 
Support Wrong Planet Awareness!
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
zen_mistress
In Pursuit of a Peaceful Life
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Age: 31
Posts: 1102
|
 Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
Good to see that some people have done yoga. For me I am interested in the flexibility and relaxation side of it, as well as toning muscles and coordination. I am not a very athletic person and I want to do a more gentle version.
The spiritual side of it is also interesting. I've often wanted to stay at an ashram just to see what it is like.
_________________
Glory be to God for dappled things,
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow,
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls, finches’ wings.
~ Gerard Manley Hopkins
|
|
| Back to top |
|
sgrannel
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 21, 2008
Posts: 550
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| zen_mistress wrote: | | beef_bourito wrote: | i tried it once, i'm not sure what kind it was though. i really don't have the time, energy, or desire to do it regularly, and i don't really need to do it to stay in shape since i generally do at least an hour or two of cardio every day (3 or 4 during the summer) as part of the rowing team.
as for the health benefits, it can help your flexibility, it can probably help your posture and core strength, probably helps your heart a bit since you're doing exercise. when i was doing it, the guy up front started saying stuff about "squeezing the thyroid gland" and stuff like that, as well as their purported health benefits, which are unfounded. i don't doubt that yoga's good for you, but i wouldn't read too much into it, you're essentially just stretching and holding poses for a long period of time. |
I think it definitely has health benefits which have been proven. But they will be different to the benefits a person would get from cardio and weights.
http://www.webmd.com/balance/the-health-benefits-of-yoga |
Yes, I agree. And I'm glad you pointed out that people turn to Yoga etc. seeking spiritual guidance when they're really running away from something, and that's why Yoga correlates with a lot of bad things, not that the Yoga itself is intrinsically harmful.
Do Yoga if you've got the time, but not at the expense of cutting back on cardio and weights! As for squeezing the thyroid gland, it's better to make sure you're eating enough iodine, selenium, and protein.
_________________
You should get to know me better. No one's ever what they seem.-- Shirley Manson |
|
| Back to top |
|
zen_mistress
In Pursuit of a Peaceful Life
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Age: 31
Posts: 1102
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| sgrannel wrote: | | zen_mistress wrote: | | beef_bourito wrote: | i tried it once, i'm not sure what kind it was though. i really don't have the time, energy, or desire to do it regularly, and i don't really need to do it to stay in shape since i generally do at least an hour or two of cardio every day (3 or 4 during the summer) as part of the rowing team.
as for the health benefits, it can help your flexibility, it can probably help your posture and core strength, probably helps your heart a bit since you're doing exercise. when i was doing it, the guy up front started saying stuff about "squeezing the thyroid gland" and stuff like that, as well as their purported health benefits, which are unfounded. i don't doubt that yoga's good for you, but i wouldn't read too much into it, you're essentially just stretching and holding poses for a long period of time. |
I think it definitely has health benefits which have been proven. But they will be different to the benefits a person would get from cardio and weights.
http://www.webmd.com/balance/the-health-benefits-of-yoga |
Yes, I agree. And I'm glad you pointed out that people turn to Yoga etc. seeking spiritual guidance when they're really running away from something, and that's why Yoga correlates with a lot of bad things, not that the Yoga itself is intrinsically harmful.
Do Yoga if you've got the time, but not at the expense of cutting back on cardio and weights! As for squeezing the thyroid gland, it's better to make sure you're eating enough iodine, selenium, and protein. |
Thanks.. I will try and find an exercise program that benefits me. A lot of the difficulty is getting up the willpower. Also I need a more gentle program as I am not well coordinated, and intense exercise makes me feel very bad.
_________________
Glory be to God for dappled things,
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow,
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls, finches’ wings.
~ Gerard Manley Hopkins
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Averick
Calculateurre of Chaos
Joined: Mar 06, 2007
Age: 29
Posts: 2127
Location: in the trenches..
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Good thread. I've been doing Yoga by myself for months now and I have notice that I have been developing lean muscle in areas where I have been pasty all my life. I have better energy, more mental stability, and better posture. I would say it's been completely postive for me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
rjay09
Raven
Joined: Jun 11, 2008
Age: 20
Posts: 107
Location: West Chester, PA
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I haven't done much, but a lot of older guys on another forum I frequent swear by it. These are guys who are busted up from powerlifting, Olympic lifting, Judo, you name it.
It has a lot of bodywork benefits. Stuff like myofascial release, trigger point relief, possibly joint adhesion breakup. Stuff that builds up when you train hard and you don't notice until it catches up and sets you back weeks or months of training time.
Lots of "internal" martial arts stuff provide comparable benefits. Qigong, taiji, yoga etc. Regular practice leads to long term physiological effects similar to regular massage/rolfing (from what I understand).
I haven't done enough of this stuff to add my own experiences but some of the testimonials I hear really make me want to get started before I hit 40.
