Is yoga bad for you?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Thomas Griner, author of a book about muscles, ‘Whats Really Wrong with You’ does not recommend yoga, aerobics, running, or weightlifting.

They lead to lactic acid build up, over-stretching and hypertonic muscle, which he suggests, cause all sorts of other more serious health problems. He casts out demon massagers, chiropractors, back specialists and most of the medical world, who he accuses of causing more problems, as they dont seem to really understand how muscles work and interact with nerves and blood vessels.

He suggests his own form of finger massage, as a relief from tight muscles, and certain long standing health problems, called NeuroSoma. There seem few practioners of this art and then only in the US.

Does anyone have any comments on his techniques that help with long standing muscular problems. Or any comments on his work?

His book has turned my 25 years of experience with yoga on its head.

#2

I’m reading some of his stuff now as a result of your post.
It is possible he’s 75% correct.

In these sorts of situations it is possible the author doesn’t know what yoga is.
I’ll have to pour through his work to find out what he’s saying but based on what I’ve read so far he has some valid points about muscular tension, weight training/aerobics and disease.

#3

what part of yoga is he saying is bad? is it just the postures, the diet, the way of life, or any part of the 8 branches? I can look at anything from one angle and with a limited understanding and say it is bad and seem like I am valid. So is he sayig the excersies are bad, well what I would say to that is only doing one or two limbs of yoga is not the point, but all limbs would be the goal. So unless he understands all that yoga entails I would not hold his opinion in high regard. To him does the lactic acid build up over a period of tiem?

#4

in yoga if you hang on one branch of the yoga tree eventually it will break. be in the middle where all branches unite.

#5

This one is sort of a mixed bag. I’ve shared this with a couple of friends qualified to make some determinations.

I personally believe he’s actually got some valid points about hardening muscles through weight training and so forth. That fits in with my perspective on yoga as a whole - softening rather than hardening.

From a scientific basis it has been pointed out that his statements about how mitochondria works int he human body might not be accurate with other anatomy texts AND his work does not seem to be published in any peer reviewed journals. Scientifically, perr review is very important.

I think his issue is with Asana and not yoga however. My guess is that he doesn’t really know either.

#6

my thought woulld be, and if I had more information then I could make a better opinion, is he may not understand yoga. if you focus on only doing the poses then you may have an issue with build up. But in true yoga you also meditate, fast, eat well, breathing exercises, exercises to cleanse the body, etc… So this build up he is talking about may be taken care of by one of the other limbs of yoga making his point invalid because his test subjects did not partake in all of yoga but only a limited portion of it.

#7

Traditional Yoga asana practices were designed to still the body and mind. it wasnt a flowing form as alot of modern yoga is these days. remaining still, firm and comfortable in a asana will build up very little lactic acid, and remaining in shava asana at the end of a certain asana should disperse any little lactic acid there is. this kind of yoga asana practice will greatly help to clear physical and mental blockages, so that we can focus on real yoga.

OM TAT SAT

bharat
www.bvsyoga.com.au

#8

I don’t see how doing yoga could lead to lactic buildup. Because yoga helps cleanse the toxins out of your body. When one is sick you have to do many things to improve oneself like make life changes. Such as eating healthy and exercising. Also, you have to find out what is causing the problem. Only than can you find the solution. Many people today just want to take medication which they end up taking for the rest of their lives which is a quick fix to a potential health problem.

#9

The 8 paths of yoga have not been diminished by this book. Though I feel there are lessons to be learned about approaching any form of exercise with the correct principles.

Is there any truth that holding a stretch (yoga or otherwise) does not strech the muscle but the tendon? Or that over-stretching can lead to muscle in spasm?

I wonder if there is a natural way of flushing lactic acid from the muscles, that has remained locked in through wrong exercise?

It is of interest that T Griner had no peer reviewed work. Also I was surprised, that the controversial statements he makes that there arent any references to clinical trials or a bibliography in his book given his ‘30 years clinical practice’.

Om Shanti

#10

hitler had followers

#11

So does George Bush.

#12

[QUOTE=Puma45;4101]So does George Bush.[/QUOTE]
exactly
.