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Old 08-18-2003, 08:15 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Yoga?

I've been thinking about starting up yoga classes. I don't work out now, and I'm not a huge fan of it. But I think yoga will be better than lifting weights or a bike for me.

Has anyone done yoga? See any benefits?

A little background.... I'm 25, female, not fat or anything. Could just stand to get a bit more lean.

Thanks for any info
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Old 08-18-2003, 09:57 AM   #2 (permalink)
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I injured my back 6 years ago and after a year of temporary relief at the chiropractor 3x/week I tried yoga. In 1 week of yoga at home out of a book I was told by the chiro. to come back in 1 week. Next visit come in a month, after that visit come back for quarterly check ups. To this day I get sore only if I skip yoga for 2 weeks or so, so I keep up a very rudimentary program of sun salutations, which is supposed to be a warmup, but it works so well I've never gone on to learn more. Did I mention I was impressed with yoga? Hehe.
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Old 08-18-2003, 10:35 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Have you gotten toned from doing yoga?

I basicaly want to tone my legs, arms and stomach (of course)

I've heard yoga will help this out a lot.
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Old 08-18-2003, 11:22 AM   #4 (permalink)
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My wife is a yoga instructor and I asked her...she says that the practice of yoga will benefit you physically but the mental and emotional impact will be even greater. She doesn't like to weight triain, run or anything else [she does swim] and she [and her students] are all in very good shape.

BTW, i don't do it so I can't answer for me... I like to lift and run and only have so many hours in a day...lol
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Old 08-18-2003, 11:42 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Everyone I know who does at least a couple of classes a week (5-6 friends) is in very good shape while retaining their individual traits/ body types. Long muscle bodies with lean shape is the general result. I have yet to see any freaky bodies, as can happen with weight training done improperly. Get a good instructor if you can to protect your lower back especially. Poor form can lead to injury over time. I haven't hurt myself following a book, but I don't do it a lot and I hear self-instruction is improper practice, especially considering the internal/ spiritual development that is crucial to real yoga. Oh yeah- I have gotten good tone despite my half-hearted use of a great system. I use it also as an adjuct to my sitting practice. As JohnnyRock points out, only so many hours per day. Priorities..My mind needs more attention than my body, although yoga is great mindfullness meditation. I read Yoga is entymologically linked to our word yoke (as in oxen pulling a plow;mind as driver, body as oxen, working as one)

Last edited by skinbag; 08-18-2003 at 11:50 AM..
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Old 08-20-2003, 04:34 AM   #6 (permalink)
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i´ve been doing yoga for a little while now. and i LOVE it.
if you´re after stomach and leg work, then definitely try yoga...
aside from the mental benefits, yoga is great for balance... and that means a lot of work on your stomach and legs.

i just can´t recommend yoga enough. its great.
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Old 08-20-2003, 06:10 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Yoga v Pilates

pilates are similar to yoga, right? has anyone out there done both? i truly enjoy yoga, but i have friends that do pilates and my girlfriend has heard great things about it.

are they different? would i want to add parts of a pilates routine to my yoga? or are they exclusive of eachother?

obviously, yoga also includes meditation and isn't just working out, but i'm speaking strictly of the differences in poses/routine.
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Old 08-20-2003, 09:22 AM   #8 (permalink)
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That's exactly what I want, bundy. Stomach and legs. And arms a little, but I have little dumbells for that.
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Old 08-20-2003, 10:21 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Averett, in addition to Yoga you might want to try Pilates exercises. You can probably go to the library and see about borrowing or having them interlibrary loan books/videos on the subject. It's a strength/flexibility training program that's got a lot in common with Yoga.

Very good stuff if you want to stay in shape and work your legs, abs and arms.
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Old 08-20-2003, 12:11 PM   #10 (permalink)
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I want to second the vote of the guy who talked about yoga's benefits for the back. For close to 20 years I had a hinky back that required regular trips to the chiropractor. Even then I would get at least one prolonged (1-2 week) back attack per year. The sort of thing that gets you walking sideways, like a crab.

Anyway, since I started doing yoga four years ago I have not had any serious back attacks nor do I visit the chirorpractor much. Occasionally, maybe every 18 months, my back will get just the tiniest bit flaky; I'll visit the chiro once, take it easy for a day or two, do yoga, and it's all over in three days.

