So, I've been doing Yoga lately...

[friendofjimmyk]

Um...you're welcome?

I don't know. I was in a weird mood the other day.

The other night, during yoga...she added these balls to the workout. They are smaller than basketballs (thank god) but larger than softballs. You place them between your thighs and do the normal yoga poses. Oh. My. God. I worked the muscles in my legs and core much harder...so much so that I almost got sick! Really. I had heard about that before...but more for bodybuilders...I didn't think that would apply to yoga!

[Jester]

Yo-GA! Yo-GA! Yo-GA! Yo-GA!




"FOOD FIGHT!!!"





Oh, wait...that's Animal House. Sorry.

[Severen13]

Boy, my mind is in the gutter today! My coworkers have already called me a freak. I think its lack of sleep.

I know what you're saying...but I got the wrong impression the first time.

Um...you're welcome?

[friendofjimmyk]

Tonight is my Yoga class...I'm so excited!

[Lady Legira]

I'd love to do Yoga, pilates or Tai chi but all the classes near by are held in the evenings the days I work (I also happen to work evenings). However I did just order a couple of books from Amazon about Yoga so I can at least get a feel for it.

[friendofjimmyk]

. I love how nice and stretched out it makes me feel.

Boy, my mind is in the gutter today! My coworkers have already called me a freak. I think its lack of sleep.

I know what you're saying...but I got the wrong impression the first time.

[Severen13]

I'm doing Pilates twice a week as part of my current rotation. I love how nice and stretched out it makes me feel.

[friendofjimmyk]

I like the core work that comes from both exercises. I get more for my core, especially the abs, from Yoga and Pilates then I ever have been able to get from doing any amount of crunches.

Also, the first time I did Pilates...my hamstrings hurt that day...but the next day my lower back hurt. Not in a bad way though...in that way that I knew I worked muscles I hadn't before.

[Buglady]

Oh, and you think the chicken image is an exaggeration... I just measured my right thigh at 22.5", hips at widest point 40", waist 27"... so far so good... bust 33", bicep 10", wrist 6" (I'm 5'8" tall, btw)

I am the Chicken Lady!!! Aaaaaaa!!

[Buglady]

Biking will help with the balance, I promise - jeez, you should have seen me the first few weeks! I wobbled all over the place. (You can, by the way, forget how to ride a bicycle. Or at least I could). Any rhythmic motion that involves both sides of the body will strengthen the communication between the two hemispheres of your brain; that will translate to better balance as your brain gets better at integrating sensory and muscle information on both sides. Plus, you'll get smarter! (Seriously, people's ability to consolidate new information and recall previously learned information goes WAY up after mild exercise such as walking, cycling, running or dancing. Weight lifting, not so much )

OK, speaking of which, I have to get going now or i'll be late for my Girl Guide meeting

[lupo pazzesco]

The trouble is that a LOT of the sustained power one needs on the bike comes from the core, and one also needs strength through the back and arms to keep a good posture on the bike and avoid repetitive stress injuries, neck cricks, wrist problems, etc. (Also, nobody wants to end up looking like a chicken with gigantic drumsticks and teeny little wimpy wings )

Yeah, I definitely feel it when I go bike riding, and right there in the core, no joke. (OT, ZOMGS!! SUNLIGHT!!! I may be able to ride my bike after work!!!! YAY!! It's been grey and ugly and cloudy and rainy for so long!!)

And btw, THAT'S An image that had me nearly drawing my tea through my nose!!

I really like pilates, and I really need to get into yoga. Especially to overcome these little insecurities of mine. And I need all the help i can get getting more balance and flexibility. I'm such a klutz, it's not even funny. Good thing I wear long pants on my bike. Balance is not a skill of mine, and i'm relearning it while riding, thankfully no huge injuries yet...

[Buglady]

Pilates is (are? I'm confuzzled) too hard for me - I feel I'm more likely to hurt myself trying to do the repetitive moves than I am holding a Yoga pose. But that may have a lot to do with the instructors I have had. Both kinds of exercise are fantastic for runners and cyclists, because they stretch and strengthen the muscles that we keep abusing

The reason I liked the Hot Yoga best is that it let me stretch so much better than I usually am capable of. Deep stretching is incredibly important, because cyclists and runners often end up with badly shortened and even scarred tendons through the hip and hamstring. That can tilt or twist the pelvis and you can get back problems and even headaches.

I'm *amazed* at the difference yoga has made for my posture, my arms, and my core strength. I can hold Plank position for two full minutes! (I fall on my face if I try to do push-ups though. That's next...)

Since the bulk of my exercise comes from casual biking rather than a formal training program, it's easy to get disproportionately strong in the legs and then have a wimpy upper body. The trouble is that a LOT of the sustained power one needs on the bike comes from the core, and one also needs strength through the back and arms to keep a good posture on the bike and avoid repetitive stress injuries, neck cricks, wrist problems, etc. (Also, nobody wants to end up looking like a chicken with gigantic drumsticks and teeny little wimpy wings )

[lupo pazzesco]

I admit, I do LOVE doing pilates. Mostly because, as FOJK said, it's so low impact. You don't really feel it while you're doing it. I can go for over 30 minutes without realizing I'm doing cardio, it's great!

I think I want to find out if a tai chi class is offered an in my scheduled time, as well as yoga. I've heard good things about tai chi, and I know yoga is good. But again, it's finding a class. And the right type. I ran a random google search on yoga last night and discovered there are various types! ditto with tai chi.

I feel so dumb for not knowing or realizing that. Go me!

[friendofjimmyk]

I do my Yoga at the local 24 Hour Fitness. I'm sure its not the best Yoga class I could be taking...because the instructor does not walk around and make sure you are doing poses correctly. I have thought about going elsewhere...but I get a discounted membership at 24 Hours and have been going there for over 3 years. However, this fall I start working on my bachelor's at the local university and I've heard they have a GREAT gym that, as a student, I'll be able to use. I may drop my membership to 24 and then that will free up money to find other Yoga.

My favorite poses are the Warriors as well. I'm not too big on the chair pose because for some reason, I'm probably doing it wrong, my ankles start to hurt rather quickly. I also like the pigeon pose. Tree pose is neat...I like the balancing challenge. The thought of tree dominoes is hilarious!

Pilates is great and low impact. Except the class I take is also at 24 and it's called "Pilates Fusion". Whatever that means. They have regular Pilates, I just haven't made it to one yet. The first time I did Pilates, I stood back up from doing some leg work and my legs buckled. My hamstrings hurt really bad. But, that didn't stop me from trying it again!

[Buglady]

Tree dominos! Ahaha! I can totally see doing that

I love child's pose - I've always found it incredibly relaxing to be curled up small. No idea why. I think the Warrior poses are my real favourites though. I love that feeling of being so strong through my legs and feet, grounded into the world's heart and standing tall

Also, HOT YOGA is fabulous. I just tried that a couple of weeks ago. I get so cold and so tense during winter that I think the hot yoga class was the first time some of my muscles had unknotted since the first snowfall... in September. (I'm also the onew who booked a trip to Atlanta, in July, and just kind of basked for a week. I may not be a very good Canadian).