Yoga + Strength training

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#13

As an FYI only…

From a look in through the classical Yoga perspective it is not at all about stretching and fluid movement. Factually speaking none of the great yogis of the past did any asana at all. Asana was frowned upon as an ego pursuit and was not entertained, it was shunned.

Even a look at the Sutras indicates there isn’t anything about yoga that remotely indicates stretching and movement. There’s only one sutra that mentions asana at all and that sutra, depending on ones interpretation indicates one should be still, not move.

If one applys the ashtanga path of Patanjali the purpose of asana is to prepare the body for pranayama. Pranayama is to facilitate sense withdrawl or praatyahara. This alllows the practitioner to focus the awareness (Dharana) and so on.

#14

[quote=InnerAthlete;6424]As an FYI only…

From a look in through the classical Yoga perspective [I]it[/I] is not at all about stretching and fluid movement. Factually speaking none of the great yogis of the past did any asana at all. Asana was frowned upon as an ego pursuit and was not entertained, it was shunned.

Even a look at the Sutras indicates there isn’t anything about yoga that remotely indicates stretching and movement. There’s only one sutra that mentions asana at all and that sutra, depending on ones interpretation indicates one should be still, not move.

If one applys the ashtanga path of Patanjali the purpose of asana is to prepare the body for pranayama. Pranayama is to facilitate sense withdrawl or praatyahara. This alllows the practitioner to focus the awareness (Dharana) and so on.[/quote]

Word to the Mother.

#15

I would like to use yoga to build muscle and strength, and I would like to get some advice on how to incorporate yoga in with a gym workout schedule (i.e. there is always some part of my body that is sore from lifting weights, depending on what day it is. Should I do yoga that works sore body parts, or should I avoid those poses and let that part rest?).

Thanks!

#16

Just do what I do.

Warm ups and dynamic stretching (swinging arms and legs around)
Then the strength excersises (neck, abs, back, push ups, pull ups or curls) I do a ton of ab reps and 1 set for push ups and biceps.
Then I do upper body stretches and hold for 20-30 seconds.
Run for about 2 miles
Then I do yoga stretches for my midsection, back, and legs.

That’s been working out great for me. I’ve always stretched after workouts before but just like 10 seconds and that comprehensive. Now I’m doing a lot more stretches for more body parts and for a lot longer. Recovery is better, I feel good, and I’ve been losing fat a little faster.

#17

[quote=yobabones;6676]I would like to use yoga to build muscle and strength, and I would like to get some advice on how to incorporate yoga in with a gym workout schedule (i.e. there is always some part of my body that is sore from lifting weights, depending on what day it is. Should I do yoga that works sore body parts, or should I avoid those poses and let that part rest?).

Thanks![/quote]
Sore body parts are exactly why I had to stop lifting weights in exchange for doing Yoga. Doing something as basic as down dog is hard if either your arms or shoulders are stiff and sore. Not to mention how difficult any or all of the twisting variations are if your back is tight.

#18

In other words, you didn’t end up finding a way to merge the two schedules together in such a way that your body could heal from the weight lifting while still being able to do yoga at least twice a week? I have to admit, that wasn’t the answer I was hoping for lol… but I don’t know if I would choose yoga over weight training. That is something I’m going to have to think about, as I was hoping to find a way to do both.

#19

Well I’m sure there are people, even professional athletes who are able to merge the two but my goal was never to do Yoga twice a week. I might have been able to manage that in some way. For me it got to the point where I wanted to do Yoga more often. I wanted to see better results as well as enjoy it more. The only way I saw that to be possible was to stop weight training.

#20

I think I understand why you want to do weight training. But why do yoga ?

#21

Because years of weight training causes your muscles to tighten up and yoga can help loosen them. Because weight training tends to focus on certain muscles while leaving others weak due to the artificial nature of the movements, and yoga can help me strengthen those smaller muscles that don’t get worked out in the gym. Because yoga is calming to me while weight training gets me “all worked up” and I like to have both calm and excitement in my life. Because weight training helps muscles lift heavy things for short periods of time, and yoga helps build stamina. Because I want the best of both words.

Just not if one world has a negative impact on the other.

#22

You can consider doing Yoga asanas before your weight-lifting routine. You want to get enough rest between weight-lifting sessions to recover, regardless of Yoga.

#23

I’m seriously considering adding yoga into my workouts and wouldn’t mind hearing some thoughts on yoga for building strength.

My interests here are in gaining overall strength but most importantly, strengthening my joints.
I workout using bodyweight exercises (push ups and chin ups are the compound exercises that I use, after that it’s all specialised stuff to isolate particular muscles), these are safer than using iron (and produce excellent results, I might add) but it seems I’m capable of injuring myself even by using push ups.

I’m all about functional strength, and so without something to help my joints my progress is going to be seriously hindered. Most of my body is in good condition but my elbows, wrists and knees are starting to suffer.
The small amount of yoga that I am aware of hardly touches these areas, so does anyone have any recommendations?

This I’m sure that you can help me with, but the larger question I’m not so sure about:
Can yoga be used to build great strength in muscles?
I’m a labourer and the nature of my job demands more and more strength. Can yoga help me with this too?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

#24

This is a resurrection of an old thread so I’m not sure who or how many will jump in here Aaron.

