Yoga Is Magic!

[Talker]

This is the position that really was hard for me, I had a tough time with it as the discomfort grew with each passing second. My toe joints there haven't been stretched like this often I guess.

[sureshs]

Can someone explain to me why Yoga is needed?

Animals in the wild do plenty of physical activity, and hence never become unfit and obese. But I have never seen them do Yoga. What does that tell us?

[RyKnocks]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Can someone explain to me why Yoga is needed?

Animals in the wild do plenty of physical activity, and hence never become unfit and obese. But I have never seen them do Yoga. What does that tell us?

Are you serious?? You do know that animals have a totally different muscle structure and physique, not to mention that their species has evolved them to allow them to live in the wild, unlike humans who normally sit around in an office chair all day and eat fatty foods. A bear can hibernate all winter and still have enough muscle power after it wakes up to kill anything in its path.

Take an intermediate or advanced yoga class and tell me that it wasn't one of the most challenging things you've ever done. Yoga stretches you, helps you work own your core, balance, meditation, concentration, etc.

[Posture Guy]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Can someone explain to me why Yoga is needed?

Animals in the wild do plenty of physical activity, and hence never become unfit and obese. But I have never seen them do Yoga. What does that tell us?

that they lead far more motion-rich lives than we do, and they routinely utilize all of their musculoskeletal function.

We do not, and that is the prime reason we grow stiff, sore, and develop painful joints. So things that DO ask us to use more of our musculoskeletal function (like yoga) are a terrific idea provided we are performing movements we can do in a functional manner. The problem with group classes (and in many private sessions if the instructor is not properly trained) is that we will end up doing movements we can not functionally perform and thus we increase our risk of injury. It's not that the movement was intrinsically bad (in most cases), it's that our body was not prepared to handle that demand.

And that serves as a warning sign alerting you to the fact that there is something your body should be able to do but cannot. At which point you can either accept it or set about improving it.

[r2473]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Can someone explain to me why Yoga is needed?

Animals in the wild do plenty of physical activity, and hence never become unfit and obese. But I have never seen them do Yoga. What does that tell us?

That we should either do it doggie style or simply f*ck like rabbits?

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by RyKnocks

Are you serious?? You do know that animals have a totally different muscle structure and physique, not to mention that their species has evolved them to allow them to live in the wild, unlike humans who normally sit around in an office chair all day and eat fatty foods. A bear can hibernate all winter and still have enough muscle power after it wakes up to kill anything in its path.

Take an intermediate or advanced yoga class and tell me that it wasn't one of the most challenging things you've ever done. Yoga stretches you, helps you work own your core, balance, meditation, concentration, etc.

I don't think animals have a "totally different" physique. Otherwise, they would not be so useful in medical research.

Humans sitting in chairs has been in place for a negligible period in evolutionary history.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Posture Guy

that they lead far more motion-rich lives than we do, and they routinely utilize all of their musculoskeletal function.

I think that is the correct answer.

We also need to move a lot, and do things like climbing, jogging, etc.

Playing tennis is also good.

If we do all these, then do we still need Yoga?

[chrischris]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Can someone explain to me why Yoga is needed?

Animals in the wild do plenty of physical activity, and hence never become unfit and obese. But I have never seen them do Yoga. What does that tell us?

Nothing really.

[chrischris]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I went to a yoga class this morning. I have been to yoga maybe twice before and found it a reasonable way to spend an hour but nothing special.

I think I have changed my mind.

The reason I went is because my chiropractor, my PT, my OS and pretty much every medical professional I have met in the last five years has told me I am tight tight tight tight. It is the first thing they say when they examine me.

Well, now I'm dealing with a rhomboid strain, a muscle imbalance, muscle weakness, and nerve irritation that sometimes feels like a cell phone is vibrating inside my arm. My PT suggested yoga. Hence the yoga.

I showed up for the class and introduced myself to the teacher, telling her I was a newbie. Unfortunately, the class was crowded and I had to be right in front with the teacher. I am very, very, very inflexible and tight. That's just the way I roll, but it is embarrassing to have everyone witness it.

This teacher was the best. She kept coming over and giving me extra equipment and little tricks to have better form. After one hour, my arm, shoulder and back felt better than it has in months.

I have only one quibble. The lady next to me kept looking at me with evident disapproval. After a while, she couldn't restrain herself anymore and started correcting me: "Put your weight on the outside of your foot." I thanked her and all, as she was correct. But still. I thought you were supposed to focus on your own deal in yoga. Don't judge me!