_________________
TECHNOVIKING DOES NOT DANCE TO MUSIC, MUSIC DANCES TO TECHNOVIKING! |
|
| Back to top |
|
LILI
Blue Jay
Joined: May 12, 2008
Posts: 94
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I personally like more active (muscular - sporty) yoga styles such as Bikram, hatha, Hot or power Yoga. And the hotter the room the better it is for me (37C to 42C is my favourite) !!! Athletes also benefit from yoga as they can build the smaller muscles which are not used as much when doing weight training or repetitive movements, such as in sports like swimming and running. Yoga is really good for core strength and stretching.
I usually stay away form the meditation or chanting yoga styles such as Kundalini, although I can see they can help with relaxation and breathing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
zen_mistress
In Pursuit of a Peaceful Life
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Age: 31
Posts: 1102
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Interesting that some more people have been doing yoga. I personally would love to get into it and find out the benefits of it. But I found that it didnt feel very good when I did it. I have motor processing problems and it seems that the only thing that doesnt make me feel bad is walking on a flat surface! Perhaps I will start doing some stretches and increase my flexibility before starting a yoga routine. I am incredibly, tragically inflexible. I cant even touch my toes, or squat without falling over.
_________________
Glory be to God for dappled things,
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow,
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls, finches’ wings.
~ Gerard Manley Hopkins
|
|
| Back to top |
|
LILI
Blue Jay
Joined: May 12, 2008
Posts: 94
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| some yoga classes don't involve complicated movements and a lot of 'acrobatics'. the best thing is to talk to the local teachers and ask them what style they practice and if it is suitable for you. If pregnant ladies and elderly people can do it, you can do it as well. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Taylor
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 19, 2008
Posts: 811
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ive had it with my diet
Im going up the shop to buy a muffin
Ive been thinking about muffins and chocolate all day. |
|
| Back to top |
|
zen_mistress
In Pursuit of a Peaceful Life
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Age: 31
Posts: 1102
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Awww.. I know how you feel, Taylor. I found that my diet also gaveme terrible chocolate cravings. Perhaps your diet is too extreme? If you are eating protein, wholegrains, fruit and vegetables, cravings can be minimised.
_________________
Glory be to God for dappled things,
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow,
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls, finches’ wings.
~ Gerard Manley Hopkins
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Puck108
Emu Egg
Joined: Nov 04, 2008
Age: 52
Posts: 8
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| beef_bourito wrote: | i tried it once, i'm not sure what kind it was though. i really don't have the time, energy, or desire to do it regularly, and i don't really need to do it to stay in shape since i generally do at least an hour or two of cardio every day (3 or 4 during the summer) as part of the rowing team.
as for the health benefits, it can help your flexibility, it can probably help your posture and core strength, probably helps your heart a bit since you're doing exercise. when i was doing it, the guy up front started saying stuff about "squeezing the thyroid gland" and stuff like that, as well as their purported health benefits, which are unfounded. i don't doubt that yoga's good for you, but i wouldn't read too much into it, you're essentially just stretching and holding poses for a long period of time. |
I started studying yoga when my Father gave me an English translation of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali titled 'How To Know God' when I was 13. I began practicing the yamas & niyamas - the attitudes we have toward people, other beings, and our environment; and the attitudes we have towards ourselves. I moved into practicing asana - the poses, pranayama - breathing techniques, some of the kriyas - cleansing techniques, & the practice of meditation. I was 22 before I took a yoga class, which was a summer offering by another Navy spouse in Bermuda. After the first class she asked me to take over the class. I did not take another group class untill I was in my 30's in Venice California, with Catherine S. who studied with Dharma Mittra. After 6 months I was a teacher at her studio LA Goddess. I studied in depth with Anna Forrest, eventually teaching at her studio Forrest Yoga Circle. I took advatage of the many teachers from different lineages, mostly Santa Monica Bay Eclectic, Astanga, Iyengar, & Viniyoga. The last three spring from the teachings of Sri Krishnamacharya. In my mid-40's I completed the American Viniyoga Institute's (AVI) two year Teacher Training, though I am still listed as a teacher-in-training on the AVI website as I have not finished my final project. The training covered asana, pranayama, meditation, chanting, study of the Yoga Sutras & chanting the Yoga Sutras in Sanskrit, as well as a beginning of the study of Sankhya philosophy.
I began studying Tantra when my teacher recomended it, not the 'tantra' of the west, where folks jump into very advanced sexual practices without the traditional practices that both protect the student & bring about transformation (spiritual sexual practice is considered a 'left-handed' path), but the the core or foundation of tantra: yantra - meditation & contemplation on traditional geometric images & non-tradition yantras specific to me, as I created them or coming from my own spiritual practices; and mantra - chanting, again both traditional & specific to me.
