What is Yoga All About?

When I go home to see family, I admit I don't keep up with my regular workout routine. I don't come home as often as I'd like so when I do, I'd rather spend time visiting with family then working out. The other week when I went home, my mom asked me to take a yoga class with her. She had never took one before either but wanted to try something different than her daily boot camp classes.  Now we've both heard many good things about yoga and how it may improve your running by the way you breathe and our posture so we thought we would give it a try.

 
We arrived at the yoga studio with our mats ready to go. There was a lot more people there then what we thought, many their first time as well. The class was Basic Yoga. Now I never tried yoga in the past, because I feel like when I work out I want to be breathing heavy and sweating, not breathing in and relaxing. But I was excited to try something new.

We started with finding our "center" and staying grounded by making sure both our feet were evenly distributed on the mat. The instructor told us that people tend to not distribute their weight evenly when they are doing daily activities such as waiting in line at the grocery store or brushing their teeth. They tend to roll on their outside or inside of their foot and that may cause hip or back problems with time. Your feet are the foundation of everything you do. If you do not have a good foundation, that's when one may become out of alignment. 

We did some basic yoga moves such as child's pose, downward dog, warrior, plank, and cobra. I didn't think they were very hard (maybe because they were basic). However in some moves we would raise a hand or leg and try to keep our balance, which was a bit more challenging. Having never taken a yoga class before I never knew what the block was for. It is to assist you in certain moves if you cannot reach the mat with you hand, you place your hand on the block to keep your balance.

Overall the class went well, but I didn't feel like I worked up a sweat and burned a ton of calories. So never taking a yoga class before, I had an idea in my head how it would be, and I was pretty much spot on. Now I know why I have never have taken one before now. However, I did feel more flexible afterwards and the stretching felt good, because I never do that after my runs (which I know I should). It is a nice change to your daily routine, however I would do this on a rest day, and not replace it with a workout. Me personally, when I workout, I want to get my heart rate up and sweat. I need to keep moving. I am way to antsy to stay in one spot and relax by taking deep breathes. 

Have you ever taken a yoga class? What are your feelings on it? Do you feel like it has helped you with your running?
~L

31 comments:

  1. I like yoga and I definitely think it helps my running. When I take a class regularly, I'm not as tight in the hips and therefore don't hurt when I run, lol! If I take a class at the gym, I consider it a rest day because it is more stretching than holding poses. But I have a couple of Power Yoga DVD's that are pretty good workouts and I will do them during an "on" day.

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    1. I should give yoga another try. I've heard it does help with your running. Maybe I need to do a power yoga. The class I took, was definitely a more "relaxed" yoga I thought

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  2. I love combining yoga with running too, it definitely helps loosen up my leg muscles that tighten during a run. And I agree that some yoga workouts are more strenuous than others. I've been doing the Jillian Michael's yoga on cross training days and that is definitely a workout!

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    1. I love Jillian Michaels workouts. I have a few of them, but not the yoga one. I should get that!

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  3. I've gotten more into yoga over the past year, but at the start I needed to find where to fit it in. I had issues because I skipped weight work for yoga but that's a no go. Now I use DVDs so I can get yoga into my schedule more easily, sometimes on a rest day, sometimes after weights.

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    1. Yeah, I don't think I could ever substitute a workout for yoga, it would have to be on an rest day that I would do it as well.

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  4. I try to practice yoga to help with relieving stress, but during busy weeks yoga often gets pushed to the wayside in favor of running and weight training. I definitely need to be better about balancing my workouts during the week and ensuring that yoga is a priority.

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    1. I find that running relieves my stress just fine. If you find a way to make yoga a priority, make sure you let me know. I don't think I could ever give up a run and replace it for yoga.

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  5. Power Yoga will get your heart rate up, and it's heated so you'll sweat tons! The studio I go to follows a Baptiste practice, and even their unheated gentle class is difficult. There are many different kinds out there =)

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    1. Good to know! I've always wanted to take a hot yoga class. I think I would enjoy that much more because I'd be sweating and feeling like I would be getting a good workout in.

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  6. i'm not a yogi. i have taken some classes that were okay but i'd much rather do barre :)

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    1. Don't know much about that one. Maybe I should try that out.

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  7. When I first started working out, I did power flow yoga and LOVED it! I really do like yoga, mostly because it aligns with my beliefs and mentality/outlook on life, but I just never make the time to do it. I know that I should though.

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    1. Time is always the problem. If I have the time, yoga isn't the first thing that comes to mind I have to be honest, but I should make the time!

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  8. Ok my first comment didn't go through so I'm gonna try this again (sorry if you get two comments from me lol)!

    I actually have found that I love yoga! Some days it is my only workout and other days I combine it with a sweat-producing workout. Have you ever heard of bikram yoga? I think it is when you do yoga in a very hot temperature environment so it helps produce more sweat. I've never done it before but I hear good things!

