asanas, weights, and cardio in a balanced manner makes sense, but I cant tell you the best approach for you, well I could but that dont mean i would be right.
If we are just discussing the outer, then it depends on entirely on what kind of body YOU want. I’m not a body builder by ANY means, but I’ve always appreciated it as another art form, such as painting, writing, sculpture (especially), and it is doubly true if one looks at the body as a sort of creative blank slate.
What are your personal goals-emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally in conjunction with your workout (if any, some, most or all of the above)? That will determine what your route should be. Remember, even if you take Ronnie Coleman’s (noted bodybuilder—an 8-time Mr. Olympia) workout and diet plan, you are not guaranteed to look like Ronnie Coleman. Your body is different from anyone else’s so how you shape it is the creative part–what, when, how you eat/drink/sleep/workout/play. Those are huge factors. So figure it out what it is that YOU want out of a workout regimen, and let that be your guiding light.
And Pawel, that video is funny! But I wonder if he was really on steroids or was the videographer just making assumptions? If it’s true, what a shame to further the stereotype that all bodybuilders use steroids. Bah
I’ve trained some before but I came to the conclusion that it is best and easiest to maintain your “normal” body (without excessive weight or muscles), but still fit of course. I do have a quite normal body now and no desire to add more muscles.
One reply on that video was quite to the spot:
[I]“The crucial difference between the two disciplines is this: bodybuilding is a finite endeavor, yoga is for a lifetime. Bodybuilding is high-maintenance, dependent on access to external substances and equipment, all obsolescence-prone. There will definitely be a tipping point where the body will begin to dissipate regardless of effort. The desire for added, unnecessary weight forced onto the body against its natural blueprint is bound to backfire. Yoga culture is in terms of itself.”[/I]
Ok, that is my opinions if you wanna build some, then do it. But not to much, I think one will regret that later.
I’ve seen more actual strength displayed by those who’ve honed a yoga practice than the most ‘built up’ weight-lifters. While weights can definitely tone and reshape your body, yoga seems to get the body working together as a whole instead of tweaking isolated parts. In my own experience, weight lifting seemed to be driven by, and create, a more tense and constricted impulse and result; yoga seem to demand that I relax and let go first, then develop a strength, tone and appearance that I appreciated because of how it felt, looked and functioned. Perhaps you can find a balance between the two that really fits for you - good luck!
I definitey prefer the Yoga body in the above video. I was also checking out videos of the yoga asana championships and was really impressed with what I saw. I think I would definitely prefer to build a body that is natural, fit and strong. Now the only problem I can forsee is that Yoga asanas take a very long time to give benefits and develop muscle, and as I naturally find it very hard to put on muscle and need to gain more weight to fit my ecotomorphic frame and height, I should perhaps consider doing weight lifting and bulking up in conjunction with Yoga asanas. Then later when I have a decent size make Yoga asana my primary exercise.
[QUOTE=Surya Deva;32065]You have a good body. Do you do only Yoga or do you do weight lifting and/or other exercise?[/QUOTE]Thanks. Well, I use to train martial arts. But not anymore. I do yoga and bicycling now. Actually I have to be careful for the “middle section” also difficult, but I have to eat more correct as a first step I think.
Weight lifting will give you faster results, I guess.
I did weight training for 10 years; now I’ve moved on to yoga practice (asana practice so far; total beginner).
In my opinion, whatever you do, it should be
a) fun for you – I know people who hate weight lifting; I personally loved it. I found working through my routines, focussing on my body and my breath, very calming and gave me peace of mind. Others find it simply boring…
b) under the supervision of an experienced, knowledgable teacher. You can do great damage to your body by wrongly executed weight lifting and asana practice.
Of course you could also combine the two practices, if you like; but it’s important not to overdo it. If you’re exhausted, it’s very hard to listen to your body and to maintain correct alignment (important, again, in both practices). Also, your muscels need to rest in order to grow.
Remember, there is a difference between bodybuilding and weightlifting. It takes more than training with dumbbells and cable machines to achieve the body that was seen in that video. Training with weights does not ensure a body builder’s frame.
From what I know, training with kettlebells involve several groups of muscle in the whole body, where as many exercises with normal dumbbells address isolated muscles.
The risk of injury with kettlebells is pretty high, since they’re way more difficult to use.
