Do any of you....

JenL13

JenL13

Cathlete
Take the time to devote an entire "workout" to stretching? I have the Slim Series from Beach Body and the one workout is "Cool it Off" basically an hour of stretching and I have done it once in the 1 1/2 years I've owned that series. I mean I know the benefits of stretching and always do the cool down/stretch at the end of the workout but have never been able to convince myself to do more than that or purchase like Stretch Max from Cathe.

I know yoga/pilates, stretching, etc... is supposed to help give you a longer, leaner look but I have a hard time doing anything like that, I also have a hard time just "relaxing" and feel when I workout it should be cardio/weights, etc...

Can anyone tell me if you do these type of workouts and the benefits you see from them?

Thanks!
 
Jen,

YES!!! I do a yoga workout 1-2 times a week and if I am really sore I do stretching on my rest days for an hour. I am, like a lot of people, doing P90X right now. At first, yoga and stretching had really bored me. But now that I am improving on my stretches, I look forward to each and every yoga/stretching workout. I love it now. I find that I don't injure quite so easily, or actually not at all lately. I also find that stretching has greatly improved my workout performances all together.

I do find that I have benefited from doing this and now I will incorporate it in my workouts every single week after my rotation with P90X is done.

Hope that this helps a little.

Lea
 
I did yoga every Wednesday in place of weight training to realign my body after all of the intense weight training and cardio I did throughout the week. I just recently decided to replace it with additional weight training and my back hurts and I feel like I need to go to the chiropractor. Maybe I was smart with the yoga once a week but I think I'll keep the extra day of weights and do my yoga on my only rest day.
I have heard that Madonna only does intense yoga for her workouts and she looks awesome so there must be something to it.
Hope that helps,
Nicole

Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.
-Earl of Derby-
 
Yes, I do. I'm in my very late 40's and the older I get, the more important stretching is for my body.
Stretching greatly relieves joint pain especially in my knees and hips.
 
Yes, yes, yes!!! I, too, am doing P90X so I do 90 minutes of yoga once a week...and then I may add on another stretch on my day off...I can't tell you the amount of flexibility I have gained in just 6 weeks...I am amazed! This is something I will continue after finishing this program...I will add yoga to my weekly rotation and not feel guilty for skipping a cardio day!!!!

Debra

Bite off more than you can chew. Then chew it---Ella Williams
 
I have spinal/cervical "issues" and benefit greatly from "just stretching". There are days, and lately I have skipped way too many, that I simply stretch and love the way my body feels during the session. It is all about balance...cardio...strength...stretch/yoga.
 
Jen- Until my 40's I never did any lengthy stretching.... I am now a believer. My muscle tone "pops" more , I have ZERO injuries (knock on wood) and I seem to be a ble to lift heavier, jump higher, breathe easier in cardios.... I have my Yoga/Pilates day mid week but I always do a full hour (Slim Series, Stretch Max, Stretch X ) every 6-8 days. I think its a definite way to see overall fitness improve. Try doing it regilarly for about 6 weeks and you decide for yourself.
 
Well let me be the one dissenter..

Stretching/yoga is great for lengthening the muscle after a workout, to restore your *natural* flexability. It can also be great for balance(specifically if you have issues with this) and if you are doing body weight stuff, that may improve your strength some. But holding prolonged isometric stretches probably will not improve your fitness level. It may make you better at holding prolonged positions but beyond that, unless you are coming back from an injury, I don't see a need for anything beyond a relaxing stretch at the end of a workout. I've seen a LOT of women who want to be SUPER flexible and that is just their goal. I don't think that working beyond your natural flexability is beneficial at all. But then again, I don't buy into the need for pilates stuff either. I see a need for lumbar stabilization if you have back/core issues. Beyond that, I see no need for it (and I'm a certified pilates instructor). Also, you can't get a 'leaner' body from pilates. That's just a bunch of crap.

Now, pilates/yoga may be good for practicing deep breathing and gaining body awareness, but of course you can do that without all the poses and new agey music IMO.:)

Carolyn
 
I bought Cathe's Stretch Max to go along with the November 06 rotation. In that rotation she uses SM after running on the treadmill. Like you, I need to have a good workout and stretching just doesn't do it for me. However, for lighter days, I liked doing it as Cathe suggested, after a 20-45 min. run on the treadmill, followed by a stretch.

Terri
 
Yes, I do at least once a week. I'd like to add one more day of pilates/yoga stretch. I feel better mentally and physically after stretching. The more you do it the better you become at relaxing your mind and body. I spend about 30-45 min. doing yoga/pilates and always look forward to it. I don't count it as a workout. I look at it as a reward for working out, a little extra time for myself. It sounds like you need to find a workout that you won't mind devoting the time to stretching. Cathe's Stretch Max has 3 separate 20 min. segments that are very doable. Maybe you could try stretching 10 minutes a few nights a week before you go to bed and see how you feel. Hope this helps.

A friend in fitness,
Shirl:)
 
Thanks everyone for your advice....

I am 29 and naturally pretty flexible and have only injured myself once working out (pulled groin muscle) so doing the stretches at the end of the workouts is enough to keep me flexible, or at least as flexible as I need to be.

I did chip a disc in my lower back in 8th grade... doing backflips on a gym floor during basketball game. It was so painful but as long as I keep my abs & back strong it really doesn't bother me, only when I sit in one position for too long.

I have Great Body guaranteed DVD from Beach Body & one of those is a 10 min stretch, maybe I'll try to just add that twice a week and then maybe purchase Stretch Max, I think I could handle 20 minutes.

My muscles in my thighs/quads just seem to look stumpy to me and was hoping to find something that could give me a longer/leaner look.

Thanks again for all the great advice! :)
 
I pretty much agree with Carolyn, so she's not the Lone Ranger anymore. :)

I do some stretching after every workout, and sometimes I do 15-20 minutes more yoga-style stuff after a tough workout like Cathe's, that already included a brief stretch.

If I'm taking a day off, I may do some yoga just for circulation and variety, but it doesn't feel good to work cold muscles.

I don't think you can get lean and fit with just yoga and Pilates, although I think they are wonderful things to add to my general fitness program.

Liane
 
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