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    1. Only one comment from you:)

      I have heard of hot yoga, but never done it. I think that would be more my type of yoga since you are suppose to sweat so much during it, making me feel that I got a good work out in.

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  9. So many people love Yoga, but I am one of the few who have actually ever tried it. I'm not saying I wouldn't, but as a distance runner (when I am) I have that fear that runners get that over stretching will cause an injury. Which probably wouldn't happen if I tried it, but because of that "idea" in my head, I haven't given it a go:) Maybe one day:) I have done Pilates though, which is similar, but with more movement. However, from doing that I also know I am the least flexible person I know, LOL

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    1. I also know many people that can't say enough about how great yoga is. Being a long distance runner myself too, I don't think that overstretching will cause injury, it's suppose to help runners(so I hear). But I agree, I'm not a huge fan of it. Although I love Pilates, and I am not a flexible person at all either:)

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  10. Heated yoga doesn't have any special benefits--studies show you don't burn a significant number of extra calories, gain aerobic benefit, etc.--EXCEPT that if you like it, and will do it, it's great. the best exercise is the exercise you will do.

    Block aren't just for if you can't reach the mat. They are also used for people who can reach the mat, but it causes them to go into misalignment. They can be used to teach thigh muscle actions and balance (foam blocks used under feet). Blocks and other props are used extensively in restorative yoga, and for supported poses and passive backbends (such as supported bridge pose, and passive chest openers).

    It sounds like you took a basic intro class. Yoga is not necessarily a workout, and long before the different yoga poses turned into "yoga class" the entire purpose of moving was to get your body ready to sit still for meditation (which is what the original "yoga practice" was). There are literally hundreds of types of yoga. Even within a single school/type of yoga, each teacher is a little different. I'd encourage you to try as many different teachers and classes as you can. If you are looking for a strength workout, try classes based on Ashtanga yoga, or isometrics; look for a class that is 90 minutes (most of us teachers think 60 minutes is ridiculously short for a class!).

    Also, there are several books and DVDs that are specific to yoga for runners. They build strength and flexibility to support your running practice. If you are looking for something specifically to work on running, that's what you need.

    if you let me know where you are located, I can help you find your best options for classes.

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    1. Thanks! All great tips about yoga. Yes, the class was only an intro, so I think I would need something more advanced or something specifically towards runners. With my crazy schedule finding time to go to classes isn't always an option. Maybe a workout video would be more helpful. Any suggestions on yoga for runners dvds?

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  11. I love this post!! Mostly because you went to Yoga with your mom! :) How awesome is that? I've taken yoga and love it. However, I've not been doing it routinely to reap any of the benefits in my running. I'm trying to turn that around though. I heard it's great for running!

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    1. Yes it was a nice to be able to go with my mom:) It was both our first time. Yes, it is great for runners(so I hear) but I'm with you, haven't done it enough to see any benefits to reflect in my runs yet.

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  12. I feel the same way. I hate when I 'workout' & my calorie burn is next to nothing. I need my heart rate up as well - I like the stretching of it, but I'm not a big yogi... I do need the flexibility of it though.

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    1. I know! I always feel like I don't get a good workout when I don't burn a lot of calories. That's why I choose to run and sweat, rather than stretch and meditate:) Maybe on rest day I will do it.

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  13. OMG Yoga is so crucial to my running. If I don't keep up with it, I notice a difference immediately, especially with my IT band. I mostly do yoga at home through yogaglo.com since my hubby travels so much and I can't always get a sitter (and it's much cheaper too). You can search through the index of classes by body part or style, but I usually go with a running specific class to keep me injury free.

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    1. Maybe I need to do yoga more so I can see a difference in my runs. My sister and I both have had IT band issues. Glad to hear something else helps with that, than just the foam roller(although I do love that thing). I can't always get to the gym either with my schedule, good to know there are classes right online you can do, and even running specific. I should look into that.

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  14. Yoga to me is like my secret weapon! I feel it has helped with my running so much and it totally helps with the running!

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    1. Glad it's helping you. I've just been reading other comments that there are yoga for runners specific. I had no idea about that! I will be looking into those.

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  15. Throughout college some of my professors would incorporate Yoga into one of our dance technique classes, usually if it was around finals or close to a performance, to help us relax. I've taken a few Bikram Yoga classes although I'm not a fan of being in what feels like a Sauna and trying to do much of anything!

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  16. I am finding as I get older I am less flexible. Yoga is really helping me with this. But I agree, I do it IN ADDITION to my workouts, not instead of. I think it feels great to stretch and I love the relaxation at the end of the class.

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  17. I haven't taken classes, but I do own a few DVDs. I like to follow up my long runs with Candle Light yoga (from Crunch) to help keep me loose.
    I'm not as much of a fan of a lot of the more complicated strength moves, but I do like the stretching and breathing exercises.

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