Help me like Yoga

[CathToria]

I've taken 2 classes this week. I really don't like it. I feel like I'm wasting my time, and that I should be doing cardio to burn more calories/fat. I'm not flexible at all, and I feel silly doing some of the stretches/moves. I'm okay at balancing, but I still feel silly at times. I don't "get" teh breating and the mind part of it.

Any advice? I plan to keep going every week to improve my flexibility and to lengten my muscles. What can I do to make myself like it???

[goodygumdrops]

Well, yoga isn't really going to burn fat. I do a combination of yoga, cardio and weights. I find that you see more improvement when you are doing a daily practice. I bought a couple of dvd's and I do yoga everyday at home during my lo's nap. You can do a a longer program or shorter, 30-60 min.

Twice a week, I take a group class of either yoga or pilates. After the class, I jump on the elliptical and do about 40 minutes.

So, my recommendation would be to try out a dvd for beginners or weightloss. I have the Gaiam video Yoga Conditioning for Weightloss and I really like it. Do a little bit everyday and you'll notice you flexiblity will increase, you'll feel less physical stress, and you might even have more tone to your body. I guess that would depend on how much weight your trying to loose.

I love yoga because it really works and it's pretty easy.

[zoebird]

you might try a different style or form of yoga. there are many, many forms of yoga, so if you don't like or resonate with one, you can always try another.

i recommend checking out astanga yoga. it's vigorous--it's cardio (or works like cardio) too, so you can burn fat doing yoga. at least, i do!

anyway, astanga may be more up your alley (or vinyasa yoga--which is another 'flowing' form like astanga).

[CarrieMF]

I have the Gaiam video Yoga Conditioning for Weightloss and I really like it.

I have this one too. This is the only type of exercise I"ve been able to do that actually lets me lose weight. Anything else I gain. I lost ALOT of inches doing this video. It has different options throughout, I do all the ones to try & improve flexibility as I have tight joints in some parts of my body.

[lifeguard]

I just wanted to say I commisserate. I've actually tried yoga on & off for years because I'm very inflexible & know I need to improve upon it. But honestly, I don't think I'll ever like it.

Have you tried pilates? You might find it suits you better.

[CathToria]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

I just wanted to say I commisserate. I've actually tried yoga on & off for years because I'm very inflexible & know I need to improve upon it. But honestly, I don't think I'll ever like it.

Have you tried pilates? You might find it suits you better.

I used to take pilates every week 4 years ago, in between my 2 and 3 pg... and I did like it. I did take 1 class in March that was good. I need to check teh schedule at the gym and maybe I will just focus on Pilates. they also have a yoga/pilates combo, and maybe that would be a better fit for me.

Oh, my gym does have a seperate yoga studio, but it's fairly expensive IMO, and there are some yoga, yoga/pilates, and pilates classes that are included in teh regular class schedule (no up charge).. so I'd like to stick woth those. I must say, hot yoga has always intruigued me!

Aren't there benefits from yoga that you can't get from other forms of exercise. tell me about them so at least i could wrap brain around yoga rationally (even if I can't get emotionally wrapped around yoga for now )

[beebalmmama]

Originally Posted by CathToria

Aren't there benefits from yoga that you can't get from other forms of exercise. tell me about them so at least i could wrap brain around yoga rationally (even if I can't get emotionally wrapped around yoga for now )

The physical benefits are only a part of yoga, which are great because they improved flexibility, increase strength, give you overall better postural alignment. But, yoga does require you to tune into your breath which often tunes the head in with the heart....hence possible emotionally connecting. Yoga isn't really an excerise for letting your mind wander like some cardio can do. But flow yoga as a pp mentioned is great for moving through the poses and the flow allows you to get out of your mind a bit while still staying connected through the breath. There are so many styles out there as well as many different teachers (which can really affect the way a class in run). I would try a different class and teacher and hopefully find one that works for you, before giving up on yoga altogether.

[sacredmama]

I've taken 3 different types. HATHA- which is really gentle. BIKRAM- which is a special series in a hot room, really intense (love it). VINYASA- I am doing this now. It's flow/power where I sweat a little and get a decent strengthening workout. I was actually just wanting a more gentle one to focus more on breath/meditation (for my anxiety), but this will do (its at the only time I can go).

I agree it depends on the teacher and the type. If you don't have time to do cardio AND yoga I would try to combine the 2 (BIKRAM!). The connecting with the breath/relaxation in all yoga is really great for mamas who are generally on a high frustration level (sorry if I'm assuming wrong here ). By the way, I'm pretty flexible and have been doing yoga for a long time and I think I look pretty dumb a lot of the time as well.