(sorry for wandering off into a not-so yoga-related topic)
Surya Deva, though its allright now, later combining yoga and weightlifting may be like trying to move in different directions simultaneously. Gaining bulk is hard or ectomorphic body. It gets quickly lost after lightening diet or reducing intensity of trainings. There are some asanas that charge your muscles enough. If they dont - you may include some hard body weight exercices - push-ups, pull-ups etc.
Trainings should be natural.
I say go to a gym and look at the body types then go to a yoga class and look at the body types. Do that at a few places and you’ll get a good idea. Personally I like having the shape and strenght of a natural equilibrated bodybuilder but with the posture, flexibility and endurance of a yogi. Thats why I do both.
It wasn’t always like that though. I have been weight lifting for over 20 years now and been doing yoga for about 5. In my first 15 years of weight lifting I was the typical meat head that never stretched and was pushing as heavy as I could. My posture was awful. My body was soar all the time and my body was as flexible as a 2x4. I’m great-full that I had at least the common sense to develop my legs and not just my biceps. You’ll see a lot of those monkey like people in a gym, big biceps with no legs. However most yogi’s will be more equilibrated.
There was a lot of trial and errors during my adaptation from lifting weights only to doing both. There was also a period where I only did yoga, but I felt I was missing something. The main challenge the first few years was to get the knowledge about yoga from people who never lifted weight and gaining the endurance to do both. Re-learning how to lift weight while keeping energy for yoga. Putting the ego aside, being willing to put some brut force aside for endurance and flexibility. Contracting and stretching may work against each other if your looking at being at one extremity. However they can be in harmony if you do both in an equilibrated manner.
So coming from my point of view, I suggest you do both. You obviously care about your physical appearance or else you would not be asking this. Your challenge will be to find your equilibrium. How much muscles do you want? how much flexibility do you want? What is your current physical condition and how old are you? If your 15 and full of hormones than feel free to go all out on both but what ever you do never skip stretching after lifting weight. Thats the piece of advice I would give myself if I could move back in time.
Weight training is very vague. Are we talking specifically in barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, bodyweight? All of the above? I think the term is frequently considered to mean “strength training” (getting stronger, which would meet your “toned” description of your goal) or “bodybuilding” (big bulky muscles). All of the above methods can be used towards the same goals, and all use a variety of isolation and compound (usually full body) movements.
Yoga is not very useful for bodybuilding but as strength training, is most similar to isometric bodyweight training. Which just means static holds in various positions using only your bodyweight and leverage to provide resistance. This can be very effective and is capable of getting the results you’re after.
I do believe that the culture surrounding weight lifting (which I’m far more involved with than yoga) is less healthy. Gaining more muscle mass than is healthy, eating enormous quantities of food chosen usually just for high protein quantities (guzzling several litres of milk per day, for example), building muscular strength faster than tendon strength can keep up with and the drugs (steroids) that are relatively commonplace. It is a perfectly fine method of training one’s body, it does however require you to follow an intelligent sense of direction.
Yoga however can be… soft. Some yoga practitioners are physically truly phenomenal, and mentally/spiritually they can be even more impressive. Most however are not, it is not a culture that demands intensity or consistent progress, it is decidedly not competetive and you really have to decide on your own how dedicated you are going to be, you will not be pushed as hard.
Keep in mind also that regardless of what method of physical training you use, the single greatest contributor to your body (in appearance and functionality) is your diet rather than your exercise. This is very often greatly underestimated.
I think it’s interesting with body types (and personalities). David Swenson is a great yoga icon for me. He has been practising yoga since 1969 when he was 13 years old, he is now 54 years old and have quite nice body I think, if you could say that as a guy
[QUOTE=Danny;32232]I think it’s interesting with body types (and personalities). David Swenson is a great yoga icon for me. He has been practising yoga since 1969 when he was 13 years old, he is now 54 years old and have quite nice body I think, if you could say that as a guy
Amazing, he definitely has a nice body. If I can have a body like him at 50 I would be be very proud.
very interesting thread, because I kinda have a simulair problem with my body. It’s not overweight or too skinny. Don’t know my lenght in feet and inches, but it’s 166 cm and about 65 kilograms at a fatpercentage of 6 or 7%.
