benefits of yoga?

G

groundhog

Cathlete
Hey gals..just wondering if any of you do yoga as part of your fitness routine?? I dont want a athletic style, just a nice stretch to stretch out tight muscles, relax, relieve lower back pain,stiff neck. I've been to the chiropractor, without much relief, its getting to be a pain going 3-4x's a week. I'm looking for about a 30-40 minute tape, I dont have time to do more than that cuz I already do cathe 1-2 hours a day. Can you recommend any tapes?? Can you share the benefits you have seen since doing yoga?? Love to hear all your comments and suggestions... I always tell my hubby I felt like I slept in a shoe box all night..(haha)...just wanna loosen up the body some and get rid of some annoying discomforts:7 help:D
 
Good morning,

Yup, I just started doing Yoga once a week for 45 min at lunchtime and then on Sundays for an hour. Really tones your upper body and core, and increases flexibility. The Sunday workout especially (a Bryan Kest dvd) makes me work up a sweat. The other 6 days a week are all Cathe workouts.


Hope this helps.
Shopgirl
 
I've been doing yoga at a studio for seven months and I am in love! My foot is a mess and while I miss the lovely post-run endorphins, yoga has filled the void really well. I loved it best when I could do it along with running, but for a time that's not available to me. The type I do is very vigorous and I sweat like crazy. I love the minimalist aspect. You may be sitting in a twist not really looking like you are doing much at all and sweat will be trickling and muscles burning and limbs trembling. It gives the benfits of strength training and even offers the physiological benefits of cardiovascular training. And it's calming to boot. So whether you are adding it to your fitness regimen or embracing it totally as I have, it rocks. Here's an article about the total benefits: http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/739_1.cfm

Yoga journal has a lot of information about flexibility you may enjoy. Here's an article called What Science Can Tell Us About Flexibility: http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/209_1.cfm.

Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver
 
I've been doing yoga for flexibility & relaxation for several years. Recently started power yoga which I love.

I think Karen Voight's DVDs would give you the stretching type yoga you asked for. Like her pilates, she's put her own spin on yoga positions. The Sunday yoga stretch on "Sleek Physique" is wonderful & it has several other yoga options.

Also look at the BodyWisdom yoga DVDs like "Yoga for Inflexible People" or "Yoga for Athletes". These are unique in that you choose a premix that matches your needs. The premix is then a series of poses. The BodyWisdom DVDs that I have offer a range of levels & workout times. Only 1 exerciser with very detailed instructions from the voice only instructor. Plain set. So not for everyone.

I have yet to warm up to any of Rodney Yee's workouts (even before I learned of his questionable ethics). IMO, he does not cue well & you need great cueing when you're looking at your knees or the floor & can't see the screen. Note that he also has a "Yoga for Athletes" (probably the 1st).

I really enjoy the misnamed "Yoga for Weight Loss" with Suzanne Deason. It's a good starter workout but it doesn't have a single down dog which is one of my favorite positions for stretching out.

If you're looking for stretching, consider Tamilee Webb's stretching workouts. One is 3 10 minute workouts - standing, seated, & floor, & the 2nd is a 30 minute stretch. All are athletic stretch filmed outside in a nice tropical setting.

Debra
 
I've been doing yoga fairly regularly for about 3 years now. Among its many benefits, for me the main benefit is increased flexibility. I'm naturally pretty flexible but yoga has taken my flexibility to a whole new level. Other benefits I've seen have been improved core strength (which includes back) and increased upper body strength, particularly the triceps. I used to have lower back pain from time to time and that has completely disappeared. The feeling I have after a session is indescribably relaxing. I feel like a serene ball of goo.

The way I am currently including yoga in my rotations is by doing "full" (i.e., 60 min) power yoga sessions twice a "week." (My "week" is 9 days.) In addition, I sub a 15-20 min yoga stretch for Cathe stretches so that I'm doing some kind of yoga almost every day (which I've read is important to continue making progress).

I won't recommend any power yoga DVD's because you wanted something shorter and less athletic. I'll just list DVD's I use as add-ons to my Cathe strength/cardio workouts:

- YOGA FOR ENERGY (Rodney Yee) - 5 segments, none over 20 min

- YOGA CONDITIONING FOR ATHLETES (R. Yee) - 3 20 min segments, plus several other 5-10 minute segments geared toward specific sports

- SONIC YOGA TURBO FLOW (Jonathan Fields) - I don't care for this practice (it's lightening fast!) but the last segment, "Dissolve," makes a wonderful 10 min add-on. I use this the most.

- YOGA ZONE CONDITIONING AND STRESS RELEASE (Alan Finger) - I only do the neck/shoulder stretch segment and it never fails to loosen me up when I'm tense or have pain in that area.

There have been other similar threads here:

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?...ic_id=94942&mesg_id=94942&listing_type=search

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?...ic_id=86594&mesg_id=86594&listing_type=search

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?...ic_id=63371&mesg_id=63371&listing_type=search

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=61930&mesg_id=61930&page=

You might also want to do a search and/or post a similar question at Videofitness. There are tons of great reviews and threads about all kinds of yoga.

