Yoga

[EffMeBoobs]

I do yoga once a week, Monday nights for 45 minutes at the gym. My instructor is okay, I'm sure there are better instructors. I've been lax because of the holidays but next week I am back full swing. Anyone doing yoga?

[Chris from TX]

I downloaded some podcasts and made myself sore.

[Furtherman]

Anyone doing yoga?

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/3/39/Yogi-portrait.jpg

HEY HEY! DO ME!

[EffMeBoobs]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/3/39/Yogi-portrait.jpg

HEY HEY! DO ME!

So adorable.

[jax]

I just started doing yoga in Sept. At first I went twice a week now I'm going mon-fri and weekends when I can. I love it!! You should try other places besides your gym. I take classes with 3 or 4 different instructors and each one has a completely unique approach.

[EffMeBoobs]

I just started doing yoga in Sept. At first I went twice a week now I'm going mon-fri and weekends when I can. I love it!! You should try other places besides your gym. I take classes with 3 or 4 different instructors and each one has a completely unique approach.

Yeah the instructor I have is okay, really laid back. I'm sure there are better intructors out there...I just wouldn't know. I really want to stick to doing yoga at my gym, I don't want to pay another membership. I've been begging for more pilates and yoga classes at my gym, it's a new gym so hopefully they'll offer more. What's your favorite pose?

[jax]

I love warrior and king dancer. There are places you can just pay a per class fee.

[zentraed]

I did it for a few years in college and I'm still more flexible than most people I know 6 years later. Lately, I've been thinking about doing that or even trying Pilates because my hip and shoulder flexibility have declined quite a bit, and I've been doing a lot of weight-lifting.

Do you practice away from the gym? I used to do poses at least 3 days a week and anytime I was going to meditate.

[EliSnow]

I've got a bad back history, and I think yoga would be great for me. I bought a yoga dvd recently and hope to start doing it a couple times a week.

I don't know how good I'll do just watching a DVD, but I assume I'll do better than not doing anything.

[EffMeBoobs]

I love warrior and king dancer. There are places you can just pay a per class fee.

I havent done that yet, or maybe I have and havent realized it. I like downward dog into cobra and I like Warrior 1 and Warrior 2.

[EffMeBoobs]

I did it for a few years in college and I'm still more flexible than most people I know 6 years later. Lately, I've been thinking about doing that or even trying Pilates because my hip and shoulder flexibility have declined quite a bit, and I've been doing a lot of weight-lifting.

Do you practice away from the gym? I used to do poses at least 3 days a week and anytime I was going to meditate.

It's proven so far to make me more flexible, I feel like I'm in pain a lot less.

I dont do it away from the gym because I need to hear the intructor telling us what to do.

[jax]

There's a range of people in each of the classes I've taken. Some are recovering from surgery or have issues with a knee, hip or shoulder. The teachers give alternatives to the poses so if you are at risk for injury you do the modified version. Everyone has there own level of flexibility. Some people I've seen are like Gumbys.

[EffMeBoobs]

I've got a bad back history, and I think yoga would be great for me. I bought a yoga dvd recently and hope to start doing it a couple times a week.

I don't know how good I'll do just watching a DVD, but I assume I'll do better than not doing anything.

I've had back surgery in 2001 so I have a back history as well. At first the yoga did hurt my back a little but nothing serious. So I didnt try so hard and I slowly worked my way into intermediate poses. In the long run your back will thank you.

[jax]

http://www.santosha.com/asanas/
This site has is a list of poses with pics and instructions. I tried to copy/paste a picture of king dancer but it didn't work. It's not an especially difficult pose it just makes me feel good. I like down dog too!

[flipper21]

I'm going on about 6 years of steady practice now. I have found an excellent studio dedicated to just yoga, where I attend classes at least 3 times a week. On the other days I do an abbreviated practice in the morning before work or just meditate.

It sounds silly but yoga has truly changed my life. I was one angry dude and certainly headed for an early death if it wasn't for yoga. (Heart disease in the family; Dad died at 46) It has calmed me down, made me more flexible, pretty much eliminated my lower back trouble and made me an all around better person.

If anyone is around NW NJ, here's where I practice: Highland Yoga (http://highlandyoga.com/)

[furie]

i did yoga a couple of times a week a few years ago. it helped with my back.
I haven't in a while though. i just don't have the time.

