Posture Guy, I emailed you.
Yoga Is Magic!
- Thread starter Cindysphinx
- Start date
Posture Guy, I emailed you.
I bought the Pete Egoscue book "Pain Free" and boy am I glad. I've had pain in my right knee for quite some time. I would guess I've had the pain off and on for about 3 years I thought the pain was caused by the usual things......too much hard court tennis, getting older, etc. I did the egoscue-cises (e-cises) in the chapter for knees and the pain was gone after the first session. It was that simple! The e-cises are very simple. I also did the e-cises for necks, and got the same results. Stiff neck gone. I haven't yet read the final chapter about maintaining the freedom from pain....but will soon. Good-bye Advil!
I highly recommend this book. It's the best $13 I've spent in quite a while. Thanks for your recommendation Posture Guy!
Posture Guy
Professional
My pleasure, catfish. I'm very glad you were able to get such nice results from the book! If you have any questions about using it going forward, don't hesitate to email me, I'm happy to be of assistance.
I fall in this camp. I am also a very tight individual, and Yoga hasn't really helped, though I've tried it over the years. The only people I know who seem to enjoy it are those that are already very flexible. I get pretty discouraged when I can't even get close to what the others are doing. I mean, if I lean over and try to touch my toes, I'm lucky to get within a foot!
Does stretching at that point help prevent injuries??
I can't even do the Padmasana (cross legged lotus pose) and neither could my father his entire life. I can only get to 6 inches of my toes. I think it is genetic and not an indicator of health.
What does that all that extra flexibility do for you? I play pretty good tennis without it. I just do some basic stretching for 10 minutes before a session.
There are also claims about how yoga helps the internal organs. Are they really true? I have heard that squeezing the pancreas is good for diabetics. Does it really work that way? Do internal organs also need "exercise?"
What does that all that extra flexibility do for you? I play pretty good tennis without it. I just do some basic stretching for 10 minutes before a session.
There are also claims about how yoga helps the internal organs. Are they really true? I have heard that squeezing the pancreas is good for diabetics. Does it really work that way? Do internal organs also need "exercise?"
Well, those who advocate it will say you will not see benefits at once - it is not a pill.
I suppose it is better than doing nothing.
flexibility is def not genetic. but behavior and habits from your parents can be hereditary.
further flexibility will help your tennis immensely. a lot of techniques that you don't understand or your body simply cannot perform will be available once your flexibility improves. not that you'll instantly play better tennis but you'll be able to learn more sophisticated techniques and movement patterns that your body simply could not process before.
about the internal organs being affected is also true. flexible and strong muscles of the lower abdomen and around pelvis can change abdomen pressure. improvement here will also affect breathing, voice, and singing.
yoga is only one of many ways that can raise awareness of flexibility. flexibility may not directly affect longevity but it directly affects mobility esp in tennis, dance or any discipline where you have to move with fine control.
colowhisper
Semi-Pro
Of course there are different types and styles of yoga, some more meditiative and others more exercise oriented. I am a huge fan and advocate of heated power yoga. It is good for thr lungs, muscles, and mind. I can't imagine anyone who has been to a few of this type of yoga class saying it is not beneficial (first time may be a bit tough). Core strength and flexibility are major benefits of power yoga.
I did my 14 classes in a period of 2 months, so a couple of days a week.
Since I play tennis, work construction..mostly sheetrocking, surf, and windsurf, besides riding road and mountain bikes, yoga didn't add anything whatsoever except make my tendon's stiff and sensitive.
After the 14 days, I was about as stiff as before, had no better balance, no difference in strength or core strength, and saw absolutely no benefit except for looking a somewhat older hotties well past their prime in tight tights and compromising positions.
Since I play tennis, work construction..mostly sheetrocking, surf, and windsurf, besides riding road and mountain bikes, yoga didn't add anything whatsoever except make my tendon's stiff and sensitive.
After the 14 days, I was about as stiff as before, had no better balance, no difference in strength or core strength, and saw absolutely no benefit except for looking a somewhat older hotties well past their prime in tight tights and compromising positions.
colowhisper
Semi-Pro
Leed, maybe you picked the wrong studio! All the classes I attend the girls are young with hard bodies wearing very little and I am the old one past my prime! Of course I consider that to be just a side benefit. 
Overdrive
Legend
Oh no, not Berkeley... :|
Yes, Berkeley.
Land of the very old grey haired women, in long skirts, Birkenstocks, wire rimmed granny glasses, and age spots, and Volvo's..
Funny, the grannies who looked old 5 years ago are starting to get a second look from me...
Yes, another week, another age group to fall into.
Land of the very old grey haired women, in long skirts, Birkenstocks, wire rimmed granny glasses, and age spots, and Volvo's..
Funny, the grannies who looked old 5 years ago are starting to get a second look from me...
