Yoga and Pilates
 

Is anyone a fan? I haven't personally tried yoga but I reguarly do pilates at home and find it great for toning muscles and reducing stress levels. I also do it to combat a painful medical condition.

What exactly is pilates, Vanilla? What is the goal?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...23-Cq73EZAqHcQ

Its similar to Yoga as she described but its main goal is to focus on core and Yoga's main core is flexibility. My girlfriend loves it and I love watching but i'm no expert to be included in the conversation.

I've been interested in trying hot yoga. They have classes at the university gym starting in January. They also have couples yoga classes which could make or break my relationship, so I think I'll just do this alone :laughing:

I started doing Yoga at age 10 or so, then kind of just faded out of it until a friend of mine turned me on to T'ai Chi. I haven't trained in a long time, but the benefits of when I was doing it are still lingering.

T'ai chi ch'uan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

...and what is this medical condition, if I may ask?

I've tried a fair amount of basic yoga, but I'm like the least flexible person in the world so it's impossible for me to even get into some of the poses, let alone hold them or get any benefit from them.

It's Endometriosis. It gives me painful periods cramps and year around abdominal cramps.

This haha, I done a class as part of my college course and I literally had to try and fold myself into some of the positions. I thought my pelvis was going to snap at one point.

I've never understood what pilates is... Yoga is some wholesome sport which I've never done but ought to... I reckon I should've had a go at it long ago, since I understand it would effectively help me soothe down and get oppressive thoughts off my chest after tough days at the job.

Its the only kind of yoga I enjoy.

And Jans - you should try it. The heat helps keep you loose.

Is hot yoga the same is Bikram yoga? I've done Bikram a few times, it's pretty intense, but I prefer just regular yoga better! It's much more relaxing!

I do yoga twice a week and I find it beneficial. I wish I could do it a little more - maybe three times a week - but I just don't have the time! A lot of my friends who go to the gym still "scoff" at the point of yoga but it has actually built up my core to be quite strong, not to mention the other benefits. I find it helps with tenseness around the shoulders and back (I have this constantly), stress levels, and I find I always sleep better after a yoga class!

I also do a Les Mills program called 'Body Balance,' which is a combination of yoga, tai chi and pilates all in one class. I highly recommend it, I think it's fantastic.

I really hate heat though. :(

Well then you're going to die a cold, rigid old man.

I do Sports and Fitness in college and one of my blocks incorporates classes like Yoga and stuff like that in to it. I frequently do exercise and use the gym and yoga kicks my ****ing ass. I've no idea how all those old chicks can do it. I want to start because I have the flexibility of a rigamortis ridden corpse. Does it help much? I need to become more flexible to become better at certain sports and such. My shoulder flexibility is actually shocking for a 21yr old.

HAHA :laughing:

Definitely helps for flexibility! Especially if you work out a lot. I was doing a lot of weight training at one point and was really stiff. Yoga loosens you up and stretches your muscles out, helping your flexibility :) It also helps muscles heal and the soreness you get after a really hardcore weights or cardio session. I remember the first few times I did a yoga or Body Balance class, I found it really difficult, but if you go regularly you will notice your flexibility improving! I guess you just have to keep it regular!