[EffMeBoobs]

ok so maybe you guys have persuaded me to try a yoga place out.

[Thebazile78]

I've got a bad back history, and I think yoga would be great for me. I bought a yoga dvd recently and hope to start doing it a couple times a week.

I don't know how good I'll do just watching a DVD, but I assume I'll do better than not doing anything.

The DVD will help familiarize you with the poses. That's HUGE when you're just starting out and are self-conscious about your abilities.

If you are having trouble with anything, get a yoga brick (or, since you have small children, maybe borrow their blocks) to ease yourself into the stretches. Don't push too hard. On one of my tapes, the instructor says "nobody's trying to win yoga" and that's true.

I have 2 VHS tapes (Yoga Zone) and 1 DVD (Gaiam) in addition to having my own sticky mat. If you don't have a sticky mat, I highly recommend you get one, even if you have carpeting in your house. It will help you feel more grounded when you're trying to do balancing positions and moving lunges. . .I know it helped me a lot with my form and hand-placement.

I try to get to classes whenever I can. Since yoga is best practiced in the morning, a lot of classes are only offered while I am at work, which really blows because I enjoy it so much.

The last class I took was at my gym the day after my 3rd Avon Walk. I didn't over-exert myself, but I hadn't trained as well as I should have, so I needed a nice, low-impact, deep stretching type of activity to feel energized enough to face the remainder of the week. Yoga was (and is) perfect for that.

[zentraed]

If you are having trouble with anything, get a yoga brick (or, since you have small children, maybe borrow their blocks) to ease yourself into the stretches. Don't push too hard. On one of my tapes, the instructor says "nobody's trying to win yoga" and that's true.

For me, yoga was part of a "spritual" phase I was going through (I'm an atheist), so it was all about learning to check the ego and finding stillness in the body and the mind. I try to carry that into everything else I do, and not really worry about everyone else. Just try to live up to my potential.

[WampusCrandle]

now, i have horrible knee and hip problems, but i am normally not horribly effected by it. so, would yoga be the best thing for me to excercise, or would pilates be better? i really dont know much about excercise, but i am not as active as i once was.

[Ritalin]

I started doing yoga 2 years ago at a yoga studio in Astoria - http://www.the-yoga-room.com/yogaroom_astoria/index.html - and been doing it off and on ever since.

I dig it. It's hard - you use a lot of muscles you don't normally use in your core - but I love it. I would recommend going to a class at least on a semi-regular basis, because a good yoga instructor is going to give you adjustments to your poses that will help your progress and keep you from putting the wrong pressure on your joints.

It's best when you find an instructor you can identify with, because there is a spiritual element to the practice. I've taken classes with some airhead types spouting New Age-y nonsense, and you just have to let that go and focus on the poses. But I had an instructor last year that I really liked. Every class she would come in with something very pertinent and interesting to say about our lives, about making space for change and setting my intentions for what I was about to do. Simple, thoughtful points that made sense to me. Plus, I have to admit I had a pretty serious married guy crush on her. When she got pregnant and stopped instructing I kinda stopped going so much.

I think yoga chicks are the hottest. Sometimes it's hard to be in downdog or cat/cow, and not be a little turned on. I'm respectful, I never ogle. But that doesn't mean I don't want to.

It's motivation.

[johnnie.$2]

I have back issues also, in fact I had surgery only 3 weeks ago ....I started the Power 90 in October and lost 15 lbs fairly quick, I stopped a month ago to prepare for the operation and I was given the go ahead from the Dr. to start it up again today. I love it, it has some yoga some cardio and resistance with the bands, they say after you do it for 90 days you can move the the P90x, that is all over the infomercials ...it is fun and effective, I run the DVD while the Buddays are on ...it is great.

good luck everyone!

[Thebazile78]

now, i have horrible knee and hip problems, but i am normally not horribly effected by it. so, would yoga be the best thing for me to excercise, or would pilates be better? i really dont know much about excercise, but i am not as active as i once was.

If you are starting to get back into being active, I personally think that HATHA style yoga would be perfect for you.

You can probably practice every day without doing yourself too much damage if you just take it slow and pay attention to what your body needs. When you attend a class, try to get there a bit early and speak to the instructor to let them know that you're a beginner, and want to learn how to do the poses properly.

