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Dawn
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| Posted: April 20 2006 at 10:26am | IP Logged
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Does anyone here do yoga, and if so, what do you like (or not like) about it? And more specifically, can anyone recommend a good home video?
I know *nothing* about yoga, but I am looking to start exercising regularly ~ something I haven't done in years, unless you count running around after little ones exercise!  I am not looking to lose weight, but rather increase my energy, strength and muscle tone. (Not too much to ask, right?  )
Yoga sounds so soothing and relaxing (I could use some of that too). I thought about joining a gym or class, but I know I couldn't - wouldn't - get myself there. So my best bet is something I can do at home, maybe in the early mornings ...
Any thoughts on yoga in general or video recommendatons would be much appreciated! 
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MaryM
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Ahh... the quest for better heath and fitness - I so need to be there, too. You brought up many of those actual obstacles to doing it and something like yoga might seem like a good thing to meet those goals. I don't want to sound negative, but I don't know how to say it otherwise. From a Christian perspective there are serious problems with yoga. It really isn't only a form of relaxation/exercise, it a philosophical and spiritual discipline with specific goals. This is often so muddied by the fact that Catholic Churches and retreat centers actually sponsor yoga classes, etc.
Claire McGrath-Merkle is a former New-Age healer and yoga practitioner and now has an apostolate The Cross and the Veil "to aid Catholics in their efforts at discerning the various currents of thought and practice flowing from what has been termed the New Age." I have heard her speak on Catholic Answers and EWTN. She has a specific article Yoga: Health or Stealth?. It is very thought-provoking.
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Sarah
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| Posted: April 20 2006 at 11:46am | IP Logged
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Yoga is one of those misunderstood parts of our modern society.
It is innocently practiced by people all the time and used as basic exercise. However, it is the primary act of worship of the Hindu religion, like the Mass is to us as Catholics. I think that really needs to be understood before one jumps into it.
I think you can isolate the basic movements and relaxing exercises without adopting the spirituality.
Just be aware.
My kids were at a PE class last year where the lady had the lights low, Hindu music playing and she was talking about spirituality. To me that seemed a bit much. She could have taught them the same moves without the agenda.
Yoga incompatible with Catholicism
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Rachel May
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Well, I've never looked into the spirituality of yoga and the yoga teachers I've had haven't pushed that part of it. Maybe I've just been lucky so far? Whenever some sort of spiritual thing does come up, I have had no problem ingnoring it. And during the final meditation time I generally try to pray a decade of the rosary.
Right now I like to use Prenatal Yoga with Shiva Rhea. It is an easy workout to follow throughout pregnancy, and I'd like to try her other movies too. I also have Yoga Basics with Patricia Walden. This one isn't as good for a workout, but I like it because it shows "correct" positioning of your body and then ways to adjust different asanas if you are not very flexible.
When I first started yoga, I checked out different videos from the library which helped me get an idea of what I liked before I bought something. Some forms of yoga are actually quite active (I think Kundalini is one), but I prefer the gentler forms which help me build strength and flexibility.
Also, I do like having a yoga mat to help me not slide around, but I've done yoga carefully on the carpet without a real problem.
I think Deborah told me she has a yoga movie for kids. I would love to hear recommnedations for those too.
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Rebecca
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| Posted: April 20 2006 at 12:39pm | IP Logged
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I have done yoga on a video at home many years ago. I think it was some sort of "Power Yoga". It was a great workout but did not even allude to the spiritual side of yoga. I had no idea there were warnings against yoga from a Catholic viewpoint. Thanks for the information ladies. I wonder if there is any harm in doing yoga simply for the physical training aspect, ignoring any and all spiritual reference.
BTW, I recently purchased a Pilates DVD called "Simply Pilates" which I really like for strengthening core stomach and back muscles (where I am quite jello-ish ). Any of you have any warnings against that? I do not know if there is a spiritual side of Pilates but
if there is, let me know.
Thanks,
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Taffy
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I've used Yoga and Pilates for Dummies and really enjoyed them. The focus is on using yoga to improve strength and flexibility and the explanations are very clear. What I really like is that it doesn't take long to remember the moves so I was able to do one or two whenever the opportunity arose instead of having to find the DVD, etc.
You might call this version "secular yoga"? It's been the only version I've been happy with; all the others I've seen seem too "new-age".
Seriously, though, the yoga workout did wonders for my back. I didn't even realize how stiff I was until I did the workout and I felt SO good afterwards!
Taffy
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Dawn
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Rebecca wrote:
| BTW, I recently purchased a Pilates DVD called "Simply Pilates" which I really like for strengthening core stomach and back muscles (where I am quite jello-ish ). |
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This sounds great Rebecca (and that's my target zone too )!
Yikes, I had no idea about the spiritual stuff (like I said I know *nothing* about yoga). I wonder if I just did it at home, if it wouldn't be a problem. (I like Rachel's idea of praying the rosary while practicing ~ sounds lovely.) I'll have to check out all the sites that were mentioned.
I get all interested in fitness every year about this time, just before swimsuit season! 
Thanks everyone for your thoughts.
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Sarah
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Dawn wrote:
I wonder if I just did it at home, if it wouldn't be a problem.
