Anyone do yoga?

sputnik · December 11th, 2005, 04:08 PM

i've been doing yoga regularly for about 4 years. hatha yoga mostly, lots of power and bikram for a few years. for about six months i couldn't find a good yoga place so i went to a gym (sporadically) but a few months ago i got my routine back and i go 4 to 6 times a week, an hour and a half each time.
reading the fitness section it seems most people go to the gym or run so i was wondering if there was anyone that does yoga, what kind, etc. the only way i can exercise regularly is if i really enjoy what i do, and that means mainly yoga, walking, biking, swimming in the summer, that sort of thing... i get desperately bored on the treadmill or ellyptical and i hate most aerobics classes...
any other gym haters out there?

Lani · December 12th, 2005, 12:44 AM

Loathe the gym, but I'm planning on doing a personal trainers course next year so I'm looking at having to learn in one for 20 hours just to get my ticket at the end. gah.

Always wanted to try yoga but I'm so hyper I've been worried I might lose concentration or focus on what I'm doing - and I dont want to waste mine or the instructors time.

My main exercise is Martial Arts. I've been doing it on and off for 10 years, on for the past 5, planning on competing next year. I do a free style Martial Art which is a a combination of Kung Fu, Karate, Kickboxing, Tae Kwan Do, Akido and Tai Chi. We also do weapons (currently playing around with a sword and a fighting fan). But Like I've said, I do a bit of CE Fit to Strip DVD action, Pole Dancing, Running, Bike, some weights etc

My whole theory about exersice is you should do something that you enjoy doing, that you never have to force yourself to go to. Most people feel they HAVE TO hit the gym rather then being excited that they are going. I always tell my friends to find a sport that makes them want to be leaner, be stronger, be fitter before they head to a gym. If you have that motivation then working out is no longer a chore.

SVZ · December 21st, 2005, 11:29 AM

i do it sometimes, like when it's on TV and I'm up in the early morning with nothing else to do

Rambie · December 21st, 2005, 11:31 AM

I used to do Yoga and I loved it, I still do love Yoga. But I got involved with a type of yoga called Dahn Yoga and it turned out to be a cult, only me.........

Lunafyre · December 24th, 2005, 02:53 AM

Hi there sputnik!

I am really getting into yoga at the moment, I do hatha for relaxation but I may try power yoga soon, I don't think I am ready yet! My body is not flexible in the slightest so I have to work really hard. I am making progress though. I wish I had the time to do it more often but I am so busy

sputnik · January 12th, 2006, 08:18 AM

^^^^
glad there's a few other yogis on the board. and btw it doesn't matter if you're not flexible, i think you still get all the benefits of it. and actually you should try power, or bikram, or hot yoga if you want to improve your flexibility because you do that in a heated room which really loosens you up and makes bending a lot easier.

lani, i know what you mean about concentration... some days you just can't seem to focus, but i find yoga has actually helped me become more patient and focused. i'm also really curious about martial arts but i wouldn't know where to start. i've never done anything more than the odd tai chi class when i can't make it to my regular yoga...

Voodoo Child · March 31st, 2006, 12:20 AM

I have just started yoga at the gym and I love it. It is much more my speed than say the step classes.

Barbara · March 31st, 2006, 02:07 AM

Does Pilates qualify as yoga? I've been loking at a lot of Pilates books lately but I can never decide if I want to start doing it. Does anyone have some experience to share?

**NoDayButToday** · March 31st, 2006, 07:36 AM

^ Not personally, but I was friends with a lot of the dancers in high school. One week the dance teacher/coach brought in a pilates instructor just to "try something different". All these highly physically fit, in perfect shape, muscular dancers were sore for days after pilates. They kept saying how much harder it was than they expected.

Grimmlok · March 31st, 2006, 12:20 PM

I did like 2 classes of introductory yoga.. the kind where they hotbox the room in the middle of summer. Ive never sweated so much in my life! Within 10 minutes I had to go wring out my mat.

Hell of a workout, for not really moving.

misskris · March 31st, 2006, 04:12 PM

i've done hot yoga before too! it's pretty fun, but i felt like i would have gotten a better work out just going for a run. you just sweat a whole lot and os it's not really a workout to my mind. if it works for you though great!

Lani · March 31st, 2006, 08:01 PM

Yoga is more a body resistance/weight workout then cardio. It helpts to build lean muscle which is what burns more calories throughout the day. I found I cant do yoga, its too frustrating so I do tai chi instead - same principle with the breath and energy but more movement and focus. KILLED my legs, and I have great leg strength so there you go.

sputnik · April 1st, 2006, 03:32 PM

pilates is an incredible workout but it's so damn boring, i couldn't do it. that was my big problem with it.

Barbara · April 1st, 2006, 04:13 PM

I bought a Pilates exercises book this afternoon. I stood like half an hour in front of the bookshelf deciding whether to buy it or not and then the shop was about to close so I took it

I'll begin tomorrow. Maybe.

Okay... so I did some Pilates yesterday. You're right sputnik, it is boring!!! I thought I was going to fall asleep in the middle of my work out

So... my shoulder muscles hurt a bit, but that's about it. The instructions for breathing and finding balance are interesting. I guess if Pilates just helps me to have a better position when I sit, it's already worth it!

sputnik · April 4th, 2006, 03:40 PM

^^^^
wow, i was bored with an instructor, i can only imagine how bored i'd be if i tried doing it with just a book
unless i'm outdoors hiking or swimming or biking, i need the class setting... i have no motivation on my own, the minute i get a bit bored or it hurts, i just think 'fuck it' and stop.