Many instructors will give you modifications if you are not very advanced or flexible; this is good and don't try to ignore the advice.

Hope this helps!

[zathrus]

i did yoga a couple of years ago, but stopped for one reason or another. Now with baby #2 on the way. i don't think i'll ever have time to get back to it

[Thebazile78]

i did yoga a couple of years ago, but stopped for one reason or another. Now with baby #2 on the way. i don't think i'll ever have time to get back to it

Get a prenatal yoga video and run it by your OB. Honestly, I would recommend Yoga Zone.

Yoga Zone usually has easy-to-follow workouts, broken into 2 complete sessions. I don't remember if they are 15-minutes each or 30-minutes each, as mine are on VHS and Matty moved the VCR into the bedroom about 2 years ago for work and never moved it back to the living room after he lost that job, so I've not seen mine for a while (miss them!).

This usually works out very well for folks on-the-go and, of course, those with small children.

[tonypop]

I just started doing yoga with my wife last week. Some guy named Steve Ross has a show called Inhale that they play on I think, the Lifetime Channel. We just Dvr his shows everyday and after the kids go to bed we do some yoga. It's alot harder than I thought it would be when I just watched my wife do it for the last year or so. It's amazing how stretched out you get and relaxed after your done. This is definetly something that I'm going to stick with.

I'm a fairly skinny guy, 5'9" 160 lbs, but I have a little pot belly coming on and I have to stop it. Yoga seems like a good thing for that. Along with the change of diet we are doing. Does anybody know if yoga is good for well defined abs or should I do ab excercises seperate from yoga?

[Thebazile78]

I just started doing yoga with my wife last week. Some guy named Steve Ross has a show called Inhale that they play on I think, the Lifetime Channel. We just Dvr his shows everyday and after the kids go to bed we do some yoga. It's alot harder than I thought it would be when I just watched my wife do it for the last year or so. It's amazing how stretched out you get and relaxed after your done. This is definetly something that I'm going to stick with.

I'm a fairly skinny guy, 5'9" 160 lbs, but I have a little pot belly coming on and I have to stop it. Yoga seems like a good thing for that. Along with the change of diet we are doing. Does anybody know if yoga is good for well defined abs or should I do ab excercises seperate from yoga?

Yoga tends to be more about lengthening and toning of muscles, not definition.

If you've got your heart set on that 6-pack, try adding Pilates to your week's workouts. Pilates focuses on your core muscles a lot more than some forms of yoga do, so that will help.

[tonypop]

Yoga tends to be more about lengthening and toning of muscles, not definition.

If you've got your heart set on that 6-pack, try adding Pilates to your week's workouts. Pilates focuses on your core muscles a lot more than some forms of yoga do, so that will help.


Good idea. Thank you.

[Ritalin]

Oh, Pilates is hard, especially for guys. (But definitely worth it. You can find 10 minute pilates instructional movies on youtube that I do when I'm traveling. Put the Iphone on speaker, set it next to me on the floor and off I go.)

Very humbling doing Pilates with your wife.

Very.

[Thebazile78]

Oh, Pilates is hard, especially for guys. (But definitely worth it. You can find 10 minute pilates instructional movies on youtube that I do when I'm traveling. Put the Iphone on speaker, set it next to me on the floor and off I go.)

Very humbling doing Pilates with your wife.

Very.

Pilates is hard, period.

But, nothing worth having is easy.

[drjoek]

Chicks doing yoga are hot
Big turn on here

[TheMojoPin]

I realy would like to do more yoga, but it seems to make me fart waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much.

[LaBoob]

My favorite poses:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:OOUpSTOKXHh_XM:http://z.about.com/d/yogahttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:d9q0dORzkre0aM:http://www.yogatohealth.comhttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ks3yKx59_7iAIM:http://media.canada.com/idl/

they're all great for posture and balance, and stretch your whole upper body

[topless_mike]

i've always been kind of curious about yoga...

[LaBoob]

i've always been kind of curious about yoga...

This is a good one to start with...
http://www.whitelotus.org/library2/articles/wlf_ttc/ganga3.jpg

[Boom Boom]

I'm going on about 6 years of steady practice now. I have found an excellent studio dedicated to just yoga, where I attend classes at least 3 times a week. On the other days I do an abbreviated practice in the morning before work or just meditate.