Yes, another week, another age group to fall into.
Overdrive
Legend
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Bump!
Yoga is not magic. Yoga totally stinks!
See, shortly after we finished ths thread, I hurt my foot doing yoga. I was doing a down dog, and I kind of hyperextended the ball of my foot.
It is 18 months later, and it still hurts. I finally went to the podiatrist last month and he diagnosed seisamoiditus. Inflammation of the seisamoitus bones. So I ice, take drugs, and try not to strain it further. I also am sure I use my custom orthotics in my tennis shoes instead the OTC ones I had been using. It s slowly improving now,
Yoga is for the birds!
Yoga is not magic. Yoga totally stinks!
See, shortly after we finished ths thread, I hurt my foot doing yoga. I was doing a down dog, and I kind of hyperextended the ball of my foot.
It is 18 months later, and it still hurts. I finally went to the podiatrist last month and he diagnosed seisamoiditus. Inflammation of the seisamoitus bones. So I ice, take drugs, and try not to strain it further. I also am sure I use my custom orthotics in my tennis shoes instead the OTC ones I had been using. It s slowly improving now,
Yoga is for the birds!
Overdrive
Legend
Down dog....
You actually injured your foot that bad from yoga?
Now I'm definitely not doing yoga!
CindyS, you gotta marry me.....:?
I wrecked my left shoulder for 3 months on downdog, which I see absolutley worthless for any other sport besides yoga. And I play tennis left handed!
Heck, I've surfed 4A level, ridden Wiamea, windsurf at almost slalompro level, ride bikes about 45 miles (distance limiter is a sore butt the next day), ski anything at SquawValley, snowboard anything anywhere anyone can do, and I can't do yoga!
What is the point of the crane! Who stands on ONE foot and why would he/she, except to pass a DUI checkout. I surf, ski, windsurf, play tennis, kiteboard, surf, and NONE of the sports need to ever use ONE foot alone.
I wrecked my left shoulder for 3 months on downdog, which I see absolutley worthless for any other sport besides yoga. And I play tennis left handed!
Heck, I've surfed 4A level, ridden Wiamea, windsurf at almost slalompro level, ride bikes about 45 miles (distance limiter is a sore butt the next day), ski anything at SquawValley, snowboard anything anywhere anyone can do, and I can't do yoga!
What is the point of the crane! Who stands on ONE foot and why would he/she, except to pass a DUI checkout. I surf, ski, windsurf, play tennis, kiteboard, surf, and NONE of the sports need to ever use ONE foot alone.
Try a stretching program instead of yoga..it takes time and improvement doesn't happen overnight, keep learning, there are hundreds of great stretches..I had very tight quadriceps and was able to get them 6 inches farther after 5-6 months of stretching..You can do short 5 minute sessions or longer after a workout..At 62 stretching has helped my speed and posture, giving me a more limber,youthful gait..I know a lot of guys who haven't stretched and they look and feel older..PS Hi Posture Guy if you read this post please send me your email, mine is comeback@safe-mail.net
Why did Agassi bench 300 lbs? Did he use a 300 lb racket?
The idea is that the one foot thing helps with something.
I don't know, I can't do yoga and don't have the patience to learn it.
"helps with something".....
Well for sure, I'd love to be able to run 3 miles in 15 minutes.
Swim to Alcatraz and back.
And bench 300.
But how would any of that help my 3.5 singles play, or make my windsurfing any better than it already is?
Sure, we can all get stronger, faster, quicker, have more endurance, but what's the point at our level and age?
Well for sure, I'd love to be able to run 3 miles in 15 minutes.
Swim to Alcatraz and back.
And bench 300.
But how would any of that help my 3.5 singles play, or make my windsurfing any better than it already is?
Sure, we can all get stronger, faster, quicker, have more endurance, but what's the point at our level and age?
Overdrive
Legend
"Reached your limit?"......
Dude, that was 30 years ago. When I was 33. I've been going downhill fast and undeterred since.
You know the drill. Every 10 years, after you hit 30, you lose another 10% of your physical skills. Now at 30, the loss isn't too noticeable, because we all have considerable skills at 30. But after losing a hair here, and a hair there, buy the time we hit 60, we lose a huge, noticible amount of physical skills because it starts out much lower than it did when we were 30.
Dude, that was 30 years ago. When I was 33. I've been going downhill fast and undeterred since.
You know the drill. Every 10 years, after you hit 30, you lose another 10% of your physical skills. Now at 30, the loss isn't too noticeable, because we all have considerable skills at 30. But after losing a hair here, and a hair there, buy the time we hit 60, we lose a huge, noticible amount of physical skills because it starts out much lower than it did when we were 30.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I have a stretching strap. I feel better when I use it every day. Alas, I rarely use it.
I am my own worst enemy.
Well, I can run anytime I want, since I"m retired and time is no problem.