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I think isolating the exercises and doing it independent from the spiritual part, and like Rachel said, adding a rosary, would be fine.
Wouldn't the true danger lie in actually partaking in another religion's beliefs? I think most people doing yoga these days are simply exercising, but I'm sure there are people out there doing the whole Hindu thing.
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Leonie
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I think we can separate yoga workouts from yoga practices, iykwim?
I went through a stage last year of only doing yoga - I needed a change of pace in workouts. I loved Ali McGraw's Yoga video - visually appealing, as well!
I also like Geri Body Yoga with Katie Appleton ( I know Geri is from the Spice Girls but the option of short body part focus yoga is good! )
Just the other night, I ordered the Yoga Booty Ballet DVD workouts - dance, yoga and ballet in a workout. The infomercial made it look like a fun and focused workout!
YBB
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Dawn
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I want to thank everyone for taking the time to post your thoughts and advice about yoga here for me. I'm going to re-read the thread and check out the resources mentioned. Hopefully I'll be starting *something* before summer.
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Check out this website: yogaone.com esp. the FAQ page. Priscilla Patrick teaches non-mystical yoga--I highly recommend her. Her shows air on some PBS stations, and she has videos for sale (for beginners and advanced, for athletes, for expectant moms, for back pain, for fibromyalgia. . . .)
When I do yoga with Priscilla I feel fabulous. And get in pretty good shape. Fairly easily.
Celeste in Nebraska
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marihalojen
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If you are interested in toning, try pilates. Pilates emphasizes toning over flexibility while yoga emphasizes flexibility over strength.
Pilates was developed as a rehabilitative exercise system for wounded soldiers after WWI so there is not a spiritual aspect to it at all. In pilates you do repetitive motions for increasing strength.
For instance, the famous "100" is similar to the "boat pose" in yoga. While on back on floor, engage abs and raise legs to 45 degree angle, crunch shoulders up off floor while extending arms towards knees (or sometimes over your head, many variations). In yoga while in this position you'd hold and breathe, while in pilates you'd move the arms up and down 100 times. Here, since a picture is worth a thousand words...repeat middle 2 pictures over and over.
You can compare the two here - Yoga vs. Pilates. A little history and they even try to address the spirituality concerns in a short and sweet manner.
I hope this is all as clear as mud! I really enjoy both and usually start and end with yoga poses (which used to be called stretches) and do the pilates in the middle. I prefer pilates books because I don't get into all the funny names and the Contraindications are awful and just make me mad (If I am menstrating and want to do a headstand, I'll do it! Now the likelyhood of me doing a headstand on our sailboat whatever the time of the month is ridiculous but anyway...)
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Like Jennifer, I mix both Yoga and Pilates. Denise Austin incorporates both into her workouts. I isolate some positions and stretching, but I love Pilates for the toning. I am always exhilarated after doing a Pilates workout...
I've tried several types, and like to keep up a variety. I've the Windsor Pilates, but that's a little more strenuous some days.
I enjoy Gaiam's videos, although I don't buy into their whole "agenda". Ana Cabán has Beginning and Intermediate Mat Pilates which are my favorite. I've also done the Stretch band workouts...I like to rotate a bit. I need to get back on my mat!
Another area you could do is Balance Ball, which incorporates many different moves. I have a DVD from Gaiam with Suzanne Deason "Balance Ball Total Body Workout."..I can't seem to find that title as a link, but there are others out there.
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Dawn
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marihalojen wrote:
| If you are interested in toning, try pilates. Pilates emphasizes toning over flexibility while yoga emphasizes flexibility over strength. |
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Oh, I could probably use a little of both.
I have always been flexible. I did cheerleading and gymnastics for many years. But I find these days I pull muscles really easily. Maybe that's just me getting old.
The toning I could use, especially stomach and upper arms, so I think I will look into Pilates. Thank you for the links! I will be checking them when I get some quiet computer time later today (I hope ).
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JennGM
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Oh, one other suggestion. It's not in "vogue" as much now, but you could also try Callanetics, by Callan Pinkley. This is her own program, but it's clearly based on ballet and Pilates moves...deep core muscle use, watching the breathing. Good muscle work.
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Genevieve
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JennGM wrote:
| Oh, one other suggestion. It's not in "vogue" as much now, but you could also try Callanetics, by Callan Pinkley. This is her own program, but it's clearly based on ballet and Pilates moves...deep core muscle use, watching the breathing. Good muscle work. |
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I'm so glad you mentioned this program! I love it! I still use it. No other equipment required and according to the video is you would notice big changes after doing the one hour video 10 times! And it's true! I would add a good stretch out, some cardio and you're done!
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Leonie
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Genevieve wrote:
| I'm so glad you mentioned this program! I love it! I still use it. No other equipment required and according to the video is you would notice big changes after doing the one hour video 10 times! And it's true! I would add a good stretch out, some cardio and you're done! |
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I have tried and tired to like Callanetics - but I find it SO borig! I need fun to workout - give me Taebo, the FIRM and ( I hope) Yoga Booty Ballet any day!
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Leonie in Sydney
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Topic: Yoga?