It sounds silly but yoga has truly changed my life. I was one angry dude and certainly headed for an early death if it wasn't for yoga. (Heart disease in the family; Dad died at 46) It has calmed me down, made me more flexible, pretty much eliminated my lower back trouble and made me an all around better person.

If anyone is around NW NJ, here's where I practice: Highland Yoga (http://highlandyoga.com/)

My friend John Levis teaches Anusara Yoga at Highland Yoga. I used to work there as a massage therapist for a while. The place is great. Jerry and Eva are cool people too.
Yoga has totally changed my life too. I haven't been to many classes lately, but I do some yoga every morning. When I don't, I am not nearly as relaxed and focused.

[Boom Boom]

This is a good one to start with...
http://www.whitelotus.org/library2/articles/wlf_ttc/ganga3.jpg

haha...nice! start off simple.

[Ritalin]

Chicks doing yoga are hot
Big turn on here

You're right about that. It's kind of hard sometimes not to gawk in class, especially since some of the poses are .....well, let's just say I'm a big fan of down dog.

[EffMeBoobs]

Ha it's funny to see this thread pop up again. Well since I started this thread I've been in my beginner's yoga class now for 2 months and loving it. Feel really good and flexible from it. Starting intermediate yoga for 10 weeks this Wed, it's a 2 hour class, can't wait!


I also do Pilates, it's really great for your abs, you feel it for days afterwards.

[Piuki]

i did yoga a couple of years ago, but stopped for one reason or another. Now with baby #2 on the way. i don't think i'll ever have time to get back to it

Get a prenatal yoga video and run it by your OB.

I couldn't agree more. I started doing yoga a few years ago. I have attended classes in both the gym setting and a yoga studio. I didn't really detect too much difference in either. I did a little prenatal yoga and always felt so wonderful afterward. I am currently looking into a Mommy & Me yoga class for my eight-month old. She has special needs and I think it would be an awesome supplement to the physical therapy she receives!

My in-laws got me a gym membership for Christmas (mostly for the yoga but probably a little for the baby weight!) and I recently started back up. I love it. This gym also has Pilates, which I am hoping to add into my schedule as well.

My favorite poses are actually pretty simple. I love Triangle Pose. And, of course Child's Pose. Soooo relaxing. :thumbup:

[topless_mike]

This is a good one to start with...
http://www.whitelotus.org/library2/articles/wlf_ttc/ganga3.jpg

if only i could do that....

[RoseBlood]

I bought some yoga dvd's a few months ago and have taken to it.
I've started Bikram (hot-yoga) classes. Anyone do this? Thoughts? I like it cause everyone can work on their individual level.

[TheMojoPin]

I have two yoga-balls and they rule.

Shut up.

[Snoogans]

I have two yoga-balls and they rule.

Shut up.

I just mocked you without sayin anything

[TheMojoPin]

Fucker.

But I really do, and they're amazing in just how much more effective they make basic exerices and stretching. Even just doing push-ups and crunches using them is so much better than without.

So much balancing....MY CORE IS MIGHTY AND CANNOT BE TOPPLED.

[RoseBlood]

I have two yoga-balls and they rule.

Shut up.

Off topic, this made me think of my cousins grandfather who's in the hospital because the doctor messed up his prostate exam and punctured something he wasn't suppose too and now his 80 year old testicles are the size of basketballs. But don't let this deter you over 40 gentlemen.

[Snoogans]

Off topic, this made me think of my cousins grandfather who's in the hospital because the doctor messed up his prostate exam and punctured something he wasn't suppose too and now his 80 year old testicles are the size of basketballs. But don't let this deter you over 40gentlemen.

now I just messed up my keyboard

[TheMojoPin]

Off topic, this made me think of my cousins grandfather who's in the hospital because the doctor messed up his prostate exam and punctured something he wasn't suppose too and now his 80 year old testicles are the size of basketballs.

Please don't share anything with us ever again.

[RoseBlood]

Please don't share anything with us ever again.

The irony is that he went to see his urologist because he was peeing blood. Getting old sure does suck.. Snoogans just came again.

[Don Stugots]

i do yoga on my wii fit and twice a week, YRG (yoga for regular guys). i didnt think i was going to like it but i enjoy it.

[midwestjeff]

I have two yoga-balls and they rule.

Please don't share anything with us ever again.

yup.

