Fighting Yo-Yo-Yoga
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First the qualifier...
Okay, so this isn't one of those hubs where I feebly try to impart wisdom about a subject; rather, I need someone to convince me I should do something I don't really want to!
Recently, it seems as though people and circumstances all around me have been promoting this idea that I should do yoga. Last night, I heard it again from a friend. It's like I'm getting some kind of consistent message pummeled into my stubborn brain while I'm staring blankly into the abyss of time and space saying to the universe, "Give me a sign!"
I was talking to my friend about how I'm working at being more focused (see my Monkey Mind hub for background), by paying attention to my breath, and working at staying in the present moment, instead of always flitting from the past to the future and back again. And she says, "That's exactly what I've been learning in yoga classes!" Apparently, she's been going two-three times a week to these classes where you sit, do funky positions contorting your body, and, from what I understand, get the equivalent of a full workout by making your body do things it hasn't, and probably shouldn't.
It slices, it dices . . .
I almost can't believe the number of claims I'm hearing and reading about what yoga does. It makes me think someone must be getting residual income from all of this, or like it's multi-level marketing and someone wants to invite me to a "party" where his "sponsor" wants to explain to me how it works! Here are some of the claims I've read:
- It increases your sperm count (which is really impressive for women!)
- It helps you stay young
- It helps focus your mind and body
- It speeds up your metabolism, helps you lose weight and gives you a healthy thyroid
- It brings you peace
- It helps your breathing
- It decreases your respiratory rate and blood pressure
- It increases musculoskeletal flexibility
- It decreases anxiety and depression
- It improves your attention, mood, learning efficiency, concentration, social adjustment, acceptance, depth perception, balance, sleep, dexterity and awareness.
- It decreases cholesterol levels, total white blood cell count, glucose and sodium levels, pain (based on the photos I'm questioning that one!) and pulse rate.
It almost seems you need to find something it doesn't do, because I'm not seeing much. Blend. There. I don't think it blends smoothies for me, and that's something I need. And pay the bills, kiss, play poker, and feed the dog. I'm pretty sure it doesn't do those things. But not much else. Because I'm thinking there's some kind of dog yoga going down somewhere.
What's holding me back
So, here's my list of reasons why I'm holding back on signing up for and going out to a yoga class, despite the 1,001 reasons why I should:
- I grew up tall and lanky, and have always felt gawky. Even today, I find the cross-legged position extremely uncomfortable. I can't understand why anyone would choose to sit that way, especially when there are good, reliable chairs around everywhere!
- I don't care for instructed classes, where someone stands in front of the room and tells me what to do. I'm a natural-born rebel and always want to do things my own way. Sure, it's stopped me from learning some things, but . . . um, I don't have a rest of that sentence. Let me get back to you on that . . .
- I don't want to look like these crazy people who are contorting their bodies. Even if they do that, why are they taking pictures of it and showing it to me on the internet? Really, what is up with that?
- I run almost every morning, I work out several times a week and have relatively healthy eating habits. My height/weight ratio is good, so I'm not really sure what else it will give me . . .
- There's that door over there that gets in the way of me going from here to a yoga class.
- I use my blender frequently, and don't think yoga will help me in that area. Oh, and I'm fond of kissing . . . the right person anyway!
So, the big question is whether I should pay attention to all of these cosmic signs and finally break down and try yoga to see what all the fuss is about . . . or just leave well enough alone. Thoughts?
The Yoga Poll!
Should I finally break down and try yoga?
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Comments
I say no because what you really should be taking is marital arts. If you're going to bend and twist and find you chee, you should also be able to smack someone upside the head. I'm a little pump up. I am testing for third degree black belt today.
Pgrundy - I completely relate to your hit and run analogy. I force myself to work out and run for the endorphins, to reduce stress and to stay more centered, but can't say I really "like" doing it. Maybe that's part of it for me - I have to stop thinking I'm going to "like" doing yoga, and just do it because of some intrinsic benefit I'll receive from it. But geez, I certainly hope there are no cameras in there . . . ;-)
Pete - interestingly I have seriously been thinking about martial arts (though you wrote "marital" arts, and I have even more problems in that Department!), and everytime my son and I go by a certain sporting goods store, we go in and punch the head of this punching bag in the shape of some dude - it does feel good. How often can you do that and not have to fork out for a lawsuit? Good luck on your test - wow, third degree. I'm impressed! Forgive my ignorance, but I don't understand the degrees after you get a black belt - I used to think that was the apex of the experience. How many degrees are there?
very interesting hub
Thanks for checking in, Lgali!
I'm thinking no on the yoga. You are too conflicted with the concept, and resisting the idea, to benefit from it! There are many other physical activities to help with stress relief that you might find enjoyable...
Great Hub! Love your sense of humor!
Good hub. I like your sense of humor too. But, I'm not going to vote.
