Anyone here do yoga?

[widgeon13]

If so, for how long and what are the realized benefits.

[sm70911]

I have been practicing for about 2 years. Its a remarkable way to improve your flexibility and improve core strength. I now go four or five times PW and have just started to combine that with 20-40 mins of swimming 2 or 3 times depending on how the class was.
Benifit's : Feeling of overall well being, more positivity, better posture, improved breathing in both my swimming and diving, far less aggressive, sense of achievement, weight loss and I smile more.
It is hard work when done correctly, and takes patience and not every class will be good. But good days / classes make you feel really good.
People I have met at Yoga are on the whole very nice. I have seen some incredible strength in Yoga classes. In my second class I saw some one go from crow into a full handstand, in a fluid very slow move. Thats all done by having a really strong core and being able to pull into the mid-line.
I used to be a gym person until I got a separated AC. Yoga helped me recover from that and has transformed my physical and mental well being as well as having brought back a suppleness and
ease of movement. Can't recommend it highly enough.

[stomachmonkey]

Have a friend who is a life long martial artist. He is also big into yoga. His physical presence, range of motion and strength are incredible.

I've tried it and it does work, just can't stick with it.

[widgeon13]

Thanks very much. Just have to find a class in my remote geography.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I have been going to Bikram hot hatha yoga classes for about 2 1/2 years. Overall I love the practice. My range of motion continues to improve in various spots. I'm 48, never stretched and am still one of the less flexible folks in the room. It helps my mental focus, balance, breathing, etc. I was a big cyclist and need to get back to that more to have more diversity in my workout routine and be outside during the nice weather. I recently started riding more regularly again. I suffered a broken scapula and collar bone in a bike accident about 8 years ago and the yoga has helped maintain range of motion in my bad shoulder. Trying to avoid surgery there longer term. The instructors and regulars in my classes are in amazing shape and nice people. There are some lovely ladies in yoga classes. Not that I'm paying any attention to anyone but myself :-) If you try it, go slow, have low expectations, focus on breathing and relaxing more than anything and stick with it for at least a month of regular practice.

[wdfifteen]

I went to a course of classes 10 years ago. I learned a series of poses that I still use every morning. You would probably call my routine just stretching, but it came from yoga poses. It takes 5 minutes. It's interesting that I wake up, spend 5 minutes or so stretching and relaxing, and I'm more awake than if I'd had a cup of coffee.

[porsche4life]

Ive got some videos, and have been meaning to get started. I read think it would help with my back pain.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Thanks very much. Just have to find a class in my remote geography.

There are some pretty good video courses that you can use. This is one that was given to me and the morning routine is similar to what I've been doing for years.

http://www.amazon.com/Element-Am-PM-Yoga-Beginners/dp/B001AYWY68/ref=pd_cp_mov_1

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I went to a course of classes 10 years ago. I learned a series of poses that I still use every morning. You would probably call my routine just stretching, but it came from yoga poses. It takes 5 minutes. It's interesting that I wake up, spend 5 minutes or so stretching and relaxing, and I'm more awake than if I'd had a cup of coffee.

I do all of that sitting in a space 30" wide with a newspaper.

[carreraken]

Been going for about 10 years - couple times a week. Good complement to my cardio / weight routines.

I'm sure it's helped, but it's still getting tougher to get in and out of my P! (I'm in my 50's)

[widgeon13]

Wonder what it will feel like at 65?

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I went to a course of classes 10 years ago. I learned a series of poses that I still use every morning. You would probably call my routine just stretching, but it came from yoga poses. It takes 5 minutes. It's interesting that I wake up, spend 5 minutes or so stretching and relaxing, and I'm more awake than if I'd had a cup of coffee.

Ten minutes twice a day keeps me from back pain.

[madmmac]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

If so, for how long and what are the realized benefits.

I think I did her sister in college.

Went for a few months, the usual benefits.

[masraum]

I'm starting to do some yoga. I've done some weight work in the past, but I get bored with it. I've enjoyed various martial arts off and on for the past 30 years, but the time and money can get in the way of doing that regularly. I think yoga is going to be able to give me the strength and balance and flexibility that is part of the whole package. I'm still not going to classes, but found several ideos online that I've been using. The first one that I tried was 35 mins and I couldn't get into all of the poses, but did what I could. I worked up a sweat and was sore pretty much everywhere but my legs, and that's because I've been doing the stairs at work and rollerblading so my legs were in much better shape than the rest of me.

Go to youtube and search for Tara Stiles, she's got a lot of videos online and seems to be very good. She's got 5 that are labeled as beginner, 5 that are intermediate, some that are labeled advanced and a tone more on top of that.

If you want to see some impressive control, strength and balance...


This was good and was the video that I did first. My arms, shoulders, back, etc... were all a little sore after doing this video


Tara Stiles


or if you want some beginner stuff

[widgeon13]

I can do a good down dog!

[sthzhen]

If so, for how long and what are the realized benefits.

[widgeon13]

I've done it for a couple of years to improve core muscles, increase flexibility, reduce waistline, improve balance and it feels so good when you stop. It improved my sleep for one thing. Didn't see a big change in balance but I did drop some pounds. I am also riding my bike as well. At 67 you need to do some exercise to stay in shape.

[gatotom]

In my 20's I would do 1 1/2 to 2 hours yoga a day with ski racing all day and working as a waiter at night, never felt better. Would bounce back from bumps and bruises and never needed to see a Chiropractor during that time. I started seeing Chiropractors when I was 9 yrs old.

I have been in practice for 32 yrs and have told people to do yoga that long, it works, it is not a quick fix like drugs.

When you hit those 60's if you don't use it you will lose it.

Life gets kinda complicated as time goes on so doing anything is better than nothing. Now my daily routine is sun salutation daily with lifting weights to keep tone in check and getting at least 50 miles on the bike a week.

Nobody said getting old would be easy.

[URY914]

I was hoping there would be more yago pants pics posted by now.