[vegmom]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

I just wanted to say I commisserate. I've actually tried yoga on & off for years because I'm very inflexible & know I need to improve upon it. But honestly, I don't think I'll ever like it.

Have you tried pilates? You might find it suits you better.

I like pilates better than yoga as well. It is a combination of contracting muscles and stretching. I just feel yoga puts you in weird positions that are uncomfortable.

Callanetics is great too. It gives you a great stretch plus working muscles in a gentle but very effective way.


You can get callanetics videos on ebay for 6$

[yogamama]

Yoga may not be your thing. Are you doing tapes? I would definately suggest a more vigorous video. Basic yoga videos can be super slow and boring.

Have you tried a yoga class at a yoga studio. The experience of being in a room with other people is key to letting yourself get into the poses and work with the breath. Also, trying different styles is key. Ashtanga or Vinyasa flow classes might be good for you.

The benefit of yoga are physical, energetic and emotional. Yoga works your entire body and slows down your brain. Yoga is used to prepare the body to sit quietly in meditation, so that you can be comfortable in your body.

I hope you find something that you enjoy. It can be awesome!

[~Twighlight~]

I would love to help, but I loathe yoga. Loathe it. I took it for years, several different forms and with different instructors. (it was required for a program I was in) It sucked. Every minute of it. I had to resign myself to the fact that as much as I WANTED to be a yoga person, I am not. At least not now. This may change, and I am open to that....but it's not for me right now. I much prefer pilates or weightlifting.


I will say, don't give up yet. Try a different instructor, a different style or a different class (they all have their own energy so even the same instructor can have an 8 and a 9 o'clock class and have them vary wildly. However, if after really trying it doesnt' resonate, move on guilt free to something else. There is alot to explore in the fitness world!

[CathToria]

I'm not doing tapes. I have 1 or 2, but I really don;t like doing (any tapes/DVDs) at home. My gym offers yoga or pilates or yoga/pilates combo classes in their group fitness schedule. Those are the class that I have taken and am trying to like. My gym has a speperate private yoga studio within the gym. FWIU, it's super nice, small classes and a good offfering odf different types. But they average an additional $18 per class, adn you buy a block of 10 classes at once. Since my gym membership is already a stretch for us ($76/mo), I can;t justify taking the specialized $$$ classes... unless it was something that I just LOVE, KWIM???

There is a pilates class (free to me) tomorrow night that I'm thinking of trying.

I guess it's kind of funny, b/c my IRL frineds are kind of shocked that I don't do yoga all of the time.. since I'm so "crunchy-natural" in so many other areas of my life. So I really wanted it to be a fit for me, because it seems like it "should" fit into my lifestyle.

[Serenyd]

[QUOTE=CathToria;12413624] they also have a yoga/pilates combo, and maybe that would be a better fit for me.
QUOTE]


Piyo is fun. It works on flexibility AND you will work up a sweat doing it.

[CathToria]

[QUOTE=Serenyd;12495555]

Originally Posted by CathToria

they also have a yoga/pilates combo, and maybe that would be a better fit for me.
QUOTE]


Piyo is fun. It works on flexibility AND you will work up a sweat doing it.

thanks for teh name, LOL

[newclementine]

Maybe it's the teacher, or maybe you're just not a yoga person, try pilates for building core strength without the meditation or the breathwork.
Or try a high energy vinyasa yoga class for the burn (a good class really does work you out) either that or do your cardio before yoga class and then you have a super well rounded workout.

[earthchick]

You've gotten lots of good comments already, but I just wanted to chime in too. Definitely try another class, style, or teacher, if you can. Once you've given it a fair try, you'll have a better sense of whether or not it's for you. I wouldn't rule it out after only a couple of classes.

I take a Vinyasa class that is amazing. It's a great combination of cardio, strength, stretching, and mind/body connection. I love my teacher's approach b/c she brings a lot of meditation into it too, but there are plenty of Vinyasa classes that would focus exclusively on the physical element. Even though my class brings in the more mental and spiritual aspects, I still feel like I get a kick-ass workout, especially for my shoulders and abs.

After you've given it a fair try, if it still doesn't click with you, then let it go. It is so antithetical to the whole spirit of yoga (imho) to do it because you think you "should" or b/c you're the kind of person who people think should/would like yoga. That's one of the things I'm learning from yoga all the time - to let go of all that kind of crazy-making stuff, of expectations from self and others, and just be who I am.