GOOD yoga is a wonderful thing…I’ve been in and out of Yoga since college, still influences some of the things I do
However, finding GOOD yoga can be VERY HARD since it is as subject, if not MORE SO, to fraud and BS as TCMA are these days…
In fact, the first person I did Yoga with, who at the time was considered a “big figure” turned out to be a total fraud!
Iyengar would be a good choice, one of the few real guru who is also very organized, modern in many respects, organized and international
Everybody’s already said it.
Just to add one thing: I’ve never had a bad experience with yoga. Even with some of the more New-Agey touchy-feely seminars and things, the worst you get is some chanting or meditational commentary. Oh, and the ‘healing music’, which always makes me want to kill everyone in the room.
The poses, although admittedly I’ve never progressed beyond beginner, have always felt good at the time and after. Plus, unlike MA, if you get a dodgy teacher, at least it doesn’t mean you might get shanked!
Women friends of mine however, have told me some hokey stuff. This includes one who was borderline groped by the teacher who was supposedly ‘adjusting her posture’. She wasn’t imagining it either: it later came out that many others had had the same experience.
Another school tried to co-opt my then girlfriend (and later me) into a tantric (yoga) sex ‘school’.
Find a Bikram Yoga Studio
Its a good discipline, no-nonsense,no BS(once you get past the hype about Bikram himself) I Just focus on what the asanas do for me. Ive been a Bikram practitioner off and on for about two years now. I love the practice. Does wonders for my body. I wouldnt make Bikram yoga a practice that you do all the time as it does take alot out of you heat wise(In Bikram Yoga you are doing the postures in a heated room and you sweat like a horse). The Bikram teachers say " oh you need to go 3 times a week for several months to get the full benefits" yada yada yada. But that is if you are doing nothing else with you life. As a supplement to other athletic activities, you can get away with doing Bikram once a week in addition to your other training.
The other reason why i like Bikram Yoga is that there is not any of the hoaky new age stuff. you dont have some stoned white chick with dreads talking about your “inner lightness of being” blah blah blah. I hate that aspect of some yoga places i have been to. INstead you have a nice looking athletic woman talking you through the postures, helping you to correct your form and giving you praise when they see you are really trying and doing your best.
Peace,TWS
Bikram!? Isn’t that the one that kicks the temperature up to 100 degrees and THEN work out?
Checked out a local Bikram place years ago and I couldn’ even sit through the class watching. Had to go outside to cool off and I’m in Florida!
If you’re lucky it will be Ashtanga, or Power Yoga. Anything else is pretty much hippie meditation and I did enough of that in the 70’s.
But seriously, it’s fun and different and relly good for your flexability and balance. Should compliment any CMA you’re doing.
[QUOTE=Yao Sing;873033]Bikram!? Isn’t that the one that kicks the temperature up to 100 degrees and THEN work out?
Checked out a local Bikram place years ago and I couldn’ even sit through the class watching. Had to go outside to cool off and I’m in Florida!
If you’re lucky it will be Ashtanga, or Power Yoga. Anything else is pretty much hippie meditation and I did enough of that in the 70’s.
But seriously, it’s fun and different and relly good for your flexability and balance. Should compliment any CMA you’re doing.[/QUOTE]
Ashtanga Yoga is not recommended for beginners. lol.
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;873034]Ashtanga Yoga is not recommended for beginners. lol.[/QUOTE]
I strongly support the practice of Ashtanga yoga - it has incalculably contributed to my PT practice…
Do you mean Ashtanga Vinyasa or Raja Yoga?
yea…don’t count on a yoga teacher to remember when to finish her class so the next class can start on time.
[QUOTE=IronFist;872729]So my gf does yoga (they offer it at her job, which is awesome) and I want to start doing it with her (at home).
[/QUOTE]
I bet you do !
[QUOTE=cjurakpt;873039]I strongly support the practice of Ashtanga yoga - it has incalculably contributed to my PT practice…[/QUOTE] Indeed , warrior’s yoga is a delightful practice and I also support it as a practice in ones life that will contribute to quality of life greatly.
But, I wouldn’t recommend it for a beginner and instead would recommend that you build your practice towards it gradually.
If you tried to learn kungfu by starting with the most difficult material, it will not be a workable solution…in other words. 
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;873118]Indeed , warrior’s yoga is a delightful practice and I also support it as a practice in ones life that will contribute to quality of life greatly.
But, I wouldn’t recommend it for a beginner and instead would recommend that you build your practice towards it gradually.
If you tried to learn kungfu by starting with the most difficult material, it will not be a workable solution…in other words. :)[/QUOTE]
actually, I meant it has “contributed” to my practice in terms of pateients with really messed up backs, necks, etc…:o
Here’s some interesting yoga for you to try…
- Wind-Relieving Asana . Thought fiber was the only natural remedy for expelling excess gas? Think again: this series of yoga postures assumed in asana-based classes assists air in exiting your digestive tract—in a room full of people. The motions involve lying flat on your back and pulling your left, right or both knees into your tensed stomach, squeezing out the stale air or, in instructor’s lingo, engaging your abdominal region to assist with elimination. The poses are also said to enhance supine strength and flexibility, making them optimal for those with both bad backs and Metamucil in their pantries (read: old people). “It could certainly be helpful with some individuals in terms of [their] low backs,” says Bryant. “But the whole flatulence aspect—I’m not so sure that there’s a great deal of physiological support for that being a need.”
The verdict: Group flatu-fitness? We’ll pass.
[QUOTE=Becca;873156]http://www.newsweek.com/id/145420/page/2[/QUOTE]
Ah chi, its everywhere !
Do a prayer twist in crescent pose or warrior one and you will probably fart.
[URL=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25400799/wid/11915773?GT1=31036”] Bad karma: When yoga harms instead of heals.
“Inexperienced teachers and overeager students behind rise in injuries”
yoga
dont have alot of time, and hate weight training. trying to consolidate time and effort. what about yoga-not just stretching, but strengthening and pranayam as well. please discuss.
yoga opinions
dont have alot of time or resources(here in the Deep South). trying to consolidate as much as I can for purpose of time and resources. really interested in tcm/qigong but availability is almost nil. i know yoga is different, but conceptually tied. please, discuss.
[QUOTE=groovenugget;1203411] and hate weight training. [/QUOTE]
this is why you have failed, my son.
lol, thanks for the encouragement. i do hope to try kettlebells this year, we’ll see.
back to the point at hand.
If you don’t want to devote time to taking care of your fitness and lack the willpower for weightlifting, what could you gain from attempting yoga?