I can also practice my serves as much as I want, run around the courts for conditioning and footwork, maybe swim SanFranciscoBay, maybe even work out in a gym.
But I'd rather bug all you nice people here on TW.
I can also practice my serves as much as I want, run around the courts for conditioning and footwork, maybe swim SanFranciscoBay, maybe even work out in a gym.
But I'd rather bug all you nice people here on TW.
Overdrive
Legend
So Mr.Lee, because you have basically done almost everything, aren't you bored? :-|
But seriously it's good for the elderly to be active because if they don't they will die from physical inactivity. :/
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
I play regularly with a 70 year old lady at my club who is normally very slow.
The doctors said that she had bone on bone arthritis and would knee replacement.
The other day, she was running around the court and chasing down drop shots. I was impressed.
She attributes it to Bikram Yoga, but I am not sure how the Bikram Yoga would've helped her severe knee arthritis.
But she swears the yoga is the sole reason for her improvement.
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colowhisper
Semi-Pro
Yoga is method of stretching and intensive breathing exercises to develop physical and mental health. How anyone can argue these activities are not healthy and beneficial to people who play tennis is beyond me. If you injure yourself doing yoga you are not doing it properly, meaning you are either training beyond your abilities (which will injure you in any activity) or you are getting bad instruction.
Ah, spoken from the view of a yoga instructor or someone who loves yoga.
My g/f says the same thing.....nothing can be better than the benefits derived from yoga.
For her, it might be true.
For me, yoga is useless, and stresses out my injured joints, bones, and body.
Do I need to spend my life stretching, balancing, reaching, and twisting?
Or should I be able to play pretty advanced tennis (4.0 doubles), surf, snowboard, race motorcycles dirt or road, waterski jump, windsurf, kiteboard, bike, and a host of other sports, much better than the general public, but around C or 3.5 level in competitive comparison?
Is yoga more important? Yoga is for those who want to do yoga. I want to do the other sports listed.
My g/f says the same thing.....nothing can be better than the benefits derived from yoga.
For her, it might be true.
For me, yoga is useless, and stresses out my injured joints, bones, and body.
Do I need to spend my life stretching, balancing, reaching, and twisting?
Or should I be able to play pretty advanced tennis (4.0 doubles), surf, snowboard, race motorcycles dirt or road, waterski jump, windsurf, kiteboard, bike, and a host of other sports, much better than the general public, but around C or 3.5 level in competitive comparison?
Is yoga more important? Yoga is for those who want to do yoga. I want to do the other sports listed.
Overdrive
Legend
Mr.Lee, can't you stretch before playing a match? You don't NEED to do yoga...
To me, I just think the whole idea of it is a scam.:-| All of those positions can be executed at home with partner or two or three.
colowhisper
Semi-Pro
Yoga should not hurt or stress you out, I am quite sure you did not have proper instruction, which is too bad but nevertheless. I am not advocating that you do Yoga Leeds, you don't like it. Just balancing the point of view that "yoga is for the birds" for those who might be considering trying yoga to improve their tennis game. None of the activities listed that you like to do requires explosive movement or flexibility anyway. But for players who want to improve speed, flexibility, focus and prevent injury while playing tennis, yoga (or Pilates or any properly implemented or supervised active stretching regimen by any name) is extremely beneficial. And I would not want to discourage anyone, especially if you they are starting to get a little older, from trying it for themselves.
Down dog... I have broken both collarbones twice, separated the left 2 times, disclocated the right twice so it can easily pop out of socket. Down dog does no good.
Crane.. I have flat feet. People with flat feet cannot stand on one foot, even to pass a DUI test.
Warrior...either one or two is the most useless, NON stable stance ever devised. What's the purpose of that unstable stance? It looks cool, that's what.
Now I can do almost every twisted variation of Warrior1 or 11, hold it for a minute or so, and center again. But what's the point?
Yoga only makes you better for yoga.
Crane.. I have flat feet. People with flat feet cannot stand on one foot, even to pass a DUI test.
Warrior...either one or two is the most useless, NON stable stance ever devised. What's the purpose of that unstable stance? It looks cool, that's what.
Now I can do almost every twisted variation of Warrior1 or 11, hold it for a minute or so, and center again. But what's the point?
Yoga only makes you better for yoga.
That is what I have been asking. Is it true or not? Do you know for certain or is it just an opinion?
Yoga makes you better for doing yoga. That is the pure truth.
I think this is a TENNIS forum. What makes for better tennis?
Is being able to do downward dog 7 times in an hour making us a better player? Do we need to stand on ONE foot, do cranes and such, while looking upwards and backwards going to make us play better tennis?
Is Warrior1 or 11 giving us a more stable position for anything to do with tennis....NO NO NO NO.
And not for surfing, basketball, skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing, kiteboarding, biking, or riding motorcycles.
