take people *years* to "perfect", and the journey is about, like I said, things like correcting limited mobility and building strength. For example, I can't put my heels on the ground during downward dog... this is in no way supposed to prevent me from doing it, and is an excellent reason TO do it.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    yeah, that heated vinyasa is a rough grind. Works those shoulders though when trying to stabilize a downward dog and your hands are sitting in actual puddles of sweat. lol.
  • Wookinpanub
    Wookinpanub Posts: 635 Member
    Intimidating. You don't really say why you're intimidated,

    I am a noob and it seems like complex positions. I am tall with a high center of gravity and the poses seem like they will be a real challenge for me compared to smaller, shorter ladies in the class. Just like gymnastics is not meant for tall people.

    I also tried the p90x session 1 which is core and really struggled. Of course that is when I was heavier.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I am a noob and it seems like complex positions. I am tall with a high center of gravity and the poses seem like they will be a real challenge for me compared to smaller, shorter ladies in the class. Just like gymnastics is not meant for tall people.

    Take your time, a decent teacher will help coach you into it with manual adjustment where required. It does take time to get to a full extension in some asanas.

    I'm 6ft1 and don't generally have problems, although some of the single foot balances did take time to learn and relax with.
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    It's definitely worth it. I was doing it once a week for a while and am going to start up again this week. I suck at it, but that's why it's worth doing.
  • futuremanda
    futuremanda Posts: 816 Member
    Ha! This amuses me because I'm fairly short and I have a short torso (I am almost entirely hip then ribs). I'm routinely messing up my shapes because I'm trying to copy taller people -- I just realized last week that I wasn't doing tabletop correctly, I was making a diagonal shape with my thighs (rather than pelvis over knees), trying to create space. My real tabletop is such a tiny shape compared to my instructor's. I also have trouble with runner's lunge, as I can't reach the floor with my fingers AND push my shoulders back and down.

    I think lots of very tall people do yoga, along with 85 year-old women, people with severe physical issues, small children, etc.

    Then again, if you're aiming already for the upper level stuff, and viewing it competitively, then I'd suggest reading up on it more, or trying something else. It really isn't supposed to be about achieving pretzel-y poses, at least not for years. Maybe you're eyeing a class that is too advanced?

    Example: Tabletop (hands and knees) is actually about so many things to get integrity in the position, beyond just being in it, and aligned, despite how simple and easy it looks. This is not a thing anyone will tell you in an advanced class, and you will try something hard with really poor foundations, which is dangerous and will hinder you.
  • SomeNights246
    SomeNights246 Posts: 807 Member
    No one is good at yoga when they start. I had someone once find out that I do yoga and he said he would but he wasn't flexible. I laughed. Nor was I when I started. I can't even begin to tell you how long it took for me to be able to correctly do a downward dog. Even bending like that felt strange. In the beginning. Now, it's easy.

    So, I wouldn't worry about not being limber. Most of us aren't when we start. That's kind of why you do yoga.

    ETA: If cost is a problem, you could try some at home routines. It's not as effective without someone showing you how to properly do a stance, but you get the hang of it if you watch videos or utilize decent apps (such as the daily yoga).
  • 52cardpickup
    52cardpickup Posts: 379 Member
    Sworkit (free app) has some excellent yoga sequences that you can follow along with.

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