Yoga Advice

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi all, i just recently got converted to yoga from following a 6 day intense exercise dvd set which had one of the weekly sessions as yoga. I really liked how the dvd was more directed at athletes and didn’t focus on the spiritual side of yoga, rather just the physical benefits. I guess i had my reservations from seeing old over weight women practice it at my gym. But from the first time i tried it, i loved it. It was so relaxing and unlike other yoga videos i’ve seen, it was hard. I really built up a sweat from it, it was a quite intense workout at times.

Anyway, i was wondering if anyone could advise me a DVD, or set of dvds that would appeal more to 20 something year old guy/athlete. I enjoy the dvd i’m doing, but its just 1 workout a week for a hour and a half and iv been doing it for a few months now and want something new.

Also, how often can someone do yoga? Can you do it before/after a really intense workout? Can you do it when you are sore from a previous days workout? How long should a yoga session be?

I will probably have more questions to ask later on, as im very new to this.

Thanks for reading my post, any advice, opinions or suggestions will be most welcome.

Tom

#2

Hi Tom, I unfortunately don’t have any advice on dvds, but I can sympathize with your plight. I like my yoga energetic and sweaty! Happily I found a fabulous yoga teacher who really challenges us. After an hour of yoga with her, my body feels worked out and I feel relaxed!

#3

Hello Thom,

As a former basketball coach of some 17+ years I can certainly understand the perspective you illustrate. I’ll share a few points with you and you may take them or leave them as you see fit.

First and foremost is a clarification of terms. The vast body of wisdom rooted in the classical texts from India is called Yoga. The physical postures, the classes at your gym, that is called asana (seat or posture). While asana is a part of yoga it is a very small part. However it IS the part many here in North America associate with. It’s quite sad really, much like having a desire to learn the dictionary but never getting past the letter “A”. So your inquiry is about asana rather than yoga.

It is appropriate however for a young man to have a young practice. The furtive mind along with a vital physical body allow for a more frisky practice. I will caution you however that frisky practices may have a higher risk factor for injury. Just as basketball may have a higher injury risk than billiards. For this reason I’d advise a teacher regardless of what practice you select. Your odds of mal-practicing at home with a DVD are greater since there is no one there who can see your practice objectively.

That having been said, perhaps consider the Power Vinyasa offerings from Baron Baptiste or the Ashtanga primary series with David Swenson. I have experience with both of these teachers and therefore can recommend them from within. There are others but I have not studied with them so it would be anappropriate for me to mention them.

#4

Thanks for the replies. The Ashtanga primary series does look good, and i will give it a go soon.
Unfortunately i cant get to any classes for the next 3-4 months because of work commitments, that is why im looking for DVDs.

Can anyone answer my other questions? Like how often one can do yoga? Can you do it before/after a really intense workout? Can you do it when you are sore from a previous days workout? How long should a yoga session be?

Thanks again for the advice and suggested DVDs!
Thom

#5

You can have an asana practice every day. Obviously the nature of the practice itself AND the approach of the practitioner are factors in frequency.

Yoga is done around the clock. There is no stop or start to it.

Asana practice is best done after a workout. Once the body goes para-sympathetic at the end of yoga it is best not to fire up the central nervous system.

Yoga can be done before, during, and after an intense workout.

When the student has sore muscles, thus micro-tears in the muscle fiber, it is best to be very gentle. The muscle-building function needs recovery as part of its process. Deny that to your body and you are interfering with the purpose of working out.

Yoga can be done even when you are sore.

Asana sessions can be of any duration. However I find that 75-120 minutes for my practice is a very good slice of time to do what needs doing and be what needs being.

If you are struggling with coming to your practice on a daily basis it is of course “ok” to do ten minutes a day. But that would not be a very robust practice and therefore one would not reap the bounty of benefits Yoga has to offer.

#6

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;13828]You can have an asana practice every day. Obviously the nature of the practice itself AND the approach of the practitioner are factors in frequency.

Yoga is done around the clock. There is no stop or start to it.

Asana practice is best done after a workout. Once the body goes para-sympathetic at the end of yoga it is best not to fire up the central nervous system.

Yoga can be done before, during, and after an intense workout.

When the student has sore muscles, thus micro-tears in the muscle fiber, it is best to be very gentle. The muscle-building function needs recovery as part of its process. Deny that to your body and you are interfering with the purpose of working out.

Yoga can be done even when you are sore.

Asana sessions can be of any duration. However I find that 75-120 minutes for my practice is a very good slice of time to do what needs doing and be what needs being.

If you are struggling with coming to your practice on a daily basis it is of course “ok” to do ten minutes a day. But that would not be a very robust practice and therefore one would not reap the bounty of benefits Yoga has to offer.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

#7

Thanks again for all the help.

What i plan on doing, is to do a 90-120 min session of yoga twice a week.

Could anyone recommend a DVD that has a session that i could do i the morning just after i wake up, something that is low in intensity and goes fo aound 10-20mins? I believe this would be an awesome way to start the day.

Any ideas?
thanks once again,
Thom