yoga: what's the point?

[KCDem]

Unless you enjoy hearing others fart, that is.

Sheesh, what a waste of 50 minutes. Now I'm even more stressed. :crazy:

[curse10]

1. really? I love it

I feel aligned. I try to focus on my back and straightening my spine for better posture. I hate the breathing crap though- which is why i don't take classes anymore.

[markses]

2. My wife loves it

Great exercise, if you do it correctly.

[KCDem]

3. I think I was doing it correctly,

but I don't feel any exercise benefits. I prefer a good sweat and exploding heartbeat any day!

[bicentennial_baby]

21. Take Bikram

Yoga in a 100 degree room.

[HPLeft]

4. You're definitely in the minority

Hatha yoga (which is what I assume that you're talking about, and not one of the several other branches of yoga that exist) done meditatively and regularly over an extended period of time can transform a person's state of mind, and ultimately their outlook on life.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. It's particularly good for women-helps maintain flexibility

and helps posture. I love it! I take spinning and do hard cardio workouts and balance it with yoga and Pilates. Yoga and Pilates lengthen and strengthen muscles, promote balance (which women lose as they age), and has been shown to increase glandular function.

There are many different kinds of yoga. If you are looking for more of a burn, find out if your gym offers Vinyasa (Power) Yoga. I used to take these classes when I wasn't unemployed. They turn the room temperature up and you burn LOTS of calories doing Power Yoga.

[sendero]

6. Haha...

...my wife does it regularly and she's always trying to get me to join her. I was having some lower back pain a few weeks ago, and it really did help.

She says I need to be more flexible. But really, I'd just rather have bigger pecs and biceps. So I prefer hefting as much weight as I can. Flexibility doesn't seem like something I need, although I'm sure as I get older I might do more yoga myself.

[varun]

7. yoga and big muscles are mutually exclusive

I am quite muscular, and find my musles and impediment to certain yoga poses. Slim, and supple bodies are more suited for yoga.

I however do yoga twice a week (1.5 hour sessions each), and after about a year, have noticed greatly improved health (immunity, i dont get colds anymore), flexibility, peace and quiet of mind, and a much better concentration ability. I might have lost a few pounds too because I dont binge eat as much...which I think is because of my emotions no longer controlling my eating habits.

[Skittles]

8. REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY BORING

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz

[burythehatchet]

9. awww skittles

you just dropped out of my top 5 posters list.


:)

[Skittles]

24. sorry

it's so mellow I freaking snooze. :o

[GOPisEvil]

10. There's a "flexibility" naughty remark in here somewhere...

...I leave you to your imagination, since mine has apparently taken a holiday. :evilgrin:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

15. Exactly-lots of benefits to yoga!

;-)

[GOPisEvil]

18. Heh

;-)

[burythehatchet]

11. Yoga, in and of itself, is fine. But the true value lies in the

understanding that yoga evolved as a method to prepare a person's mind and body for prayer or meditation. If you do yoga in a one-off attempt, it is truly less than meaningless.

But yoga is about a lifelong committment. No instant gratification here, but the rewards are priceless.

[Pobeka]

12. It appears to take many, many, many times to see the benefit

<I am no expert>

My wife started doing yoga every morning about 2 1/2 years ago, and it has definitely made a difference in her body and spirit. But it took at least 2 months before I noticed the difference. She'd say she noticed an improvement in herself after a few weeks.

</I am no expert>

[burythehatchet]

13. That's right on

in my experience, at six weeks there is a transformation

[Paragon]

14. I think I've read every misconception ever about yoga in this thread

Vinyasa (power) yoga is a HELL of a workout. It has made me stronger and more supple, and I was already stocky.

It is what you put into it - I certainly don't light candles or incense or reflect on my inner child while doing the movements. Just breathe, sweat, and become really familiar with what your body can do.

Eddie George, Shannon Sharpe, Barry Zito, Kevin Garnett and many other professional athletes do yoga on a regular basis to increase their performance and avoid injury:

http://msnbc.msn.com/Default.aspx?id=3068974&p1=0
http://www.realmendoyoga.com/

[Kathy in Cambridge]

16. Vinyasa is great-I agree

Baron Baptists-one of the Vinyasa pioneers-began in Cambridge and his classes were hell-literally: temperature turned up to 100 degrees and talk about maintaining heartrate.

http://www.baronbaptiste.com/

There are a few (free) classes at my gym but the instructor isn't as good as at Baptiste's Cambridge studio. And they're ALWAYS packed.

[Paragon]

17. You're referring to bikram yoga

That's where it's done in a heated room. I've never tried it, and don't plan to - I get a gym-quality workout doing ashtanga (faster, flowing) or power yoga. I mispoke - vinyasa is the name for a flowing series of movements, not a particular type of practice. It can get confusing.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

19. Baron Turns Up the Heat

and so do his instructors. We don't have Bikram here in Boston.

[Paragon]

22. I have Baron's book

It's better categorized as ashtanga or power yoga - he doesn't specify doing it in a heated room. I imagine if he's adding bikram (heat) elements to his practice, it's strictly for the advanced types.

Like I said, it's easy to confuse the terminology.

[bicentennial_baby]

20. Yoga has done so much for me

Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.It could have been the style of yoga or the teacher. I'm blessed with an excellent teacher currrently.

Also, you're not supposed to eat for 2-3 hours beforehand.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

23. ROFL!

My VERY first Yoga class was when I was 19 and I have this sophomoric love of toilet humor anyway. We were on the floor practicing breathing and this guy just ripped a rubber butt special...I looked at my friend who I had attended class with and we both were just cracking up and couldn't contain in...the more the instructor tried to have everyone just "let everything be" the worse it got...it is 26 years later and I still get uncontrollable laughs when I think of that night.


It didn't ruin it for me though...there's NOTHING like a good yoga stretch to cure damn near anything except uncontrollable laughter.


I must admit though...if one can laugh uncontrollably...they probably don't NEED the Yoga for a release.