The answer to your question is “no” when you are asking about muscular strength.
When you are asking about muscular strength the requirement is increasing load. Yoga does not work with increasing load (much).

However if you are talking about pranic strength, that which comes from the life force in the body and the human being’s ability to channel and direct it, then yoga could develop such a thing. The caveat is that most people are not willing or able to have a robust commitment and therefore unable or unwilling to have a robust practice. It is not simply doing some poses that would deliver such a thing to the aspirant.

#25

Have you got any thoughts on how I could go about stretching (okay… strengthening) my joints?
Or since I have so little knowledge of what yoga physically does, a more blunt question would be “my elbow hurts, and my joints tend to be my weakest points, how can I fix this?” (most injuries caused by over training, slightly too much intensity and too often).
Now, I know a lot of people with banged up bodies who sing the praises of yoga for reducing or even eliminating similar injuries. Surely it can help?

Also, sorry about bringing back such an old thread, I intended it to be a new topic but I’m guessing a moderator moved my post thinking it would be more appropriate here? That or I managed to accidentally post it in an appropriate thread? Hmmm…

#26

I don’t believe a mod would move you in such a way. It is unlikely they would move a post into a thread though they may move it to a more pertinent section. Either way, there’s rarely a need to apologize here. It is quite fine.

What one does for the joint issue(s) depends on what is going on with the joints.

I am not fond of the broad-brush perception that “yoga” helps this and that. Instead I prefer the construct that some yoga (which is more than asana) shared in a certain way, practiced in a certain way, can support the body’s own inherent ability to heal. Perhaps it’s just semantics but I don’t think so. It is equally possible to have “yoga” injure or damage as it is to have it heal and repair. Just as too much water can drown the kidneys or tainted water can toxify the body so too can a careless or misguided yoga practice.

The approach would be two-fold; things to DO and things to AVOID.
Additionally, with any dis-ease, malady, or injury the three-prong focus on asana/pranayama, lifestyle/nutrition, and emotional work is most effective.

I have hundreds of ideas. But they are conjecture. It is always best to work with a well trained teacher skilled in yoga therapeutics. That having been said, your more blunt question sounds like one posed when the student has tendonitis or bursitis. In those cases it is best to rest the joint, provide it time to do the healing needed and support that with the best foods you can - organic foods with a focus on those that are deep green leafies and those that fall in the category of being alkaline in the body.

#27

Okay, here’s what I’ve got so far.

Rest this injury. Do what I can to speed up the healing process if I can but ultimately it still needs time to rest.

Then equally importantly I should not re-injure it. (i.e. lifestyle)

I can do that, it’s usually my own blind enthusiasm that causes me these injuries. That can be tempered.

Still, as someone heavily focussed on strength I cannot help but notice that these injuries highlight a weakness. My elbows, wrists and knees. Surely you are aware of a few asanas that if practiced appropriately (and only practiced when injuries aren’t present) would allow these joints to handle a little more stress?

#28

I combine yoga and weight lifting, I’ve been lifting for 8 years and doing yoga for 4 years. It can be done without too much interference. The bottom line, is what are your goals and what would you prefer to do to progress in the direction of those goals.

#29

Hi Peter,

I think you have said it yourself, the fact that you have so little knowledge about what yoga does physically, will make it irresponsible to suggest asanas as asanas are best practiced with a skilled and trained teacher. I would like to suggest that you seek a teacher/yoga therapist to help you, in the end you will find this much more satisfying and beneficial than reading up on a host of asanas and doing them and eventually risk injuring yourself further.

#30

Pandara,
I missed a Peter in this thread. To whom is the addressed?

Thank you,
Nichole

#31

Sorry, my blonde moment for the week, to Aaron. Sorry mate. :slight_smile:

#32

It is action in asana not asana alone that will stabilize the joints.
Presuming you are an otherwise healthy human being and you are dealing with muscle weakness that is facilitating unstable joints…

For example Adho Mukha Svanasana, when done properly, keeps the humerus secure with it’s joint (glenohumeral) and can align the radius/ulna with the humerus. Done improperly the humerus is moved away from the security of the shoulder joint and the arm bones are malaligned.

The same principals hold true for standing poses. Some can train the femur to stay in it’s socket while the imporper ways will hang on the ligaments.

There are specific ways to stabilize the knee joint which do not specifically apply to the hip as the joints themselves are different. One is a hinge joint and the other a ball and socket joint.

[QUOTE=Aaron;10271]Okay, here’s what I’ve got so far.
Rest this injury. Do what I can to speed up the healing process if I can but ultimately it still needs time to rest.

Then equally importantly I should not re-injure it. (i.e. lifestyle)

I can do that, it’s usually my own blind enthusiasm that causes me these injuries. That can be tempered.

Still, as someone heavily focussed on strength I cannot help but notice that these injuries highlight a weakness. My elbows, wrists and knees. Surely you are aware of a few asanas that if practiced appropriately (and only practiced when injuries aren’t present) would allow these joints to handle a little more stress?[/QUOTE]