Yes I did lift some weight, but it’s the opposite of yoga. During the classes (Power Yoga), most of the ladies are very slim. Have toned muscles and some are pretty flexible. The men are usually longer than me and carry less muscle. Ofcourse there is allways new folks coming to the class, but they give up after 1 or 2 lessons.
So now, I asked my teacher how I can reduce some of the muscle, because it is getting in the way at some point. Also, it’s harder to carry. Plus the fact, that I’m focussing on becomming a yoga instructor.
There’s some things about muscles I read in this thread, about internal and external. And yoga (asanas) does focus on the internal, weightlifting more on the external.
Muscle tissue is build up in mainly 2 different types of muscle. There is fast-twitch and slow-twitch.
Fast-twist are easily built up. Body builders put focus on this type, because it grows faster than slow-twitch. A body boulder lifts a weight 8 to 10 times in sets of 4 or 5. (All I did was 6 reps with 3 or 4 sets, focus on muscle strenght not mass). It’s meant for explosive movement (i.e. boxing). Wide shoulders, big triceps… you know.
Slow-twitch have more endurance. I.e. marathon runners. They all have lean muscles and there all build up from slow-twitch.
But don’t let my reply discourage you. When burning fat, the best exercise is strenght training. It builds up metabolism, which helps you break down body fat.
I was once told a very usefull lesson. If you want to become a body builder, you should practice like one, If you want the body of a dancer… go dance!! If you like a swimmers body, you should dive into the pool. It’s the form of movement, your body will adapt to.
[quote=Tum;32311]very interesting thread, because I kinda have a simulair problem with my body. It’s not overweight or too skinny. Don’t know my lenght in feet and inches, but it’s 166 cm and about 65 kilograms at a fatpercentage of 6 or 7%.
Yes I did lift some weight, but it’s the opposite of yoga. During the classes (Power Yoga), most of the ladies are very slim. Have toned muscles and some are pretty flexible. The men are usually longer than me and carry less muscle. Ofcourse there is allways new folks coming to the class, but they give up after 1 or 2 lessons.
So now, I asked my teacher how I can reduce some of the muscle, because it is getting in the way at some point. Also, it’s harder to carry. Plus the fact, that I’m focussing on becomming a yoga instructor.
[/quote]
Since you’re trying to lose muscle, I take it you wont take offence if I say that at 65kg and 166cm tall, you’re not carrying more muscle than the average person (this does not mean you’re not strong, it means you didn’t bulk significantly which requires both intense training and intense eating). Also, muscle mass in itself will not prevent you from being flexibile. Tight muscles will. I certainly wouldn’t advise anyone at 7% bodyfat to attempt to lose weight (weight being fat or muscle tissue) and the only way you’ll lose muscle without dieting is by not using it for a very long time, and like I said, you’re not carrying a lot. Keep in mind that I’m just some dude on the internet with no credentials, but I would at the least advise the consulting of a reliable medical opinion or three before attempting to lose weight.
Yes, you’re right that they focus on fast-twitch muscles, and yes, for that reason. So do powerlifters (weight lifters are not by default bodybuilders). Fast twitch is used for maximal strength and causes lots of hypertrophy (required for gaining muscle mass), so that’s what many train for.
You did outline a particular rep scheme though and by performing more repetitions, or by holding isometric contractions you can develop endurance and strength endurance, developing slow twitch muscle fibres.
Simply put, weight is no different when it’s on a barbel compared to the weight of your own body. It is weight, it is resistance that your muscles must contract to hold or move.
Also, do not be fooled that the weight of the body is limited to the weight you see on the scales. Who was that greek bloke who said he could tip the world if he had a lever long enough? I can’t remember, but he was right. Leverage will increase the force and in turn, the force required to fight against it.
Completely agree on the fact that most average people carry the same amount of muscle. But the difference is, that the average person in the Netherlands is about 180 cm or taller. The muscles are spread over a larger body.
When I was younger, my body was more flexible. Weightlifting (indeed no body building) caused a bit more muscle mass and is heavier. No, I’m not complaining when it comes to basic poses. But in order to perform advanced asanas, I understand that it’s much harder to achieve.
A friend of mine who had done yoga in the past, has a typical yoga body. Less muscle and his muscles are long. He can’t bench press 60 pounds, because he didn’t develop fast-twitch muscle.
if you wanna build some, then do it. But not to much, I think one will regret that later.
