Any other Clydes try Yoga?
 

I was at my local stealership discussing a couple of my Italian build projects when the subject of yoga came up --- I was an Aikido practitioner many years ago and wanted to try something similar, -- as i enjoyed most the meditative aspects of that practice

At any rate, my shop keep stated the neighborhood yoga studio's program was well suited to cyclists

--- I have not as of yet signed up for a class -- i have a big belly and an injured knee that inhibits some movements and was wondering if i am on the right path here, or is this something i should do when i drop a few pounds

Check this out.
https://www.t-nation.com/training/yo...r-big-bastards

Not only yoga, but Bikram. 90 minutes in a hot room, 2 x 26 poses. I would recommend it to anyone who is not faint of heart. Although Bikram Choudhury is a creep show of an individual, these classes are worth experiencing. I did it for a dozen classes, what a trip.

To your question: no. I think you'd get more out of yoga after resolving weight issues, I think yoga and excess weight (big belly) and injuries it's a really tough combination. Too much compression and balancing issues. No one in any of my classes was visibly heavy or injured.

Walk it off, or do T25 on the modified level. Save yoga for later.

My gf is a yoga instructor and I go to her class almost every Sunday morning. She has students with weight problems. A good instructor will always have ways you can modify a pose to work around size and injury issues. I say give it a go. Start with an easy hatha class or similar, talk to the instructor, and go from there.

I personally have balance issues related to the after effects of a severe TBI and find the yoga useful for improving my balance and as a cross training strength/weight bearing exercise session. There is also a mental/meditative benefit similar to a good road ride.

My girlfriend recently bought DDP Yoga. I don't know if that counts. We haven't started yet.

I feel like snapping into a Slim Jim every time I watch the promo :)

Looks like that guy uses "yoga" as mainly a "stretching routine" with some slight "core strengthening." If that's what you need, go for it.

I did Hatha yoga for a month or two a few years ago. I just downloaded a cool app on my phone that would walk me through it, telling me when to breath and change positions and what not.

It put me to sleep, every time. It made me sleep SO well. (Yes, I know Hatha yoga isn't... hard.)

What's the name of the app please.

Every morning... when I try to tie my shoes.

Pfffft.... Tying shoes is so 84 pounds ago. Other than a brand new pair when I tie them for the first and only time, I haven't tied my shoes since the 90's :lol:

Reportedly DDP's program is awesome --- i personally am not self motivated enough right now to do a train at home to DVD's type program

But the plan is in motion -- i am taking a beginner level class tomorrow to see what its all about ---- I really want to try the hot yoga classes as well -

I tried to do a few of the basic poses at home (down dog pose) -- this is going to be an experience for sure

--- I'd miss out on a lot of living if i waited until i lost 50 pounds to do everything - time to jump in the fire -- LOL

Amen to that brother.

The DDP yoga is excellent, for all sizes and capabilities (I'm 6'5" 275lb). I've been doing it after my cardio in the winter to help with flexibility and core strength. I've previously taken yoga classes and DPP mainly just changes the position names to make them more 'manly'. Its a bit more dynamic than some yoga i've done (dynamic being a relative term, nothing bouncy or dangerous)
If you can find the disks cheap, they are worth it.

i did some yoga type stuff (from Wii Fit) a few years back, and i found that it helped my overall flexibility. The biggest difference I found was that I was less likely to hurt my back (i've been to a doctor, my back is actually ok, i keep stressing out muscles / pinching nerves)

Stretching and bending is super good for your core. You look like you are concentrating very hard on the pose but in reality you are using every muscle in your body not to fart.:p

Truth.

I made this mistake of thinking of yoga as primarily a stretching and relaxation practice, and while it does accomplish those things, I didn't reap the full benefits until I incorporated a yoga practice (Ashtanga yoga) along with daily meditation and breath focus to help create more mindfulness, fitness and relaxation. I'm still a beginner, but it has been a huge help with my fitness and weight loss. Being more mindful about food choices and other daily choices related to weight loss and fitness has been huge for me. I say keep trying, heavy or not, and you might find something that really helps.

I got heavy into yoga in 2011. Its a wonderful practice but be mindful of adjusting your practice to your abilities. I tend to push myself and I think the "jump to the top of the mat" exacerbated an existing knee problem such that I finally needed an operation.

Let it out... Doing you no good in...

I've been doing Iyengar yoga (a form of Hatha) for about three years, and I think the best way to start is in a class with a good teacher. You need to learn how to find the limits and recognize when they change (they will, weekly!). In yoga you use your muscles to pull and push your body into positions that will be challenging and can be downright odd. Others are darned difficult. It's really important to learn to do them safely. Go-go aggressiveness can be a hazard to your health in yoga.

Get a good teacher.

So... the wife and I patched things up (yay!), and she, um, wants me to do Yoga with her. I'm very inflexible now, and of relatively significant girth, so I know I'm in for a world of hurt and humiliation ( :) ), but I am looking forward to it. It will be nice to be able to touch my toes again. I'll report in if I find or hurt anything meaningful.

I'm sorry i havent reported in on this ----

After my initial post, i had a whirliwind of work activity that was a pain in the neck and i did not get to the Yoga studio


This situation has been rectified --

Today was my first class ---- it wasn't "hot" yoga, - but i worked up a helluva sweat -- There were some movements i could not do -- i tried -- the foundation position, downward dog, in particular is a bear when you weigh 3 bills --- but the instructor stated off the bat to not be afraid to do fill in movements if any were difficult.
When i was signing in, she asked me if there was anything she should know about me , medically or otherwise . I let her know i had raced motocross for 25 years and ran down a partial list of my current and chronic ailments -- but stated that some of these were why i was there

The session was challenging, but not what i'd call HARD --- when i left the dojo, i felt invigorated -- my joints were loose and felt great!
I got home and showered -- then prepared myself to run a few errands ( had to take 2 wheels back to the bike shop to true them up ) -- This was about a 3 hour elapsed time ---- reality hit and in that 3 hours, my body began reacting and telling me i had actually had a workout

I was wasted and wanted nothing more than to go home and take a nap -- there is a sweet spot for naps and for me thats between 3 and 5 pm max -- if you miss it, you should just power through and wait till 9-10pm or so and hit the hay at a normal time --- otherwise i would be up till 1AM farting around on Bike Forums

Anyway --- i am shutting the 'puter down and hitting the hay tonight earlier than i have in a long time

Yoga is pretty cool and i look forward to the next session

Congrats to you for trying it, and it seems you found a good studio. Drinks lots of liquids.

thanks - I know i am early in this adventure, but i dare say that an hour session would be a nice warm up prior to a big ride. -- if i had jumped on the bike immediately after rather than showering out and piddling around, it would have been a nice ride!
I also suffer from the chronic aging disease - meaning every year i get a little bit older. The warmups are more important now than they were when i was 22 (or even 28)

what someone said earlier in the thread about concentrating on holding in the flatulence did ring true, -- being surrounded by attractive soccer moms and skinny girls from the local university, thats the last thing i wanted was to advertise that i not only look like a neanderthal, but smell like one too. That said, i did find out that nice looking women are not immune from an occasional gas expulsion either

I don't know if my core is really solid... but I know it's really thick.

Never signed up for a class but I've done numerous videos, some along with my wife who is extremely good at yoga.

I've given up on any benefits from yoga, other than watching my wife. I lift weights as well as bike ride and find that the weights have more effect on my flexibility and mobility than yoga. (For the doubters, try squatting over 300 pounds without being flexible and mobile.) Front squats, bent presses, and kettlebell get-ups, among others, really help me.

Just another perspective.