I have recruited a friend to do yoga with me, and I can't wait to do it again!

I enjoy it a lot and it has certainly helped my balance and flexibilty. Try Bikram if you can .. the heat and sweat gets you to improve even faster imo.

[origmarm]

Originally Posted by chrischris

Try Bikram if you can .. the heat and sweat gets you to improve even faster imo.

Chris what's your take on Bikram as a whole? I'm going to try one next week. Jeebs seems keen on it and it sounds interesting. I've never done anything like that so I can't really compare to regular yoga.

[chrischris]

Originally Posted by origmarm

Chris what's your take on Bikram as a whole? I'm going to try one next week. Jeebs seems keen on it and it sounds interesting. I've never done anything like that so I can't really compare to regular yoga.

My take on it is that for me its done wonders. Simple as that. Im a big guy so i think that is a factor that is mostly a disadvantage on court since movem,ent can suffer somewhat. The sessions are longer run like 90 minutes and you tend to really sweat a lot. I bring 3 liters of water.
Its more taxing than regular yoga but in a good way imo.
Be prepared to 'suffer' a bit but the rewards are well worthwhile i think. Enjoy!

[Posture Guy]

Originally Posted by sureshs

I think that is the correct answer.

We also need to move a lot, and do things like climbing, jogging, etc.

Playing tennis is also good.

If we do all these, then do we still need Yoga?

The answer to that question would depend on what benefit the person is getting from yoga. if they're doing it to stay stretched and limber, or reasonably conditioned (if doing a more intense form like ashtanga), then probably not.

if they're doing it because they simply enjoy the movements and they just feel good, or perhaps they like the social aspect or maybe the meditative aspect of the movements, then those benefits will still be there.

At Egoscue we don't "do yoga" but we use derivatives of several yoga postures in our exercise library. Bottom line, the more motion-rich a person's daily environment is, the more they can move with ease, grace and without pain or restriction, and the less they need supplement movement to restore postural balance and function. The less motion-rich, the more movement tends to feel restricted or painful, the less efficiently their bodies work, and the more they need supplemental motion.

[sureshs]

What is Egoscue?

[Posture Guy]

it's a form of therapy that helps people eliminate pain and restore normal joint function using corrective exercises to restore postural balance. I used it as a client after a near fatal car accident to be able to return eventually to tennis. Ended up going through the training and became a practitioner and operator of a clinic, here in Austin Tx.

I'm a big fan of yoga and I recommend it to clients, but I'm not a big fan of classes. Actually, I'm not a big fan of exercises classes in ANY discipline. I said this I think on another thread, but in any class about a third of the people will get great benefit, a third will do just ok, and a third will have a negative experience of some kind, and that's almost irrespective of how good the practitioner or modality is. Just the nature of the thing. Even a terrific instructor can't individualize exercises for limited individuals when she has 15-30 people in a class.

I'm a big fan of yoga with a quality instructor in a one on one setting. It has a LOT of benefits, and has been discussed on this thread, there are varieties of yoga to suit just about everyone.

[BridgetJones]

Originally Posted by origmarm

Chris what's your take on Bikram as a whole? I'm going to try one next week. Jeebs seems keen on it and it sounds interesting. I've never done anything like that so I can't really compare to regular yoga.

I like Bikram. I dont think you can get injured as easily in that although when I went, i felt kind of sick at times from the heat. At my local studio the instructor is quite strict, if she catches you looking at someone else's mat, she will make a comment. I actually like that concept. but it is hard to not look at someone else's mat if you have no idea what you are doing. Maybe the London studios dont have that rule. Anyway, the poses are slow and controlled so the stretching aspect is great. I could see it being very appealing on a rainy London day.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Can someone explain to me why Yoga is needed?

Animals in the wild do plenty of physical activity, and hence never become unfit and obese. But I have never seen them do Yoga. What does that tell us?

I'll give you my take.

I am stiff and inflexible. I was born that way. The first thing PTs and OS's say when they examine me is, "Goodness, you're really tight."

I've never cared. I figure some people are born flexible, but unless you're a gymnast flexibility is kind of a useless trait. Foot speed is useful. Balance is useful. Coordination is useful. Flexibility? Mostly a parlor trick. Heck, I've even wondered if extremely flexible people have more slow twitch muscles and are therefore slow around the track.

Now that I'm old, I feel like I need to work on my flexibility. I don't want to spend the next 50 years struggling to unfold myself. I feel like I have reached the point where I am fighting my own body, and I'm losing. I also feel like extra range of motion would help with a lot of tennis strokes.

