Yoga – I used to ignore it. I thought it wasn’t worth my time. I preferred exercises that were of higher intensity and burned a lot of fat and calories. To me, yoga didn’t meet these requirements.
Yoga revisited – Last month I checked out a yoga DVD just for a change of pace. I was in the mood for something a little more low key. That half hour flew by, and I felt so refreshed! I felt good. Optimistic. Woodland creatures came to greet me and clean my kitchen. Seriously.
Now I make a point to fit in a yoga session once or twice a week. This may not fit the definition of a true yogi, but it works for a beginner like me.
What I like most about yoga is the stretching. I enjoy improving my flexibility, and it’s something I need to pay more attention to, especially for protecting my injured knee. Somehow I feel longer after a yoga session; I have better posture.
I also enjoy working on my strength and balance, both of which yoga provides, and in a way that is less stressful to the joints. Again, my knee approves. Plus, being someone who constantly stumbles, improving balance is always welcome! (I always trip, but I never fall - probably thanks in part to dance classes as a child - otherwise I’d be a lot more up close and personal with the pavement.)
I find yoga to be energizing. I wouldn’t have thought this since there’s no running, jumping, or groove thing shaking. But it gets the blood circulating, and I feel I have a lot more energy just to tackle everything in daily life.
Yoga is also a great stress reliever. That’s pretty much well known. I don’t use yoga as a form of meditation as some may do. I do find the held poses and the deep breathing calm the body. It's a great way to clear the mind and organize your thoughts, as many other exercises can do.
And I love the names for all the yoga poses. My favorites are the downward facing dog (oh, yeah, feel it in the calves) and the sun salutation (oh yeah, that’s a good one. I think my back just popped). I’ve actually done a few sun salutation-type stretches before an audition to shake away some of the nerves and tension. It counteracts that fight-or-flight syndrome.
I may never be a true yogi as my heart is still in to the more traditional cardio workouts, but I still feel yoga is a great addition to my overall workout program. Incorporating flexibility, balance, and strength along with cardio just makes for a balanced fitness program AND body anyway!
I leave you with an excellent instruction of the sun salutation poses:
.
Trying to find a good yoga video?
These are worth a look:
Crunch - Super Slimdown: Pilates Yoga Blend
Related Posts -
Nine Benefits of Pilates Fitness The pilates system is a workout system that offers a full and complete workout for the entire body, rather than exercising just the primary muscle groups. Instead, the pilates system exercises all muscles, including weaker and less used muscles as well. What this means is that by practicing the pilates...... -
My Healthier Breakfast Goal - Update In a previous post I mentioned my goal of having breakfast with protein and complex carbohydrates. That post will tell you the "why" of my doing this. Well, so far I've been keeping this goal. My breakfasts this past week consisted of: scrambled eggs (egg whites/egg yolk/finely chopped onions and...... -
Yoga for Busy People Too! Do you think you are too busy to exercise? Can't fit in a lengthy yoga session every morning? Don't worry, there is yoga for busy people too. Here is a quick and easy yoga sequence that you can do at home, in the office at lunch or whenever you need...... -
Yoga for Over 50 One of the newest fads to sweep the nation is yoga routines that are especially designed to suit different types of people. One such type of yoga practice that is gaining in popularity is yoga for over 50 years old. Growing old is a stage in our lives where we...... -
Three Steps to Achieve Your Goals I was struck by a story I heard the other day. I’d like to share it with you… After her moving performance, a great soprano was approached by a woman who gushed, “I sing too, but not like you! I would give anything to sing as well as you!” The soprano......
Related Websites - Carnival of Weight Loss - Winter Hols Welcome to the December 20, 2008 edition of carnival of weight loss. Editor Picks Marsha Hudnall presents Women's Weight Loss: 'Tis the Season to Be Kind posted at A Weight Lifted MCA presents Does Caffeine Raise Your Blood Glucose Levels? | My Caffeine Addiction posted at Caffeine Addiction, saying,......
- 6 Ways to Beat Fatigue as you Battle your Weight This post was contributed by Heather Johnson, who writes on the subject of online nursing school. She invites your feedback at heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com. If you are interested in contributing a guest post please send me an email at kevin [at] weightladder (dot) com It’s all very well......
-
Learn Two New Workout Moves Today Learning new exercise moves that you can add to your arsenal is a great way for you to improve your exercise capabilities, purely because different exercises are capable of impacting different parts of your body in unique ways. Here are two exercises that you should be implementing in order to...... -
The Lasting Benefits of Yoga There's a lot more to Yoga than being able to put your leg behind your head. For those who partake in this exercise, there are myriad benefits that can be attained from its practice. It's been around for more than five thousand years and some figures purport that an estimated...... -
What is a Macrobiotic Diet? As more stars jump on the macrobiotic band wagon, many of us wonder what this diet is and why it is so beneficial. A macrobiotic diet is not an easy diet, and it is not for everyone. However, it does contain some interesting principles that can be applied for any......
- Lower Body Weights & Dumbbells Strength Training Gym, Workout & Yoga Exercise & Fitness
- 4000 Xl Total Trainer Gyms Home Gyms Strength Training Gym, Workout & Yoga Exercise & Fitness
- Selecttech Bowflex, Soloflex, CrossBar Home Gyms Strength Training Gym, Workout & Yoga Exercise & Fitness
- New Balance Footware Clothing, Shoes & Accessories Camping & Hiking
- Resistance Strength Training Gym, Workout & Yoga Exercise & Fitness
Categories:
Fitness, Fun Facts, Motivation, Sugar Addiction
Tags:
10 comments ↓
Okay, the Bag Lady is jealous. The woodland creatures never come and clean HER house when she does yoga!!
Good post! And we just may be soul-sisters. I, too, had years of ballet and jazz as a young’un in order to help with my clumsiness. Didn’t make much of a difference – I can still trip on air. (you wouldn’t happen to be left-handed, too, would you?)
Yoga has been on my shortlist for sometime now. I need to just do it! Very nice post.
I really love yoga. But its one of those things that I just don’t do often enough. SO relaxing though!
Bag Lady,
I’m actually your long lost mirror soul-twin – I’m a rightie.
Mark,
Thanks. Yoga is excellent on those days you just need and want to unwind!
Sagan,
I’m more apt to do a yoga session if I pop in a DVD at home as opposed to getting myself to a class at the gym. I like yoga classes, but I also like the convenience of doing it at home! (Translation: I can be too lazy to drive myself to the gym!)
the older I get the more yoga I do.
ohhh
maybe I need to make that my bumper sticker!
That would make a great bumper sticker!
I’m one of those people who SHOULD probably do yoga, but I just can’t seem to make time for it. I just do some general stretching after I work out and call it a day.
Good for you yoga people though, I think it’s awesome exercise.
Love reading your blog!
Which yoga DVD did you try? I’m really thinking I need to check one out and I don’t want to get a “bad” one and be turned off.
Thanks!
Michelle,
Thank you! I appreciate the compliment!
Great question! I exercised to a Denise Austin yoga DVD.
I updated this post and made a list of yoga DVDs that I think are pretty decent. Hopefully one of those will work for you, or they will lead you to one that is your perfect fit.
Thanks for stopping by for a visit!
[...] Fitness Life presents Yoga Revisisted. Are you looking for a change of pace from the high intensity exercises? Yoga might just be for [...]
Leave a Comment