That is the title of the yoga how-to-do book that I just borrowed.
I just started reading it and its a good book but some of the supposely elementary stretching exercises were a pain in the ass to do. For example, I couldn’t do the bow, the cobra, and the pigeon.
The author doesn’t tell you what to do when you can’t do them. So I’m left wondering if my flexiblity is really that bad.
Anyway I just want to ask people’s opinion about yoga. If you tried and found it hard in the beginning, how did you overcome it?
Yoga is probably the best “accessory fitness class” a guy who’s already hitting weights hard can add to his workout schedule. Really. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t tried it. Full report here:
There’s a group of ladies that do yoga once a week during lunch at my office. I join them when I can. It’s very basic, but it definitely helps. Takes time.
I teach ‘Yoga Inspired Fitness’ classs and also Pilates classes. They add flexibiity, balance, proprioception, and co-ordination for all us bodybuilders
Unfortunately the take-up of classes by men is poor which means…I have loads of ladies in my classes!
[quote]John431985 wrote:
… For example, I couldn’t do the bow, the cobra, and the pigeon.
[/quote]
You can use straps of some kind to reach your legs when doing the bow. Instead of cobra, you can do the dog pose as the women are doing in Chris Shugart’s post. There are plenty of movements to choose from. I do a 5-10 min short routine consisting of standing movements before going to bed 2-3 times in a week.
Surya namaskara, the sun salutation, is an excellent little routine to do. Use google to find pictures of the sequence. There are some variations of it.
Yoga once or twice a week will definitely help any strength athlete or bodybuilder feel better. What?s the point of having a great physique if you can?t stand up straight? I have had terrible posture from being a tall skinny teenager that looked at the ground all day to racing bicycles, the single worst sport for posture. Yoga and Rolfing has unfolded me to stand up straight with my shoulders back and down and my hips underneath me. I’m 41 now and have the best posture of my life.
Check out this site for a Yogi that has been both a power lifter and bodybuilder in his life. His DVD will kick your ass and open you up.
Yoga once or twice a week will definitely help any strength athlete or bodybuilder feel better. What?s the point of having a great physique if you can?t stand up straight?
I have had terrible posture from being a tall skinny teenager that looked at the ground all day to racing bicycle, the single worst sport for posture. Yoga and Rolfing has unfolded me to stand up straight with my shoulders back and down and my hips underneath me.
Check out this site for a Yogi that has been both a power lifter and bodybuilder in his life. His DVD will kick your ass and open you up.
I’ve done about 3 sessions of yoga over the past 5 years or so. After each, I felt an immense improvement in my mood, energy level, and libido. Come to think of it, I don’t know why I haven’t stuck with it.
I have been doing yoga for 5 or 6 years. I started by following a tape; I wore the tape out so I do my own now. I fallow a couple of rules don?t do it unless it feels good. And don?t do it if it hurts. I guess I put myself in the positions and learn to relax in the position. It is by far the kindest thing I have ever done for my body.
I just did my first bout of yoga last night - power yoga for flexibility dvd. I had a hard time figuring out what the hell he was talking about with the various poses that I was behind the curve for most of it. I did improve with each run through of the routine. I learned that I have neglected flexibility for far too long.
I also had trouble with the breathing so I was exhaling when I should have been inhaling, not breathing when I should have been breathing, etc. At the end, I was supposed to be relaxing and letting my body go and I started laughing because the guy was saying some goofy things about how supple my face should feel (thank God it was a dvd and not a live male instructor saying that).
All in all, it was good and I will try again in a couple of days. I’m sure that as I get used to it, I will get more and more out of it.
[quote]Jay Ess wrote:
I’ve done about 3 sessions of yoga over the past 5 years or so. After each, I felt an immense improvement in my mood, energy level, and libido. Come to think of it, I don’t know why I haven’t stuck with it. [/quote]
[quote]dollarbill44 wrote:
I just did my first bout of yoga last night - power yoga for flexibility dvd. I had a hard time figuring out what the hell he was talking about with the various poses that I was behind the curve for most of it. I did improve with each run through of the routine. I learned that I have neglected flexibility for far too long.
I also had trouble with the breathing so I was exhaling when I should have been inhaling, not breathing when I should have been breathing, etc. At the end, I was supposed to be relaxing and letting my body go and I started laughing because the guy was saying some goofy things about how supple my face should feel (thank God it was a dvd and not a live male instructor saying that).
All in all, it was good and I will try again in a couple of days. I’m sure that as I get used to it, I will get more and more out of it.
DB[/quote]
You will have to excuse any typo’s ,I have no spell check at the present.
I have tried the power yogas , I believe it is like trying to lift weights with little pink handles on them. Yoga is not meant to be a srenguous work out.
[quote]pittbulll wrote:
dollarbill44 wrote:
I just did my first bout of yoga last night - power yoga for flexibility dvd. I had a hard time figuring out what the hell he was talking about with the various poses that I was behind the curve for most of it. I did improve with each run through of the routine. I learned that I have neglected flexibility for far too long.
I also had trouble with the breathing so I was exhaling when I should have been inhaling, not breathing when I should have been breathing, etc. At the end, I was supposed to be relaxing and letting my body go and I started laughing because the guy was saying some goofy things about how supple my face should feel (thank God it was a dvd and not a live male instructor saying that).
All in all, it was good and I will try again in a couple of days. I’m sure that as I get used to it, I will get more and more out of it.
DB
You will have to excuse any typo’s ,I have no spell check at the present.
I have tried the power yogas , I believe it is like trying to lift weights with little pink handles on them. Yoga is not meant to be a srenguous work out.
[/quote]
I’ll let someone more experienced than me address that. However, my understanding is that power yoga doesn’t mean pink dbs, rather it incorporates far more strength required poses than other forms. To say that yoga is not meant to be a strenuous workout is perhaps incorrect because I believe there are several different forms of yoga that vary in intensity. You can lift weights non-strenuously too. I’m sure you could structure a yoga routine that will kick anyone’s ass if you really tried.
That said, my only yoga experience has been this one dvd and there are no dbs in it anywhere. It is strictly a flexibility workout and that is all I’m after from yoga. I use weights for strength and mass-building.
You will have to excuse any typo’s ,I have no spell check at the present.
I have tried the power yogas , I believe it is like trying to lift weights with little pink handles on them. Yoga is not meant to be a srenguous work out.
I’ll let someone more experienced than me address that. However, my understanding is that power yoga doesn’t mean pink dbs, rather it incorporates far more strength required poses than other forms. To say that yoga is not meant to be a strenuous workout is perhaps incorrect because I believe there are several different forms of yoga that vary in intensity. You can lift weights non-strenuously too. I’m sure you could structure a yoga routine that will kick anyone’s ass if you really tried.
That said, my only yoga experience has been this one dvd and there are no dbs in it anywhere. It is strictly a flexibility workout and that is all I’m after from yoga. I use weights for strength and mass-building.
DB [/quote]
I’ll second that. Even doing basic stuff for me I had sweat rolling down my nose and had a hard time relaxing my breathing. But at the end, I did not feel fatigued or worn out.