I've tried stretching on my own, and it hasn't gone well. I get bored and wander off, and I never get anywhere. So I will try yoga.

[Posture Guy]

Cindy, you keep calling yourself "old". Just how old are you? I'm 50 and I'm nowhere near old. Age is a mindset to a very large degree. I've seen on a number of threads where you seem to experience a lot of different issues. With my clients, I see a huge correlation between how they view their bodies and how their bodies perform. Those who feel they are still youthful and vibrant (which you can be at ANY age) have a MUCH better physical experience than those who look at the passage of another year on the calendar and say "dang, I'm old, guess I'm going to break down."

re being born stiff and inflexible, to a large degree that is absolutely false. Have you ever seen a "stiff and inflexible" baby? Ever? Our birthright is to have bodies that can perfectly support us in the movements of our choice. Now, some people are inherently more flexible than others, especially if we're talking hips. Some people have relatively shallower hip sockets (the acetabulum) and that leads to a more mobile hip, some have deeper sockets which leads to more stability but less mobility. I'm of the latter variety. I've never been able to do a full lotus position, for example. My mom enrolled me in a yoga class when I was 10 and I couldn't do it then, can't do it now.

So there IS that kind of intrinsic limitation. But in terms of being tight and inflexible overall? No. In my clinical experience, chronic and significant inflexibility is a problem that can be remedied. Usually the problem is twofold. First, the person isn't moving enough so they've lost postural balance. If a joint is out of position, then the muscles that attach to it are under duress.

Think about someone who complains about "tight hamstrings". They stretch and stretch and stretch and never get anywhere. Why does that happen? Were they "born that way"? No. In many cases, the problem is their pelvic position. Imagine looking at someone from a side view and their belt line slopes significantly down to their front, so that the back of their pelvis is higher than the front of it. Well, the hamstrings attach to the bottom of your pelvis. So what is this posture doing to you? It's putting your hamstrings into a constant state of being elongated (stretched). So now the person tries to stretch a muscle that is already being CONSTANTLY stretched and they wonder why good things aren't happening. The problem isn't that the hamstrings need more stretching, they are being stretched constantly. The problem is what the hamstrings attach to is fundamentally mispositioned. Fix that, and now the hamstrings work as designed.

In terms of the body's ability to feel and function as designed, postural balance and alignment is one of the key determinants. Mispositioned joints can't work as designed, and they adversely impact the ability of the muscles that attach to them to function properly.

the other variable I see that impacts people feeling 'tight and inflexible' is diet. Often they're eating diets that are producing systemic inflammatory responses in their body. We clean that up and life often gets WAY better.

re your statement that flexibility is "mostly a parlor trick", depends on what you mean. If you mean extreme examples of flexibility, like a person who can bend at the hip and put an ankle behind their head, then yes, I agree. And you're on the right track in thinking there is a price they pay for that. Every joint strikes a balance between mobility and stability. The person who is hypermobile is usually unstable. I've worked with a LOT of yoga instructors who developed serious stability issues. But normal flexibility, the ability to move a joint through it's normal design range of motion, is absolutely no parlor trick and is a very important aspect of musculoskeletal health. If you lack it in certain important joint structures, it's a great idea to work on it. So from what you've described, yoga sounds like a good choice for you in the hands of the right practitioner.

I honestly doubt you're "old", and I certainly don't believe you were born with a dysfunctional body. But if those are beliefs you choose to embrace, I wish you all the best with them.

[FastFreddy]

The only dudes doing yoga are married dudes with 3-4 kids not getting any do yoga for a cheap thrill. They go check out some hot chicks and dudes for the married bi dudes on the down low. Iam sure some dudes are doing it for one reason like Will Farell was on the SNL show.

[autumn_leaf]

Originally Posted by FastFreddy

The only dudes doing yoga are married dudes with 3-4 kids not getting any do yoga for a cheap thrill. They go check out some hot chicks and dudes for the married bi dudes on the down low. Iam sure some dudes are doing it for one reason like Will Farell was on the SNL show.

i'm 22 yo and male... i actually started doing it when it was apart of the 90x workout and i took a class during college.

any other stereotypes you want me to break?

[FastFreddy]

Originally Posted by autumn_leaf

i'm 22 yo and male... i actually started doing it when it was apart of the 90x workout and i took a class during college.

any other stereotypes you want me to break?

I don't make this sh** up I just call as I see them. Your doing P90x workout enuff said.