And for about a year & a half, I have been studying & practicing Ayurveda for health reasons. Ayurveda is considered the science of longevity, which includes the practices of a regular routine, what & when it is best to eat, when it it best to awake naturally, what type of exercise iis best & to do your phyiscal practice around the same time every day, all based on each persons unique make-up, & panchakarma - a deep cleansing done two to three times a year if possible.
Traditionally it is said that Ayurvedia is for the body, Tantra is for the mind, & Yoga is for the spirit. It is also traditional that all of these practices are done alone, meeting with a teacher that suits you for private sessions to help you adapt your yoga practice to you, rather than having you adapt to yoga, & going to group classes occasionally for spice, to connect with the yoga community in your area.
I would say that the class(es) you took did not suit you, & I would ask if the instructor offered any adaptations of the poses for the students. For example, for you, if your interest was greater flexability & increased lung capacity to improve your rowing that did not take a lot of time, a teacher that you have a good rapport with should be able to design a practice of asana & pranayama that would take 10 to 20 minutes a day that is tailored to the needs of your body, your breath capacity, & meets your goals. And a good rapport with your teacher is more important than how long this teacher has studied yoga, or how impressive or beautiful his or her asanas look.
I have been studying yoga for 39 years, & my teacher has told me that I move beautifully, that I have 'exquisite control' over my body (when all my focus is on my breath & my body  ), & at the end of the final ceremony both of the lead teachers seperately thanked me for my comments during the training, but all of that means nothing if there is no rapport between me & the student(s).
Namaste & Blessings, Cynthia Breen
Last edited by Puck108 on Wed Nov 05, 2008 1:01 am; edited 2 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
Puck108
Emu Egg
Joined: Nov 04, 2008
Age: 52
Posts: 8
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Post Script: Two DVDs, Viniyoga Therapy for the Low Back, Sacrum and Hips and Viniyoga Therapy for the Upper Back, Neck and Shoulders feature short, simple therapeutic yoga practices carefully designed to alleviate pain and promote health in the low back, sacrum and hips and in the upper back, neck and shoulders respectively. For the first time ever on DVD, benefit from the expert guidance of Gary Kraftsow, one of the world's leading yoga therapists. Founder of the American Viniyoga Institute, Gary is the designer of the only yoga practices demonstrated to be effective for back pain in a National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical study. This is paraphrased from the descriptions of the DVDs.
I admit an informed bias, Gary is my teacher  He has also written two books that are excellent. One is Yoga for Wellness which is the best book for folks like me who are floppy & clumsy if I don't pay attention. I also have Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (get rid of that 'syndrome' word  ), which runs in my family on both sides, so I have floppy joints & flopply muscles. Most of my asana practice is not reaching for more flexibility, but strengthening my muscles, especially the deep muscles that stabilize the joints. Because I am so floppy, I have had to hyperdevelop steadiness & alertness, & remaining comfortable in a pose, the two important qualities needed in a asana practice acording to both the Yoga Sutras & my own experience. His other book is Yoga for Transformation which goes into pranayama, chanting, & meditation.
Another good book is The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T.K.V. Desikachar who is Sri Krishnamacharya's son & Gary Kraftsows' teacher.
The running joke in my family is that if it isn't chorographed, we will trip over invisable rocks  Yoga has helped my daughter & I make some amazing saves when we do trip over that darn invisable rock.
And yes, yoga is one of my areas of hyperfocus  |
|
| Back to top |
|
SallyHarmony
Butterfly
Joined: Oct 23, 2008
Posts: 15
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hi....
1. Yoga usually isn't a very good exercise for weight loss. It increases your metabolism very slightly, and helps to build some muscle mass. Not to mention, studies show that if you do some exercise of any kind in the morning, you're more likely to exercise again later in the day. So for motivational purposes, yoga is an excellent idea.
2. I really like the book "OM Yoga", from Barnes & Noble. It has a workout for each day. The best yoga moves are ones that require balancing, such as standing with one leg bent, hands in a prayer position.
3. Try to do yoga in the evening and in the morning. Use a more rigorous (balancing) routine in the morning, and a very gentle style in the evening.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
traveller011212
Velociraptor
Joined: May 27, 2008
Age: 28
Posts: 476
Location: Right here!!
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| SallyHarmony wrote: | Hi....
1. Yoga usually isn't a very good exercise for weight loss. It increases your metabolism very slightly, and helps to build some muscle mass. Not to mention, studies show that if you do some exercise of any kind in the morning, you're more likely to exercise again later in the day. So for motivational purposes, yoga is an excellent idea.
2. I really like the book "OM Yoga", from Barnes & Noble. It has a workout for each day. The best yoga moves are ones that require balancing, such as standing with one leg bent, hands in a prayer position.
3. Try to do yoga in the evening and in the morning. Use a more rigorous (balancing) routine in the morning, and a very gentle style in the evening.... |
I would actually say that power yoga could be very effective at weight loss when coupled with reasonable eating habits. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
You can post new topics in this forum
You can reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
