Seeking yoga advice

[gacook]

So, I'm not getting any younger; however, I still compete in a few sports and a couple major tournaments a year. I've noticed over the past few years I seem much more prone to muscle pulls/tears, and I'd like to try to stop that. I've dabbled in yoga in the past, and thinking about getting into it "for real" to improve my muscle elasticity.

My question is, would it be most effective doing yoga in the mornings before work, or in the evenings?

[scottmandue]

Whatever you do sit at the back of the classroom.

[Don Ro]

Any time, IMHO.
I played USTA tournament tennis years ago and would get frequent massages and I would do yoga to bring blood into my tendons and muscles.
.
One of the best items I've purchased is an gravity table. I think it's called a table.
I bought mine on sale at Big 5 for $90+ and its capacity is 270 lbs.
It sits in my living room. (I'm a bachelor...so far. )

[stomachmonkey]

Yoga works but it may not be as beneficial for what you are trying to achieve as you think.

Warming up slowly is more beneficial to preventing injury than stretching is.

Sports related injuries tend to occur within normal range of motion.

Elasticity is not definitively shown to improve performance or reduce injury.

[vash]

anytime.

i had a bet with my wife. i lost. yoga isnt for the faint of heart.

and yoga's drill sargent uncle..pilates is even more brutal. that ab move is fun!

[gacook]

Won't be doing anything in a classroom, scottmandue Just following videos in my living room.

I already have a gravity table...but I've only used it once (about 5 years ago), and it's been sitting in my garage ever since. Just didn't really "get" much out of it.

I play in a couple big volleyball tournaments a year down in Rocky Point. 4-man teams, no substitutions. Last year, I pulled my hamstring pretty bad in the second game of the tournament (about an hour in), and had to play the rest of the day like that. We ended up taking second place, but I'm pretty sure I did some major damage, as it still hurts to this day. Got lots of massages during game breaks, and had my teammates working on my leg througout the day.

Now, with the next tournament coming up in November, I'm trying to get out ahead and hopefully prevent that from happening again

[gacook]

Originally Posted by vash

anytime.

i had a bet with my wife. i lost. yoga isnt for the faint of heart.

and yoga's drill sargent uncle..pilates is even more brutal. that ab move is fun!

I think the crux of my question is thus: I am NOT a morning person. Would yoga be good for "energizing" to get a good start to the day, or is more relaxing, and therefore a good way to unwind at the end of the day?

[Joe Ricard]

Basically you need to stay active. things mentioned above surely will get you there. others to think about.

Aikido
Tia Chi

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by gacook

....Would yoga be good for "energizing" to get a good start to the day, or is more relaxing, and therefore a good way to unwind at the end of the day?

Both.

I have a good friend, hardcore Martial Artist and Yoga guy.

He's in his 60's, zero body fat and can still do one handed hand stand pushups.

Extremely impressive to watch.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by gacook

I think the crux of my question is thus: I am NOT a morning person. Would yoga be good for "energizing" to get a good start to the day, or is more relaxing, and therefore a good way to unwind at the end of the day?

Why worry about when? Try either and see what works for you.
Almost like asking, "When is a good time to eat right?"

[gacook]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Why worry about when? Try either and see what works for you.
Almost like asking, "When is a good time to eat right?"

Because I already have a hard time sleeping. Exercising at night "wires" me. Curious if yoga would have the same effect, or if it's more of a relaxing thing.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by Joe Ricard

Basically you need to stay active. things mentioned above surely will get you there. others to think about.

Aikido
Tia Chi

I'm very active; that's not the issue. I think my biggest problem is that my brain hasn't caught up with my body: I think I can still do the same things now as I did in my teens/20's, and my body is starting to protest.

And I agree martial arts are outstanding (I haven't tried Tai Chi, might have to); that's why my 7-year old has been doing Tae Kwon Do for 2 years now

[Don Ro]

OK, I'll tell you a story about my first experience with yoga.
.
My g/f at the time was a yoga nut and a personal trainer. She invited me to her yoga class ...1.5 hrs., bare foot, scant clothing, etc.
Lots of assuming of a position and holding it...I was tight and it was difficult for me...I moaned and groaned...but I liked it. I knew immediately that I would get value out of doing yoga consistently.
So there we were afterwords, walking down the street on our way to a nearby local coffee joint and all of a sudden I had to stop and say, "I'm experiencing a wondrous feeling of well-being. I feel great! Loose as a goose."
Hard to describe, really...I felt awake but in a state of relaxed bliss.
She said it was because my tendons and muscles were flooded with blood and that was the cause.
To your point about relaxing, I'd say that that was true for me. Not at all a "wired" sensation.
Try it, you'll like it.
.
Edit: And I was a Class A USTA tennis player at the time, a Bruce Lee body, and I thought I was fit. Not so!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

....."I'm experiencing a wondrous feeling of well-being. I feel great! Loose as a goose."
Hard to describe, really...I felt awake but in a state of bliss.....