[Snoogans]

The irony is that he went to see his urologist because he was peeing blood. Getting old sure does suck.. Snoogans just came again.

you are gonna pay for this. I know what you are tryin to do and you will pay

[TheMojoPin]

yup.

Shut up, Cardinals fan.

[Gwen]

I bought some yoga dvd's a few months ago and have taken to it.
I've started Bikram (hot-yoga) classes. Anyone do this? Thoughts? I like it cause everyone can work on their individual level.

I used to do Bikram last summer. It is a crazy, intense workout, but I really did enjoy it. I just got an email from the bikram studio with new specials for the new year so I'm trying to work out a way to get back into it.

My town apparently has a Yoga studio (not Bikram though) and it is a little cheaper than the Bikram so I'm actually going tomorrow to check it out after work. If I can manage I am going to try and hit it 4 nights a week or a weekend day, too. I miss doing Yoga and now that I"m working again I can finally afford it.

[ecobag2]

I used to do Bikram last summer.

Thanks ... a friend of mine was talking to me about this type of yoga and neither of us could remember the name of it.

I DVR a show I like to call "Three Hot Women Stretch" on FitTv.

They're good b/c if you just pick each at random and create some space in front of the TV, you can FF through the commercials and your yoga session lasts about 15 - ... no more than 20 min's total. It's a warmup, then a main/workout part, then the cooldown. And if you just pick them at random you wind up working the entire body within a few episodes... they do balance exercises etc.

The only frustrating thing is they're that nonstop type of yoga and sometimes a pose is exactly what I need so I sit there in it and they've completely moved on.

But a studio's the best obviously. I'd like to be involved in a real one someday - fancy with dedicated practitioners (for lack of a better off the cuff description). So far I've only experienced the free classes at LA Fitness... they're good but you get the sense pretty quick you're missing something you'd find among the dedicated.

Yoga (or if you think that's gay... stretching properly) would save the world if everyone was forced to do it.

[TheGameHHH]

I used to do Bikram last summer. It is a crazy, intense workout, but I really did enjoy it. I just got an email from the bikram studio with new specials for the new year so I'm trying to work out a way to get back into it.

my chick does this literally everyday. she took me once, its fucking horrible. its soooo hot. i dont know how she does it.

[Gwen]

my chick does this literally everyday. she took me once, its fucking horrible. its soooo hot. i dont know how she does it.

I have to admit the first time I did it I thought I was going to DIE! It was so hot and even though I had a full water bottle (and I brought a spare frozen one which melted over the course of the class and was key) I thought I would pass out or vomit, but once we got to the last 15 mins or so of the class there was a lot of Savasana (Corpse Pose) (http://yoga.about.com/od/yogaposes/a/savasana.htm) that I was beyond thankful for and was genuinely relaxing. You come out of the classes drenched in sweat (I felt like I'd just jumped into a pool with all my clothes on), but it is a great feeling. The heat really helps you get further into the poses, I was able to stretch deeper and further than I ever have because my muscles so warm.

You just have to block out the heat, mentally, focus on the poses and breathing as the instructor guides you. I'm sure if your chick is there every day that you're plenty thankful for it when night rolls around. :tongue:

[ecobag2]

i've always been kind of curious about yoga...

Don't do it - you'll be hooked.

[ecobag2]

I realy would like to do more yoga, but it seems to make me fart waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much.

That's not the yoga Mr. Chiliandcheesedog.

[Gwen]

Went back to Yoga for the first time tonight in the better part of a year. It was wonderful, amazing, and sad to realize how much of my strength I lost. I sweated like hell, even though it wasn't Bikram and I just genuinely enjoyed myself.

If anyone is in the Mahopac, NY area and looking for a cool, great, and unpretentious studio check out Liberation Yoga (http://www.liberationny.com) on South Lake Boulevard.

Thank you, also, to whomever posted earlier in the thread about no one is trying to win yoga, or something to that effect. The thought popped into my mind more than once tonight when I was worrying about how much I'd lost, instead of how much I'd retained.

I feel all warm and fuzzy :wub:

[Thebazile78]

...

Thank you, also, to whomever posted earlier in the thread about no one is trying to win yoga, or something to that effect. The thought popped into my mind more than once tonight when I was worrying about how much I'd lost, instead of how much I'd retained.

I feel all warm and fuzzy :wub:

That was me, quoting Al Bingham on my Yoga Zone workout video. Al rules.