I am conflicted - true, Midtown Girl! There certainly are other stress-relieving activities; I'll have to see about pursuing some of those too.
Thanks JW - tho I do think you should vote. It's your civic duty!
On the poker front I know Alan Cunningham does little else, away from the table. Good for the analytical mind? Maybe!
Thanks for the comment, OL. I suppose when you become really proficient at something like him, it becomes a sort of meditative act. I was talking to a guy who owns an antiques store the other day, and got into a conversation about focus. For him, his analogy was to playing pool. For my brother, it's playing piano.
My girlfriend just gave me the link to this Indie film on this very subject (fighting yoga): http://enlightenupthefilm.com/
Ok, since you are asking for MY opinion :-)
I teach yoga, when I feel I want to, not for profit and ONLY to help people. The very first time I taught was ad hoc for an instructor who needed to leave the class for an emergency when I was attending a college in Sturgis, Michigan. The class contained several football players and they were taking yoga for flexibility - flexibility = fewer bone snappage (yes, that's a word ;-)
I've also had the pleasure of teaching yoga to a karate class. Comments were - Wow! We thought that was going to be easy but it's really a good workout!
For a man who runs and works out often, yoga WILL benefit you by helping you to be flexible. The type of workout you do tightens your muscles and yoga will help to loosen them. You don't need to do a lot, you don't need to do contortions (I've only been able to put my foot behind my head once and that was after 3 shots of tequila and when sitting on a bar stool - get the image? teehee). Let me know if you'd like some guidance in this area.
That's interesting, Deb. I hadn't heard anyone say that my workouts tighten muscles and yoga loosens them. Okay. Still not there yet, but I do feel more educated... ;-)
Ok, let me 'splain myself mo betta since I'm seemingly more awake now and can process information with more accuracy (translated - I have a sufficient amount of blood in my caffeine system <big grin>).
Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root, Yuj, meaning "to control", "to yoke" or "to unite." Yoga harmonizes the mind with the body. The stress in our lives affect all parts of our physical, endocrinal, and emotional systems and a consistent yoga practice, paired with meditation, can counteract the effects of stress on our body. They work together to achieve unity of mind, body, and spirit. A solid meditative practice, through yoga, helps to achieve an emotional balance through detachment, meaning that meditation creates conditions, where you are not affected by the happenings around you. This in turn creates a remarkable calmness and a positive outlook, which also has tremendous benefits on the physical health of the body.
Furthermore, yoga is extremely effective in:
Increasing Flexibility - yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really on the ‘radar screen’ let alone exercised.
Increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments, and tendons
Building strength
Massaging all the body's internal organs - beneficial in keeping disease away and can provide forewarning of possible onset of disease
Detoxifying - helps in the flushing out of toxins from your body
Toning muscles
In my opinion, the best resource online is the Yoga Journal at http://www.yogajournal.com/ You will find anything there, to assist in general yoga practice, specific problem area asanas, etc.
Yoga centers me. It better focuses my "monkey mind." Without it my low back would more than likely, be a major health issue....down dog is a life saver for me! I bike, hike, work out at the gym with weights, and take Zumba. If it wasn't for my yoga practice, which by the way assists in building muscle also, due to sustained standing poses, I'd be less flexible and potentially more apt to injure myself when doing the other activities I enjoy.
Dunno if any of this helps but I can say that I've been practicing yoga since the age of 16 and couldn't imagine having a life without it.
Namaste!
I do yoga five days a week in my living room. I have my own routine. It helps me with my back issues and calms my mind. I do 20 minutes a day with a short meditation at the end. This way I have no excuses not to do it. (although I am good at that!). By doing it in my living room I don't have to "keep up" or impress anyone. But I think everyone has to find their own way. AND there are always options. There is qigong or tai chi. Both of these are movements, kinda like prayer in motion. No wierd postions with the same end result....getting you out of your head.
Kathy
Well, Deb/Kathy - there you go! That's some good information. I am working on the meditation; it appears this would be a good complement to that . . .
I've gotta say yoga. Not only do you engage forgotten muscles but you leave - well, I leave - feeling great. My body and mind both thank me for thinking of them. I can enter with the weight of the world on my mind - three different inner monologues going re: issues of the day and how I could have handled it - and leave with nothing on my mind. It might just be more cleansing than writing.
Hmm, PW. Okay, I'm getting closer ....
pgrundy says:
8 months ago
LOL! I'm a hit and run yoga practitioner, which means I have a big yoga poster in my office and every 18 months or so I try to start a yoga practice for about a week and then give up. I will say that during that week I experience many benefits. It's great.
The rest of the time, I like to take long walks in a nearby nature preserve with my dog and I like to do yard work and gardening--beyond that, most of the things I like are sedentary. (Reading, writing, eating...)
I think you should definitely take up yoga. Feel free to use me as an inspirational example.