I do yoga with a bunch of guys ranging in age from 45 to 72, and we mostly do it for the stretching and the relaxation (hatha yoga). It really does straighten your head out.

I have no doubt that enough yoga would strengthen your back, your abs, and your hamstrings especially. But for great results, you'd probably have to put in as much time as you would in some alternate exercise: on the order of an hour or more per day.
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Old 08-20-2003, 01:00 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Yoga and Pilates are not the same, but they are similar enough so that the workouts can be integrated. Yoga is more a stretching, flexibility, and relaxation routine for the whole body, while Pilates focuses more on strengthening your core. Joseph Pilates invented the movements as training for injured soldiers during the Second World War, and the idea is that you use your own body as resistance and strengthen your muscles. I like Pilates because I can do them even when my back is bothering me, and I find that they help my posture and flexibility.

If you'd like to try a combination of yoga and Pilates (always capitalized), try some of Jennifer Kries's instructional videos, which also include moves from ballet. You can read Kries's book as well, and I'd also recommend The Pilates Body by Brooke Siler and/or The Pilates Powerhouse by Mari Windsor.
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Old 05-13-2004, 09:42 AM   #12 (permalink)
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New to Yoga

I have been wanting to try yoga for quite some time now. I have been doing some reading on it, and I think it would help me mentally and physically. Unfortunatley, I don't know anyone that practices yoga, so I have no one to ask or be coached by. Here are my questions regarding yoga.

Do you have to be very flexible/bendable?
Do you have to be very thin?
Does a session last a long time?
Can you practice yoga without going to a class?
Is it easy to learn?
Do you need a lot of space?
Do you have to be in top physical shape?


I am looking at some yoga books online, but before I shell out, I want to know if it is something I could really devote my time to. Most of the sites I have found assume you are either in a class or know all you need to know about yoga, so they really don't have any beginners information. I know of a couple of yoga schools, but I really don't have the money to shell out for that right now.
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Old 05-13-2004, 09:50 AM   #13 (permalink)
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I don't know much about it. Just learned a little bit from a friend who did it themselves. There are also Yoga videos that are instructional. I've gotten a few videos from my local library. Check out the books you are looking at through your library. That won't cost you anything and you get a "preview" before you buy. I usually do that with all the books I eventually buy.

I do know that you don't have to be in excellent shape, thin or very flexible. My grandma did it when she was 70. It's designed to help you become more fit and flexible. They modify many of the positions so that you don't stretch things. It's a very forgiving exercise. Anyone should be able to do it in some form. There are several kinds, Some just help you relax and some require more effort and work. It all depends on what you want out of it.

I imagine the book "Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies" might be good for a beginner. I haven't looked at it myself - just a guess.
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Last edited by raeanna74; 05-13-2004 at 09:55 AM..
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Old 05-13-2004, 10:15 AM   #14 (permalink)
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Do you have to be very flexible/bendable? Nope, in time, yoga will improve your flexibility by tons.
Do you have to be very thin? NOPE Not at all, that's one of the good things about Yoga, it's a non jarring workout
Does a session last a long time? Probably 30 minutes or more
Can you practice yoga without going to a class? Yes, but a class is best to learn proper technique - so you don't hurt yourself, and it's nice socialization
Is it easy to learn? I'm a total klutz, but yes
Do you need a lot of space? Enough space that you can stand up with your arms outstretched and not hit anything -- same for your legs
Do you have to be in top physical shape? Not at all

Avon has a series of cards for yoga positions that are pretty good, it's got an illustration of the position, and what you should do. The set comes with 30 cards, and you can pick and choose your workout.

When you are doing your workout, you want to be in a quiet place, free from distractions, if that's possible, either use a yoga mat, or a cushiony towell, wear socks or bare feet and comfortable clothes, I like to have some music playing in the background and light a candle for some aroma.
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Old 05-13-2004, 10:22 AM   #15 (permalink)
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Ijust did a quick google -- Yoga for Beginners

this seems pretty good to get you thru the basics, it explains what each move does, and gives you pretty explicit instructions on how to do it.

When doing your workout, the goal is to make the workout fluid, so that'll take some time til you get used to what the moves are.

