Comments for Yoga Health Tips

Comment on What is a good yoga video for beginners to use? by Dances with Buddha

Dances with Buddha — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:45:57 +0000

I would recommend Shiva Rea’s "Yoga Shakti."
http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Shakti-Shiva-Rea/dp/1591791847

Check out some of her sample clips on youtube to get a feel if her style of instruction appeals to you.

If increasing flexibility is your only goal, then I recommend book "Stretching" by Bob Anderson.
http://www.amazon.com/Stretching-20th-Anniversary-Revised-Anderson/dp/0936070226/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266558574&sr=1-1

There is also a "Stretching" dvd by Anderson, but I have not seen it.

I don’t know about Pilates, but would like to comment that being "not flexible enough" should not stop you from practicing yoga asana (poses).
You do not have to do a perfect pose (or even close to it), to derive benefit.

Example, in pose Uttanasana (Standing forward bend http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/478 ) even if a person cannot touch their toes (let alone get forehead to touch shins), you receive benefit by doing whatever creates a "developmental stretch."

A "developmental stretch" is more than an "easy" stretch, but less intense than a painful, drastic (and potentially injury causing) stretch.
If you practice developmental stretches regularly (ideally once a day), you will likely see improved flexibility in two to three weeks.

Namaste’,
dwb

Comment on YOGa??!??!?!?!!??!? by Sai2301

Sai2301 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:44:01 +0000

kickboxing and Yoga/Pilates…

Comment on YOga???!!!!? by gwenhaven

gwenhaven — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:36:35 +0000

Hi Hon,
Yoga will help with it as much as it can. It stimulates blood flow to the smaller capillaries, including those in the surface of the skin. Making sure you are breathing correctly is most important in yoga, as it carries the oxygen to the muscles and areas that usually don’t get much, and it also helps to "squeeze" out areas that contain stale blood, providing fresh blood and oxygen to the areas. Twisting poses do this most effectively, but all are beneficial.
As for having saggy skin, you will have some in your weight loss, as the skin is slower to recover than the muscles and the rest of the body as you lose weight. Don’t despair, keep up the exercise and the yoga and it will eventually become firmer, it will just take a long time.
I suggest you visit http://www.sparkpeople.com and sign up, it’s completely free, and join their forums and ask your question about loose skin there, to find out more from people who have experience with large amounts of weight loss and the resulting loose skin. They can tell you their success stories for helping them tighten up, and help you see also what you will have to accept.
It’s a great website to help people who are trying to live a healthier lifestyle.
Good luck!

Comment on YOGA???????????????????????????? by Tarra

Tarra — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:20:34 +0000

Yoga is an awesome workout. Yes, workout, meaning, you’ll burn lots of calories doing it.

All those balance and stretching movements are like micro-muscle workouts. All your little muscles twitching and holding you in position takes lots of energy. Any routine that requires balance, is a "core" workout. (midsection).

You may not feel like your keeping up for the first week or so – but i promise – you’ll get Flexible plenty fast.

Is it fun? That’s really up to you to decide. It’s one of those love it or hate it things. As a gymnast, im flexible already – but nothing close to yoga queens. Im always "OMG..That move isn’t possible!" . lol This keeps it fun and challenging for me.

19 too old? Hardly. At our gym, we have 60-70 yr olds (woman AND men) joining yoga.

Comment on tai chi, yoga health? by canner

canner — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:14:10 +0000

it is a very good practice for health!! it helps reduce stress and blood pressure, and makes one more flexible physically!

Comment on Can Yoga that is in a specially designed 38 degree heat room have negative health affects? by Olivia J

Olivia J — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:14:53 +0000

There’s no such thing as a miracle weight loss method.

It can cause dehydration seeing as you’re sweating so much (assuming you mean 38 Celsius). Dehydration is pretty serious so if you’re going to do this kind of yoga you need to drink a lot of water during.

Comment on Which kind of Yoga is best for people with poor health? by abbacat

abbacat — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 02:14:40 +0000

You may want to try different styles depending on whether you are in a symptom-free or flare-up stage.
Things shift dramatically during flare-ups, when most sufferers experience profound fatigue. During those times,
you may want to begin with a "Restorative" style class as it focuses more on opening and breathing. It’s very relaxing and easy for anyone to do. You could also try a "gentle" yoga class and see how you feel afterwards. Personally, I have found that "Yin" yoga has helped me the most with painful connective tissue issues. It involves deep stretching(mostly seated) and the poses are held for several minutes. Yin and Restorative are the most quiet of practices.

If you feel like you want something more vigouous, then you can try some vinyasa flow classes. Some people with lupus or other autoimmune diseases eventually find "hot" bikram yoga helps them feel better.

Just start slowly, honor your body and don’t push yourself as yoga is non-competitive. Good luck in your practice and I know that it will help you feel better.

Comment on how would you envision your ideal acupuncture/ yoga community health clinic? by AJ

AJ — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:14:27 +0000

the walls would be relaxing colors like light blue or green and brown decor would match with the yoga atmosphere. candles, incense. yoga instructors that could help you as much as possible and can answer any of your questions on yoga.

Comment on Which are the best yoga asanas for general health and overall fitness and toning up?and in what sequence? by Dances with Buddha

Dances with Buddha — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:15:27 +0000

I would strongly recommend Surya Namaskar (in English, ‘Sun Salutations’).

The pose sequence Patrick referred to in his answer may have been referring to are a section/sequence of asanas (poses) contained within Sun Salutations.

In my experience, the sequence for the poses he mentioned would be plank, Chaturanga Dandasana (often referred to as a ‘yoga push-up’), Upward dog, then back to Downward Dog.

You can find many sites, including demos on youtube, by doing web search on either phrase ‘Surya Namaskar’ or ‘Sun Salutations’.
Here’s just one: http://ashtangayoga.info/asana-vinyasa/surya-namaskara-a/index.html

Note there are quite a few variations to Surya Namaskar, so don’t be surprised to find pose sequences that differ slightly from one another.
I consider the sequence at above site to be the essential, core sequence.
You can add additional asanas at your discretion/liking.

Namaste’,
dwb

Comment on How soon after I start yoga will I be able to feel results? by passion2share

passion2share — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:56:01 +0000

Some people feel the benefits immediately, others in a few days or weeks. The most important thing as that you started and each day you will notice an increasing benefit to yoga in your life. A sense of calming, more flexibility, control, balance and harmony, as well as the physical appearance changes like muscle tone, decreased fat and such which will take on average at least a month. This does of course vary due to the amount of fat or current muscle mass you start with. Enjoy the new sense of peace and overall well being yoga will bring into your life!