Yoga alternative?

Hi :)
I am involved in a challenge right now that requires flexability and balance work but for personal reasons i cannot do yoga. Are there any good alternatives that are good for the flexability and balance work?
Thanks so much for anyone who replies!!
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Replies

  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Pilates
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Aqua fit
  • minniestar55
    minniestar55 Posts: 350 Member
    Pilates is good, particularly Pilates reformer.
  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    I haven't used it (yet), but Classical Stretch is a program I've heard rave reviews about. Some of the videos are available on YouTube, and the DVDs are on Amazon.
  • scottish_laura_13
    scottish_laura_13 Posts: 69 Member
    pilates and tai chi
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    ballet
  • ChelleBelle2708
    ChelleBelle2708 Posts: 131 Member
    Total Barre - its a mix of ballet and Pilates
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    "but for personal reasons i cannot do yoga" Without knowing the reasons you can not do yoga, it is difficult to recommend an alternative exercise. It would not be known if the reason you can't do yoga would also prevent you from doing Pilates, Barre, ballet et al.

    General stretching for flexibility and doing your regular exercise one legged (alternating, of course) for balance?
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Bosu is good for balance.

    youtube.com/watch?v=Z4tSR8IzC2o&list=PL6zNLg6sZg76ycf29mx_mhEyQFLyL1olH

    There are athletic stretching videos out there.
    Some here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLe5P3ayTEj7YUmoPq-D8jpkIY6Fe9TzLZ
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    pondee629 wrote: »
    "but for personal reasons i cannot do yoga" Without knowing the reasons you can not do yoga, it is difficult to recommend an alternative exercise. It would not be known if the reason you can't do yoga would also prevent you from doing Pilates, Barre, ballet et al.

    General stretching for flexibility and doing your regular exercise one legged (alternating, of course) for balance?

    This.
  • star1407
    star1407 Posts: 588 Member
    Am I right in thinking the reasons are a clash of your religious beliefs and yoga's spiritual aspect?
  • seabeegirl81
    seabeegirl81 Posts: 131 Member
    star1407 wrote: »
    Am I right in thinking the reasons are a clash of your religious beliefs and yoga's spiritual aspect?

    Yes after doing research i realized the two would clash which is unfortunate
  • seabeegirl81
    seabeegirl81 Posts: 131 Member
    Thank you so much for all the helpful hints :)
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    i do all my yoga type stretching using the TRX. I hate yoga i think its so boring and i can never get a deep enough stretch
  • breestopher806
    breestopher806 Posts: 8 Member
    Ddp yoga!! :)
  • HeatherCarnes76
    HeatherCarnes76 Posts: 52 Member
    PraiseMoves. It is a Christian alternative to yoga. I'm not sure if this will help either. Just another idea.
  • seabeegirl81
    seabeegirl81 Posts: 131 Member
    PraiseMoves. It is a Christian alternative to yoga. I'm not sure if this will help either. Just another idea.

    Thank you so much!!
  • star1407
    star1407 Posts: 588 Member
    Pilates would be a good alternative too, no spiritual aspect. Just focuses on stretches and strengthening the core muscles. Have you not got anyone at your church that runs a fitness class? Usually the church halls have classes don't they?
  • star1407
    star1407 Posts: 588 Member
    http://www.wholyfit.com/
    http://praisemoves.com/
    http://www.christianyoga.com
    Honestly I can't tell you if these are any good, just what I found doing a Google search
  • angelexperiment
    angelexperiment Posts: 1,917 Member
    Tai chi.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    edited February 2016
    star1407 wrote: »
    Am I right in thinking the reasons are a clash of your religious beliefs and yoga's spiritual aspect?

    Yes after doing research i realized the two would clash which is unfortunate

    But you don't have to follow any of yoga's spiritual aspects - both the Daily Yoga app and most classes I've taken are empty of any religious or spiritual elements. It's just exercise.
  • star1407
    star1407 Posts: 588 Member
    I think tai chi clashes with Christianity
  • star1407
    star1407 Posts: 588 Member
    star1407 wrote: »
    Am I right in thinking the reasons are a clash of your religious beliefs and yoga's spiritual aspect?

    Yes after doing research i realized the two would clash which is unfortunate

    But you don't have to follow any of yoga's spiritual aspects - both the Daily Yoga app and most classes I've taken are empty of any religious or spiritual elements. It's just exercise.

    It's forbidden in Christianity, quite a big deal apparently. One of my friends is what I call hard core Christian. I'm a pagan, we have some interesting discussions lol
  • ZoeLifts
    ZoeLifts Posts: 10,347 Member
    star1407 wrote: »
    star1407 wrote: »
    Am I right in thinking the reasons are a clash of your religious beliefs and yoga's spiritual aspect?

    Yes after doing research i realized the two would clash which is unfortunate

    But you don't have to follow any of yoga's spiritual aspects - both the Daily Yoga app and most classes I've taken are empty of any religious or spiritual elements. It's just exercise.

    It's forbidden in Christianity, quite a big deal apparently. One of my friends is what I call hard core Christian. I'm a pagan, we have some interesting discussions lol

    I'm sorry, but no. Yoga is not forbidden in Christianity. Yoga is perhaps forbidden by legalists that think they have to check off certain things off of their list in order to follow the "rules", but it is not forbidden.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    star1407 wrote: »
    star1407 wrote: »
    Am I right in thinking the reasons are a clash of your religious beliefs and yoga's spiritual aspect?

    Yes after doing research i realized the two would clash which is unfortunate

    But you don't have to follow any of yoga's spiritual aspects - both the Daily Yoga app and most classes I've taken are empty of any religious or spiritual elements. It's just exercise.

    It's forbidden in Christianity, quite a big deal apparently. One of my friends is what I call hard core Christian. I'm a pagan, we have some interesting discussions lol

    Nope. Sorry, it is not - that might be some radical interpretation but no, it isn't forbidden in Christianity.
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    star1407 wrote: »
    Am I right in thinking the reasons are a clash of your religious beliefs and yoga's spiritual aspect?

    Yes after doing research i realized the two would clash which is unfortunate

    If you're not subscribing to the whole thought process, isn't it just a new way to move your body? You don't have to go to a class and chant or participate in learning about Chakra. If I do a yoga pose in my living room, it's not anything but a stretch right?
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,186 Member
    Oh dear I am a heck of a sinner! The things that I learn in MFP!!!
    I never knew that yoga and Christianity are at odds with each other. What exercise has to do with religion?
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    edited February 2016
    star1407 wrote: »
    star1407 wrote: »
    Am I right in thinking the reasons are a clash of your religious beliefs and yoga's spiritual aspect?

    Yes after doing research i realized the two would clash which is unfortunate

    But you don't have to follow any of yoga's spiritual aspects - both the Daily Yoga app and most classes I've taken are empty of any religious or spiritual elements. It's just exercise.

    It's forbidden in Christianity, quite a big deal apparently. One of my friends is what I call hard core Christian. I'm a pagan, we have some interesting discussions lol

    My pastor has never told me that doing yoga is a problem. Now, maybe it's just never come up, but I don't feel a certain kind of way about doing it. I'm not saying that some pastors don't warn against it, but I personally have never felt like yoga was leading me away from Christ. But OP, you know what's best for you. You know your spiritual life. So if you don't want yoga, just try regular stretching or pilates.
  • star1407
    star1407 Posts: 588 Member
    I shouldn't have said forbidden, strongly encouraged not to would be more accurate. This explains it, like I said I'm not Christian myself, just learned a lot from my devout Christian friend
    https://carm.org/should-christians-practice-yoga