What exactly do we need MORE FLEXIBILITY for? I'm a GUY. I don't need to bend into a pretzel.
I think this is a TENNIS forum. What makes for better tennis?
Is being able to do downward dog 7 times in an hour making us a better player? Do we need to stand on ONE foot, do cranes and such, while looking upwards and backwards going to make us play better tennis?
Is Warrior1 or 11 giving us a more stable position for anything to do with tennis....NO NO NO NO.
And not for surfing, basketball, skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing, kiteboarding, biking, or riding motorcycles.
What exactly do we need MORE FLEXIBILITY for? I'm a GUY. I don't need to bend into a pretzel.
Dude you are not answering my question. I am not asking about your activities in particular. I am asking if it is true that doing yoga has no benefits other than being able to do yoga. I am asking if there are other health benefits.
I have not come across anyone personally who has been cured of anything with yoga, but there are lots of claims of the form "if I had not done yoga, then I would be worse off than I am now." My father-in-law has two degrees in yoga (real academic degrees) and has been a yoga teacher for many years, and now about to start a PhD in yoga. I don't know if any of his claims are true and we butt heads all the time about this.
Dude, get real!
Are you saying catagorically that yoga does the same for everyone?
That's the crux of this thread!
For some, yoga is the eipithany of ONENESS, the all empowering of realization of the true self.
For other's, yoga is a self sustaining practice, like maybe dentistry.
What is is for YOU is different than what it is for ME ME ME ME ME ME...
Are you saying catagorically that yoga does the same for everyone?
That's the crux of this thread!
For some, yoga is the eipithany of ONENESS, the all empowering of realization of the true self.
For other's, yoga is a self sustaining practice, like maybe dentistry.
What is is for YOU is different than what it is for ME ME ME ME ME ME...
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
Benefit of doubt......
I did have ONE yoga instructor who advised me to NOT do anything that didn't feel comfortable from the getgo. HE, yes, HE, saw something unbalanced in my movements and asked if I had previous physical injuries. After a 2 minute conversation, I think he was thinking of lawsuits and traumatic injuries.
I did have ONE yoga instructor who advised me to NOT do anything that didn't feel comfortable from the getgo. HE, yes, HE, saw something unbalanced in my movements and asked if I had previous physical injuries. After a 2 minute conversation, I think he was thinking of lawsuits and traumatic injuries.
babar
Professional
I am about to hit 40 and have been playing tennis for 20 years. I have never been able to touch my toes. My flexibility has always been very poor. I've been thinking about trying yoga regularly after trying a 45 min yoga workout off YouTube.
I was impressed with how spent I was after just 45 min and how sore I was as well. I assume I was doing something right. I could not perform all the poses like the instructor, but I did them as best as I could.
I've also started to exercise with my daughter who runs me through her PE class workout (stretches and basic calisthenics) for about 20 mins and it is a fairly good workout.
I hope to reverse my lack of flexibility and in turn, extend my tennis playing years.
I was impressed with how spent I was after just 45 min and how sore I was as well. I assume I was doing something right. I could not perform all the poses like the instructor, but I did them as best as I could.
I've also started to exercise with my daughter who runs me through her PE class workout (stretches and basic calisthenics) for about 20 mins and it is a fairly good workout.
I hope to reverse my lack of flexibility and in turn, extend my tennis playing years.
Starting anything new, you will be sore and stiff afterwards, especially the following day.
Try surfing OceanBeach, SanFrancisco.
Try snowboarding for 6 hours.
Heck, try ONE waterski jump towed at 32mph off a 4.5' ramp. YOU WILL BE SORE!
And that dummy who says none of those sports are explosive. That dummy hasn't tried any of them.
Don't think clearing halfpipes by 4' and spinning is explosive?
Don't think racing a motocross bike for 16 minutes at your absolute full speed is explosive?
Try just paddling out at OceanBeachSanFrancisco. You cannot, if the waves are over 5'. It takes bursts of pure explosive energy to make it out. Ask any PRO surfer, and he'll tell you.
As for sports like football and basketball, to say it's not explosive is just pure stupid.
Try surfing OceanBeach, SanFrancisco.
Try snowboarding for 6 hours.
Heck, try ONE waterski jump towed at 32mph off a 4.5' ramp. YOU WILL BE SORE!
And that dummy who says none of those sports are explosive. That dummy hasn't tried any of them.
Don't think clearing halfpipes by 4' and spinning is explosive?
Don't think racing a motocross bike for 16 minutes at your absolute full speed is explosive?
Try just paddling out at OceanBeachSanFrancisco. You cannot, if the waves are over 5'. It takes bursts of pure explosive energy to make it out. Ask any PRO surfer, and he'll tell you.
As for sports like football and basketball, to say it's not explosive is just pure stupid.