It's true. Yoga is not a competition, not even with yourself.

[ryno1974]

Are there a lot of guys that go to yoga? It seems kinda pussy to me, but i am interested in it and I hear that it is very good for you. Does it make me gay to want to go to yoga?

[disneyspy]

. Does it make me gay to want to go to yoga?

if you have to ask...

[Gwen]

My husband is a hockey goalie and while he doesn't attend yoga regularly, but he has attended from time to time and found it to be excellent conditioning and he was able to improve his game using some of the techniques from yoga in his pre-game stretching.

My instructor tonight was a totally hetero guy, and while there were no guys in tonight's class the classes I used to attend had a smattering of "average Joe" kind of guys either attending with their chicks or just to check it out.

[yojimbo7248]

My husband is a hockey goalie and while he doesn't attend yoga regularly, but he has attended from time to time and found it to be excellent conditioning and he was able to improve his game using some of the techniques from yoga in his pre-game stretching.

My instructor tonight was a totally hetero guy, and while there were no guys in tonight's class the classes I used to attend had a smattering of "average Joe" kind of guys either attending with their chicks or just to check it out.

your husband doesn't happen to come from Sweden and have the initials HL?

[ecobag2]

Are there a lot of guys that go to yoga? It seems kinda pussy to me, but i am interested in it and I hear that it is very good for you. Does it make me gay to want to go to yoga?

totally.

[RoseBlood]

Went back to Yoga for the first time tonight in the better part of a year. It was wonderful, amazing, and sad to realize how much of my strength I lost. I sweated like hell, even though it wasn't Bikram and I just genuinely enjoyed myself.
So glad to read this :thumbup: and glad to hear you focused on what you were able to retain.

Are there a lot of guys that go to yoga? It seems kinda pussy to me, but i am interested in it and I hear that it is very good for you. Does it make me gay to want to go to yoga?
If you're interested, try it out. It's mostly females in my class, but I don't even pay attention to who's there and who's not. When I go, I sweat like crazy and it's disgusting and smelly, so I'm sure no one has any interest in noticing if you're a guy, much less a gay guy.

[hammersavage]

I agree it seems gay but that has never stopped me before. All I do is run so something like yoga would probably be a healthy alternative a couple days a week.

[RoseBlood]

I agree it seems gay but that has never stopped me before. All I do is run so something like yoga would probably be a healthy alternative a couple days a week.
I'd take yoga over running anyday!
If it weren't for these 5lb sandbags I carry around with me, I'd love running too!

[BlackSpider]

I'd take yoga over running anyday!
If it weren't for these 5lb sandbags I carry around with me, I'd love running too!

I know how you feel...

[hammersavage]

I always heard that they feel like bags of sand. Who knew?

[Gwen]

your husband doesn't happen to come from Sweden and have the initials HL?

A girl can dream, can't she?
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn237/pickmyteeth/Henrik%20Lundqvist/HenrikLundqvist.jpg

[Coach_Mac]

I've been having my baseball players (I coach) do yoga this semester and I love it. Actually the pitchers are the only ones that do it. To me it teaches balance, strength, body control, and controlling your breathing which are 4 great attributes of a pitcher.

We do P90X yoga.

[Don Stugots]

Try yoga for regular guys to change it up.

[ecobag2]

I'd take yoga over running anyday!
If it weren't for these 5lb sandbags I carry around with me, I'd love running too!

apiece?

[IWOWedGregBrady]

I love yoga, I take classes 2-3 times a week.

Yoga has its physical, mental, and spiritual elements. While I appreciate the spiritual, I find I relate more to the mental & especially the physical. One of my favorite results from doing yoga is that I feel much more aware of my body - how to stretch it when it's sore, or even how to notice when something is feeling out of whack.

Not to mention, yoga is a great conditioning tool - whatever other exercise you may do, there will be some yoga poses to help you stretch or strengthen your muscles so that you can do those activities even better. And some people who haven't done it don't even realize how tough the poses can be - I've seen big muscular guys come to class for the first time and they can't even hold the poses the whole time because their arms or legs get too tired.

Then there's the whole "be here now" mentality - I had a teacher who would repeat every class that there was "nothing to do" - we were doing yoga, nothing else could be done at the moment about anything else, so forget about it for the moment. That kind of thinking can help you get to sleep at night.

