I've never done Bikram's. I know they use a room heated to around 90 deg to make you sweat while doing a sequence of around 20 postures. I've done other forms before settling with Ashtanga yoga. It's one of the most challenging forms, but I have a tendency to be lazy so I needed something to wake up my body.
1.Most of your upper body muscle tone comes for doing a sequence of postures (asanas). Flowing from one to another like the sun salutation (surya namaskara A). Where you start in mountain pose, standing up straight, raise your arms, bend at the waist, drop down into a low plank, move to upward dog, then downward dog. Moving from 1 asana to the next uses a lot of upper body strength. This has helped me a lot when I have to climb up steep hills while seated. I pull on the hoods. 2. Most people, including myself may gain a 1/2 inch or two. I typical go from 5'2 1/2 to 5'3 after doing yoga for awhile. And you'll find yourself sitting up straighter and walking straighter. I get compliments on my posture sometimes. 3. Your tendons are stretched more plus it seems like my joint feel lubricated. And your connective tissues get stretched and strengthened, like they do in rolfing. 4. How yoga helps mentally is that you're suppose to focus on tightening your core and muscles during the postures, plus focusing on your breath. In ashthanga the breath goes with each posture. So while you're focusing on your breath and tightening your core along with your other muscles you don't have time to follow every thought that goes on in your mind. That's where the lightness comes from after you leave the class. Your mind gets a rest from all the negative thoughts and lists it usually follows. Also in ashthanga we practice eye placement (dhristi) like when doing a forward seated bend your eyes look at your toes. This keeps you focused and prevents you from looking and comparing yourself to others. Here's my one caveat. As a beginner I suggest going to a studio, like Bikrams, as opposed to a gym. The gym's instructors are hit and miss. Some just got certified last weekend in a 3 day course, while others have extensive training in a studio. You can see the difference. My advice is go to a studio tell the instructor what you hope to accomplish and tell her what physical or emotional ailments you're hoping to work on. She'll be more attentive to you with learning the postures. Whatever you do, don't follow others in class and think you should be at the same level. Don't judge yourself to others. Focus on your own practice. You're right where you are suppose to be. :) On Jan 17, 7:20 am, PATRICK MOORE <bertin...@gmail.com> wrote: > Beth: I have been considering yoga as a supplement to cycling (that's the > cycling content) and for much needed flexibility, posture and emotional > benefits. I am copying the list in case others have informed opinions. I'd > be grateful to learn how yoga helps with the following: > > 1. upper body muscle tone > 2. posture (I have a very slight congenital "hump" or curvature) > 3. flexibility (I can guess this one, though) > 4. emotions > > Bikram's has opened a new westside studio and has an introductory $20 for > the first month offer, so I think I'll try it, but weight training has also > been suggested and since I hate "exercise" I know I won't do both. > > Please reply offlist (unless others are interested vis-a-vis cycling > supplement) to > bertin...@gmail.com. > > Thanks! -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