Most likely endorphin rush as your body dealt with the aftermath of the workout.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

OK, I'll tell you a story about my first experience with yoga.
.
My g/f at the time was a yoga nut and a personal trainer. She invited me to her yoga class ...1.5 hrs., bare foot, scant clothing, etc.
Lots of assuming of a position and holding it...I was tight and it was difficult for me...I moaned and groaned...but I liked it. I knew immediately that I would get value out of doing yoga consistently.
So there we were afterwords, walking down the street on our way to a nearby local coffee joint and all of a sudden I had to stop and say, "I'm experiencing a wondrous feeling of well-being. I feel great! Loose as a goose."
Hard to describe, really...I felt awake but in a state of relaxed bliss.
She said it was because my tendons and muscles were flooded with blood and that was the cause.
To your point about relaxing, I'd say that that was true for me. Not at all a "wired" sensation.
Try it, you'll like it.
.
Edit: And I was a Class A USTA tennis player at the time and I thought I was fit. Not so!

Thanks, Don. That's the type of advice I was looking for.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Most likely endorphin rush as your body dealt with the aftermath of the workout.

Whatever was the cause, I liked it and continued.

[masraum]

I started doing Yoga a little while back. I'm using videos from youtube. Do a search for "Tara Stiles" and "Tim Senesi". I like both. The various options from Tim seem like the are a better workout, but then Tara has some harder stuff that I haven't tried. Some of the videos online may be great, but I don't like some of the new age talking through the videos, " give yourself permission to feel relax and bth yourself in white light." I don't need that stuff. I'm sure it works for some folks, but I don't need it. Neither of the two that I mentioned do that.

I find that yoga leaves me feeling very relaxed. Even when I do a harder video that pushes me, I still find that I feel relaxed afterward. I do it at night when I get home from work a little before bed. I actually felt pretty much the same as Don Ro when I tried it. I was surprised at how good I felt afterward. It doesn't matter if it was a particularly hard routine or a light one, I still feel really good afterward. And this stuff does work you muscles and flexibility. There are times that I'm struggling to hold a pose, and I do get sore after.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Yoga works but it may not be as beneficial for what you are trying to achieve as you think.

Warming up slowly is more beneficial to preventing injury than stretching is.


Sports related injuries tend to occur within normal range of motion.

Elasticity is not definitively shown to improve performance or reduce injury.

I agree with this, save for the last line. In my experience, the majority of injuries are related to a lack of flexibility.

Guy, as you age, you will lose flexibility. You will lose it faster if you don't do anything about it.

The Cajun from Mississippi has some good advice. Try a few different things. Consider a workout partner, you will be more likely to stick with it.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I agree with this, save for the last line. In my experience, the majority of injuries are related to a lack of flexibility.

Guy, as you age, you will lose flexibility. You will lose it faster if you don't do anything about it.

The Cajun from Mississippi has some good advice. Try a few different things. Consider a workout partner, you will be more likely to stick with it.

I have 3 workout partners--my kids My oldest daughter is going to be doing cross country when school starts, so she's my running partner. My younger daughter and son INSIST on lifting weights with me, so I do my reps and then act as their spotter. I know they will do the yoga with me (especially the younger daughter). And I am my son's punching bag. I tell him I can't wait until he's older so I can actually spar with him, instead of just juking and jiving while he punches/kicks me

The bolded part is my primary concern. I used to be VERY flexible; now I'm so-so because I stopped doing my daily stretches years ago. I'm living through the consequences of that, now, and want to get back on track. Hence, the yoga.

[jwasbury]

how about seeing a physical therapist. if you have specific injuries or issues, these guys will have the knowledge of the best and safest way to regain strength and flexibility. get a scrip from your primary care Doc and its covered by insurance.