[Kewlkat]

Ok, I call for all the great yogis to come out and help...I woke up in the worst mood eva and was wondering if any yoga workout will improve my mood or is there a certain/specific workout I need to do?

[Thebazile78]

Ok, I call for all the great yogis to come out and help...I woke up in the worst mood eva and was wondering if any yoga workout will improve my mood or is there a certain/specific workout I need to do?

Any exercise should improve your mood regardless because exercising releases endorphins which are your body's mood enhancers.

As for yoga ... there are all kinds (http://www.yogasite.com/yogastyles.html). When I practice, it's Hatha style yoga, but I've done Ashtanga style at the gym and that's a challenge when I'm used to Hatha/Ananda style.

You may want to try Ashtanga to concentrate only on your asanas rather than your poor mood ... Ashtanga flows a lot more quickly than some beginners' courses and, seriously, you don't get a chance to focus on anything but your form within your asanas.

Hope this helps.

[Green Lantern]

Here's a good reason to take up yoga.:thumbup:


http://www.perfectpeople.net/photo-picture-image-media/Denise-Austin-640x480-70kb-media-3922-media-121497-1189108538.jpg

[Sinestro]

Here's a good reason to take up yoga.:thumbup:


http://www.perfectpeople.net/photo-picture-image-media/Denise-Austin-640x480-70kb-media-3922-media-121497-1189108538.jpg

Nice!:thumbup:

[BinaryTaoist]

I <3 yoga...

Twisting triangle pose is so good for me...

[wrinklescream]

There is a great workout dvd called "yoga for Dummies" it has a person who explains everything and it's really a great workout. Good luck!

[RoseBlood]

Plus, I have to admit I had a pretty serious married guy crush on her. When she got pregnant and stopped instructing I kinda stopped going so much.
booooo :nono:

My favorite poses:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:OOUpSTOKXHh_XM:http://z.about.com/d/yogahttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:d9q0dORzkre0aM:http://www.yogatohealth.comhttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ks3yKx59_7iAIM:http://media.canada.com/idl/
they're all great for posture and balance, and stretch your whole upper body
is the guy on the right naked?
i dont care what kinda mind/body free spirit bullshit he's into, naked yoga is creepy and gross, and why does it seem only men who try that? no one wants to see the inside of man ass. :thumbdown:

You're right about that. It's kind of hard sometimes not to gawk in class, especially since some of the poses are .....well, let's just say I'm a big fan of down dog.

My favorite poses are actually pretty simple. I love Triangle Pose. And, of course Child's Pose. Soooo relaxing. :thumbup:
Oh wow, i dont know why but I found triangle pose difficult to perfect for the longest time.
Child's pose is very relaxing.. the extended puppy pose which is a cross between the child's pose and downward facing dog is also very relaxing and addicting.

There is a great workout dvd called "yoga for Dummies" it has a person who explains everything and it's really a great workout. Good luck!
yoga booty ballet FTW!

I've definitely improved over the last year. Been attending classes more regularly and have my own solo sessions outside when the weathers nice. Would love to teach it someday, but still need to improve alot esp. with the arm balancing poses.

I always thought this should've been called the "triangle"..

http://www.yogajournal.com/media/originals/04_thumb.jpg

but I wind up looking more like a silverback gorilla..

http://i31.tinypic.com/9r6iie.jpg

I'm working on the Pigeon Pose, which is suppose to look like this..

http://www.yogajournal.com/media/originals/MC_206_Kapotasana_70.jpg

Not quite there yet..

http://i27.tinypic.com/2czpkxy.jpg

[shawnwilliams]

You've probably heard that yoga is good for you. Maybe you have even tried yoga and discovered that it makes you feel better. But what are the specific health benefits can you expect to enjoy from doing yoga regularly?

1.Flexibility: Stretching your tight body in new ways will help it to become more flexible, bringing greater range of motion to muscles and joints. Over time, you can expect to gain flexibility

2.It gives mental Calmness.

3.Physical activity is good for relieving stress, and this is particularly true of yoga.

[ferrywayes]

I think yoga is the finest way for me, I didn't hire any Instructor, I have lots of DVD material and i am learning form it. I had breathing problems, But About 3 or 4 months its felt fine i not getting problem when i run. I am doing Twice in a day. It's so better very helpful to me.