Good luck! If yoga doesn't click with you right away, try to hang with it for a few weeks. Many people find it awkward at first but then fall in love with it, especially after they get better at breathing.
 
thanks for all your wonderful input..I will look into all the links you have given me..thanks...I think I will give yoga a try...I bought the "yoga journal" magazine today, so I will read that for info also. I would Love to take a yoga class maybe too, I will have to see if I can find one (live out in sticks)..happy yoga to all!!:7
 
Hey Groundhog!! The benefits of hatha yoga are myriad and for many people go far beyond the physical benefits (which have been stated well here). If you are going to do yoga in a studio, I would caution you to be sure that it is something that will challenge you. Many fit people will go to a gentler yoga class and quickly pooh pooh all yoga. I started doing sivananda yoga 6 years ago (it will always have a special place in my heart) I have explored many branches of hatha yoga since then (Iyengar, kripalu, ashtanga, vinyasa) and found some to be a better fit than others. Yes, yoga has improved my strength and flexibility and chiseled some nice muscles but at the risk of sounding 'airy fairy' it has allowed me to more objectively see my true nature, I have learned about surrender and how to quiet the 'monkey mind', how to observe and not re-act to things that used to make me sad or angry or unsure. Yoga isn't for everyone but it literally changed my life and made me a better human being.:) Give it a fair shake and don't be surprised if you don't love it the first time, like most 'firsts' it may not be the best but you will always remember it.;)

Take Care
Laurie
 
endorphin junkie..what is hatha yoga, can you explain these terms to me?? I would not mind a "quite mind"..anyone who knows me will tell you I can literally think of 5 things at once at 55mph (haha..funny but true) I would love some mental clarity...I am trying to become a childrens author and really need to free my mind...it would help so much with my writing..the "brain fog" is hurting my writing..I hope you will come back and tell me more..thanks:7
 
I just wanted to comment that if you have chiropractic issues, yoga may help you to reduce or eliminate those visits. I have sciatica that acts up every so often and previously I went to the chiropractor. Now I make sure to do my "back care yoga" tape for a few days and it literally disappears. I also enjoy Yoga for Energy by Rodney Yee although I could do without his teeny bikini. I enjoy doing the whole tape in one session, about an hour but it also can be split up. (I think 5 segments) I always am so happy when I start up w/ my yoga stretches again that I wonder why I ever stopped. (so great after a long run on the treadmill) HTH :) /karen
 
Hey Groundhog: Hatha translates to 'sun and moon' and refers the union of yoga postures 'asanas' with regulation of breath 'pranayama'.
It's similar to what we do at the end of our workouts when we stretch, we inhale before we stretch for length and exhale as we deepen into stretches. The other terms, Sivanada, Iyengar and Kripalu are forms of yoga based on the teachings of that particular Guru, ie. B.K.S. Iyengar, H.H. Sri Swami Sivananda.....each form has it's own particular flavour. Vinyasa refers to yoga that flows without resting between poses and Ashtanga is what we have come to know as Power Yoga.
The quieting of the mind came months into my regular practise and even if I don't do yoga for a while, that discipline is something that I 'own', it doesn't recede like muscles do if I don't workout. Admittedly I am not consistently able to quietly meditate but I look at my yoga and fitness as active meditation, my attention is full engaged. Whenever I can I try to sit or lie quietly for a few minutes after I workout and 'come to the breath' taking time to observe internally and not let my attention wander with fleeting thoughts and generating more thoughts.
When I first discovered yoga I disliked final relaxation and fought hard against the urge to bail, with time it made more sense to me and didn't feel like wasted time, quite the opposite. We all know our fight or flight nervous system all too well but surprisingly few are well acquainted with the other side of it, our 'rest and digest' aspect of the nervous system. Our breath is our window into the rest and digest and for me yoga gave me the key to that window.
I love the language and feel of yoga and am naturally flexible so it was a good fit for me. When I discovered yoga I was grieving, not sleeping and my mind was racing 24/7, I really wasn't looking for a quiet mind but that was the gift yoga gave me. If you want to talk about this more, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]

Take Care
Laurie
 
Thanks Karen for the back tip.. will try it, not up to going to the chiro 3-4x's a week (pain in butt and time consuming) and they like to give you a guilt complex if you cant make an appointment (my experience, nothing against chiros on this forum) Who makes that tape?

endorphin junkie_ I too fight the relaxation factor, cant shut my brain off, you guys have sold me on yoga..gonna try it.. I will email after I try yoga and then when can chat..thanks for the info :7
 
Hi Groundhog,
The backcare yoga tape I use is by Rodney Yee. It would be great if someone could suggest another good backcare yoga workout. I was thinking of getting his newer one on dvd--I think it's got more stretches on it. When my back starts hurting, I start doing it and it usually takes me 2 or 3 sessions before it eliminates the pain totally b/c my muscles are so tight to start. If I've been doing it regularly then it takes only once. It literally puts my spine back into alignment, only more gently than the chiro. It's only 20 minutes long so you can tack it on to the end of your workout. And if I'm smart, I'll keep doing that at least 2 or 3x a week! Have a great day and HTH /karen :)
 
I have been doing yoga for about a year and I HAVE NOT been injured since I started adding just one time per week! I am a runner and a Cathe-er and have found that yoga has significantly helped with my balance and flexibility. I do power yoga which has more balance and strengthening exercises!
At first, I thought I was going to be bored and tired, but it is great! I love to move around all the time and that is why the power yoga is best for me - very challenging.

Try it!
 
karen..thanks for info on back tape...(back starting to bother me again..uggghhh!!! I think I messed up a muscle in my upper thigh/hip flexor too, I just keep breaking myself..haha..thanks for your suggestions. I will go shopping this weekend..just got a free intro DVD from yoga journal that i am gonna look at too..thanks girls!!
 
Hi Groundhog
So sorry about your poor back. My back is so much better today which I realized has totally changed my mood--I was really getting depressed, I guess from that constant ache. I want to preface my next comment by telling you I do Cathe workouts mainly, b/c I love the intensity of her workouts. However, when I do have back pain, in addition to doing those yoga tapes, I have also found that those TLP workouts by Tracey Long have helped me so much. I don't know exactly why but when I finish her workouts I have absolutely no back pain--the movements concentrate on "functional fitness" and on strengthening your core muscles which help support your trunk, including your back. Anyway, HTH. take care and hope your back is better soon!/karen
 
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