Pelican Parts Forums

Pelican Parts Forums (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/index.php)

- Off Topic Discussions (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31)

- - Yoga? (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=519560)

Tell me about yoga, please.

My friend swears by bikram yoga, which I gather is a 90 minute sequence of strength, balance, and flexibility poses done in a 100F room. I'm trying to learn about different types of yoga and pick a couple of types/classes to try out.

My niece makes $100k+ per yr. instructing yoga & pilates. So...I guess it's beneficial to some...

I might pick a teacher rather than a style...

Hmm...not sure how that's a "Fail". He's one thin piece of fabric away from picking them up like a six pack.

If you've never done yoga I'd avoid the Bikram to start with. Find a studio with a good beginner class (not a gym) vinyasa or iyengar....
My wife is a yoga teacher, I'm starting my 3rd year, its good for you and much harder than it looks.

Jay

I just finished my first year doing Bikram. I'm not your typical yoga type, about as flexible as a rock but that is slowly changing. It's also a tough cardio workout which attracted me to Bikram in the first place. I've done some fairly hardcore cycling in the past few years and I love that but the yoga is a total body workout in a way nothing else I've ever done is. Plus the women in class are hot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl (Post 5104344)

Tell me about yoga, please.

My friend swears by bikram yoga, which I gather is a 90 minute sequence of strength, balance, and flexibility poses done in a 100F room.

WTF would anyone want to do that for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by widebody911 (Post 5104613)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1262568791.jpg

Those chicks are sitting nice and still, not complaining in the slightest at his touch.

That's a fail????????

yoga, tai chi, pilates, it is all good

Quote:

I think you can start with Bikram (I did) but the heat and humidity do add an extra measure of difficulty. There is a fair bit of controversy within the various yoga sub communities over Bikram and his methods but it has worked for me and I'm hooked.

If you start with it, just take it easy in the beginning and don't push too hard. I tweaked my knee overstretching and it took a while to heal. The heat takes getting used to and there are still days I go into the studio and struggle but that's part of the process.

My friend told me, if I start with Bikram, to simply follow along as long as I can, then stop and rest for the rest of the session, and each time try to go a little bit further. I'm not a macho man, and have no ego or other issue with starting slowly.

that photo is unbelievable.

I've practiced Hatha yoga for years. Consider the flexibility of a 6 mo. old baby. Then consider that we lose more and more of that flexibility over time simply because we don't put our limbs and spine through that complete range of motion that we have at 6 mo.s of age; we get older and stiffer.

Finally, consider that that range of motion can be regained over a period of time simply by putting one's body into various postures daily.

Progress comes very slowly at first and care should be taken not to strain while attempting a posture - slowly, over time, flexibility will be regained, excess weight will drop off as one will become attuned to their body and no longer eat excessively and will naturally lose the desire to eat unhealthy foods - they will no longer give you comfort; they will make you feel, to one degree or another, ill.

The postures (asanas) are basically stretches, entered into and left in a very slow and deliberate manner which tones and stretches muscles and ligaments in the process, are coupled with deep breathing excercises.

That's all it involves - no apparatus, just a basic mat and 30 minutes or so each day. It does require a self disciplined commitment because at first you may be convinced that yoga is not for you because you can't even come close to assuming some or even any of the positions. Persevere, and you will be able to.

It will take months or much longer for some postures and there will be days when you slip back to where you've lost a lot of the flexibility that you had gained. But this is normal and referred to as plateaus - you'll reach one, the next day fall back, then the next day will advance again beyond the plateau reached two days prior.

If you dedicate yourself, in a month's time you'll not think of having to do your daily yoga routine; as one gets thirsty for a drink of water, you will thirst to do your yoga. There are many positions to learn, from basic to advanced, so boredom is never a problem.

My wife and I began in grad school - I gave up after 3 days, she didn't. A year later I tried again, persevered, got hooked and have been doing it ever since. I learned from her and the book she used (neither of us used an instructor, which is not to say that one should not) and a few years ago ordered a reprint to have for old time's sake. It's written for women but really is no different for men: Richard Hittleman's YOGA 28 day excercise plan. Read and follow his plan religiously for 28 days (I guess the 28 days was the female marketing hook) and I guarantee you'll be hooked for life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darisc

and will naturally lose the desire to eat unhealthy foods - they will no longer give you comfort; they will make you feel, to one degree or another, ill.

Yeah...that's just what i'm looking for. To get sick when i eat my favorite foods.

That's quite a sales pitch you have there...

Were i considering Yoga to begin with, you'd have just sealed it's doom in a single sentence.

I'll stick to Tai Chi. You can still eat your favorite food without a need to barf, and it's actually a devastating fighting system as well, if you actually take the time to interpret the motions you're practicing. Really any form of martial arts is adaptable to a tai chi style too. So if you already know some other form of Karate or Kung Fu, you don't even really need to learn any of the tai chi forms anyway. The secret of tai chi is in the slow, well aligned movements, and the slow steady breathing. It puts you at peace.

I'll stick to Tai Chi also. Yoga is fine also tho. AND it is 'hot' right now, which means more women in the class...

I wish I could use Tai Chi alone as a martial art - but I don't even know anybody (with the possible exception of one Grandmaster) who does. It is a great supplement for a more overt martial art tho.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb (Post 5106674)

Tai Chi has some tremendous "projections" (Throws). I'd be willing to be that you could find a decent video breakdown of Tai Chi, and how the moves are applied in the real world online. Probably on you tube.

BTDT - the issue is to do a projection before some Wing Chun guy swats your eyeballs out.