christ-on-a-stick

Since the first of the year I've been trying to get back into my "fighting shape" after seriously slacking off for the second half of last year. So, I've been hittin' the gym, doing cardio and weights, and after being ill last week thought I'd try to "ease back into" the week with a lighter workout, something different.

So I went to a Yoga/Pilates class at my gym with a friend.

Owwwwwwwww.

All notions that I previously had of being "pretty flexible" have been definitely proven to be false.

Owwwwwwwww.

After the "yoga" intro part, going into the Pilates moves, I started BREAKING A SWEAT!!! (Just a little one but still!)

Bright side - a heck of a good workout!!! Not so much for cardio but toning, balance and stretching... I will definitely be doing it again.

Dark side - I feel that I am even more out of shape than I thought

Bright side - I shall persevere!!!

So - any yoga buffs here? Good/bad experiences? Tips/suggestions?


Lauri

brighid

I wouldn't call myself a yoga buff, but I do enjoy it. And your assessment of it not being for sissies I right on.

Some yoga workouts are easier then others, and some are amazingly difficult. Once you have gotten past the beginner phase and learn to be able to properly position your body (proper high, shoulder, back alignment, all while holding in certain muscles) it gets even more difficult.

But it is a fantastic workout. It is not cardio-based, but a good Ashtanga workout will get your sweating and aching. It is really important to develop muscular strength, endurace and especially flexibility and yoga will do that for you. The balance and strength regular yoga practitioners have is amazing.

If your hubbie will join you the Kripalu Partners Yoga (which can be found on tape at Amazon) it a really nice workout. You will sweat (but no profusely) but you will also find yourself really relaxed at the end of it. My husband and I really enjoy that workout.

Brighid

oriecat

I love yoga. I've been taking it on and off through the community education classes for about 7 years. The class I am currently taking is called Yoga and Meditation for Relaxation, so it's not too intense, but we still do some great stretches. I don't remember what it was that we did a couple weeks ago, but my butt hurt for days! (Sorry, TMI! ) Last night we did some great leg stretches. Yoga is great for me, because I have exercise induced asthma, so normal aerobic exercise isn't really an option (until I get better about taking my medicine), while yoga is nice and gentle and the deep breathing actually helps a lot.

I always feel better when I am doing my yoga, yet I can never get myself to do it at home (despite 3 videos, a couple books...), I have to be in a class. I'm so undisciplined. Another goal that I've been planning to work on for years now...

Clarice

I know what you mean. I refused to take Yoga with my husband because I hated feeling like such an ass in front of strangers. It doesn't help that I have a pot belly (major impediment to child's pose and many hamstring stretches), pathologically tight calves, and unusually short arms.

But now I'm doing a prenatal yoga video at home, and I love it. Obviously, they make adjustments for having a belly, and the stretching is gentler, so my calves can handle most of it. And let me tell you, the yogic squats portion has me breathing like I did when weight training with a personal trainer - blowing out forcefully to make room for more oxygen to feed my hard-working quads. But I love it - it is really increasing my strength.

red robot

I'm another yoga fan (in fact, my class is in an hour and a half, woo!). I agree that, depending on the class, it can be more or less difficult.

I started going for the relaxation part of it, and the physical changes have just been an added benefit. My only problem is that the only classes I can get to easily without a car are really expensive! I've gone through periods of practicing at home, either on my own or with my CD (Shiva Rea, it's really good), but it's much easier to find the motivation in a class. Even then I have days where I just don't want to be there (I'm afraid today might turn out to be one of those days). Usually, though, by the end of the class, I'm feeling much better than when I went in.

And I almost always break a sweat.