I've been doing this for a little over a year, I am extremely type A personality wise, it took me a few months before I could really settle into and do it -- where my mind didnt wander to a piece of code that I had to write, or soemthing else that I needed to do -- It was hard for me to get into that space, but it's worth it -- its 40 minutes a day where the world just goes away. (not to mention it's helped immensely with chronic back pain, and I haven't had a migraine in about 3 months)
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Old 05-13-2004, 11:58 AM   #16 (permalink)
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Do you have to be very flexible/bendable? Nope, you can start off easy, and then go from there.

Do you have to be very thin? No way. I mean, you do have to be thin enough to move a little bit...but not very thin.

Does a session last a long time? A session can last only 15 mn, maybe less.

Can you practice yoga without going to a class? Definitely, get a video or book!

Is it easy to learn? Seems like it!

Do you need a lot of space? No, not really. Just enough space to stretch out.

Do you have to be in top physical shape? No, like I said, start off the easy stuff and go from there.
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Old 05-13-2004, 03:33 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Old 05-14-2004, 10:34 PM   #18 (permalink)
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Rubyee, sounds like you have what you need. But just to add my two cents: I'm 6', 240 pounds, male, 48, and not especially bendy. But I've practiced hatha yoga once or twice a week for five years, partly because it's a great way to relax and partly because it staves off back attacks.

Here's the key: no matter how well or poorly you do the exercises, _they will help you_ if you attempt to do them correctly. I learned yoga from a woman who also taught it to senior citizens recovering from heart surgery. Anyone can do yoga, and benefit from it. You may never do it as well as a five-foot-tall, bendy, 18-year-old female, but you don't have to to get the benefit in health, state of mind, increased flexibility (even I have), and so on. I do it with a group of (mainly) paunchy men 45-72; none of us are experts, and we do fine. No, top physical condition isn't necessary at all.

Little space is needed. I would take a class to start; in two or three months you'll know some basic moves, and from there you can either go on to an advanced class and learn more, or stay with what you have until it bores you. It really isn't hard to learn -- just a series of moves and procedures, and the teachers will walk you through each one, every time as part of the usual monologue they give while leading a class. I've found that perfectly good yoga instruction is available through park and recreation departments, community centers, and so on.
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Old 05-18-2004, 01:14 AM   #19 (permalink)
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hey
i'm at my one year mark and i LOVE yoga. yoga definitely, pilates as a good mix to build up the muscles to hold the poses better.


walmart has this:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...3A4134%3A49038

The mat is perfect for me, not too long, not too short, not too thick or thin for most moves. You may like a thicker mat, check out bed/bath and beyond or similar for a mat.

As for flexibility, when i started last year, i could barely touch my toes, now i can put my palms flat on the ground with straight legs and can do the classic cheerleader put the foot in your hand and stand up and straighten your leg move, it's pretty cool

as for your shape/weight...I lost a good bit of fat and picked up some muscle tone in the back/shoulders, so it's not too hard to start/do and you build up rather quickly since most of the resistance is frmo your own weight.

Classes are obviously best for proper technique/form. Videotapes are also good. I don't care for the cards bc i've seen too many people screw up some of the forms bc you can't see the movement into and out of the positions.

and yeah, no matter what your shape is, with time, you'll improve like crazy.

as for time, my sessions last between 30 and 60 minutes, depends on the day and my level.

space, yeah, about 6 ft by 4 ft, enough to stretch out on. not much space at all.


as for how easy to learn..kinda like tetris..easy to learn, but difficult to master

Also, if you have back pain, this is WONDERFUL for it. Just never go farther than where it hurts.

One thing, though. once you start, it's incredibly hard to stop. Like, you get into a routine with it, then skip for a few days, and you'll be sore those days. it's weird, but i notice it the day after i skip a session, mostly in my legs and hips
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Old 05-20-2004, 10:57 AM   #20 (permalink)
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I started Bikrum Yoga back a few months ago and am now hooked on it. It is 26 yoga positions in a heated room around 105 degrees and each session is 90 minutes.

You go at your own pace but as long as you stay with it you can see the results and improvement over time. Great way to get the flexibilty benefits of Yoga with the cardiovascular work that comes from the heated room.

If you can commit to 10 times a month, you will see results too
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Old 05-23-2004, 09:40 AM   #21 (permalink)
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I had never tried yoga till today. I rented a tape at the library Yoga for Beginers. My daughter and I did it together, she quit halfway through. But I really enjoyed it. I felt really relaxed afterword. My question is am I going to loose weight doing this or just firm up?
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