How good is all this yoga / pilates?

blue note

As the title says, I'm wondering how good for people all this yoga and pilates actually is. Obviously, it's certainly not doing any harm, as long as people aren't mistaking it as being sufficient exercise. But to be honest, I think some people really are. I know there are cardio yoga / pilates options, but a lot of people are just doing the aerobic stuff which is great for certain things, but does nothing for your cardio health. And I was listening to professor niall moyna a while back and he was saying that cardio fitness is the single biggest indicator towards health in later life.

I'm thinking specifically of my sister who has some sort of yoga teaching qualification. But I don't think she ever does any exercise that would get her out of breath (no jokes please). I reckon she thinks she's extremely healthy, but I reckon she's very unfit.

It all just reminds me of all those guys who are shocked to hear that they need to start exercising, even though they already play golf.

Woke Hogan

Any exercise is beneficial. Unless you consider walking exercise, which I don't.

GRACKEA

I like yoga to complement the other exercise I do. Like using the poses and movements as part of my post run or weights stretch routine and I'd like to find a regular class.

You're right that they probably don't do much for cardio fitness but there are many other benefits of exercise like this and I wouldn't write it off or dismiss it.

They're both physically challenging and do work loads of muscles. Flexibility and balance are very important especially as people age. There are relaxation, sleep aid, and mental health benefits too that come from practising concentration and mindfulness.

Namaste

Infernal Racket

Yoga and Pilates and all the other fads that have come on board in the last 15 years are all well and good of you enjoy them and get something from them but they certainly wont leave you fit and healthy all but themselves. Nothing beats a good paced walk or a run to get the heart rate pumping. Weights and resistance training are also required in some form and if possible. Brisk walk beats all else in terms of cardio for the every day person

kneemos

Woke Hogan wrote: »

Any exercise is beneficial. Unless you consider walking exercise, which I don't.

There's walking and there's walking. Better than sitting on the exhaust pipe anyway.

jam_mac_jam

Gerry G wrote: »

Yoga and Pilates and all the other fads that have come on board in the last 15 years are all well and good of you enjoy them and get something from them but they certainly wont leave you fit and healthy all but themselves. Nothing beats a good paced walk or a run to get the heart rate pumping. Weights and resistance training are also required in some form and if possible. Brisk walk beats all else in terms of cardio for the every day person

A brisk walk is not cardio and Yoga is around for much more than 15 years and not really a fad.

jam_mac_jam

I really like it, it has helped my mobility and strength and relaxes me. On its own it will not help your cardio fitness unless you are doing a fast paced version which most people don't.

I just think you can't beat a good proper stretch, you feel much better after it.

Force Carrier

If you divide a person's physical conditioning into three categories - cardio vascular, strength and flexibility then yoga is very effective in covering the last.

If you're making the point that cardio is the only fitness worth having then you might not be looking at it from a functional point of view. What are you using the fitness for? Flexibility is very useful in many sports and forms of combat.

Mad_maxx

Attended a pilates class once, wasn't my bag at all, felt like an idiot

Used to walk 30 miles per week until I sustained a permanent foot injury

Mad_maxx

Woke Hogan wrote: »

Any exercise is beneficial. Unless you consider walking exercise, which I don't.

How is walking not exercise?

Infernal Racket

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

A brisk walk is not cardio and Yoga is around for much more than 15 years and not really a fad.

Of course walking is a cardio exercise. I don't mean having a stroll and feeding the ducks, I mean a proper faster walk than you would normally do. Throw in some jumping Jack's along the way and Bob's your mothers brother

blue note

I only think it's bad if it's in place of any cardio exercise. I actually did pilates for about 3 months in the gaa off season one year. It was fine, something a bit different to keep me tipping over for a little while.

If you have the time to do it as well as go running / cycling / play sports then great. If you only have time for one firm of exercise, I wouldn't recommend yoga.

The thing I wouldn't overlook that some people would dismiss is the positive effects of destressing and relaxing from it. It wasn't a destresser for me, but some people love it to unwind. If it works for you for that, then definitely keep it up. But I still think you need to do some cardio too!

Boom_Bap

Gerry G wrote: »

Of course walking is a cardio exercise. I don't mean having a stroll and feeding the ducks, I mean a proper faster walk than you would normally do. Throw in some jumping Jack's along the way and Bob's your mothers brother

Walking that gets your heart rate up is cardio work. So if you are walking and your breathing is intensifying, that's the sweet spot.
Along with flexibility, yoga/pilates can help with breathing techniques which can assist your cardio work.

letsgo2018

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

A brisk walk is not cardio .

:rolleyes:

Cina

It's obviously beneficial but the cost of it is crazy. My missus pays something like 100 quid a month for classes. Double the price I pay to use a really good gym!

Still, she suffers from anxiety and the yoga really helps her with that so I guess in a way it's priceless.

YFlyer

Its the realization that I'm Atma Brahm.

Force Carrier

YFlyer wrote: »

Its the realization that I'm Atma Brahm.

"It is what it is" love island

antix80

blue note wrote: »

As the title says, I'm wondering how good for people all this yoga and pilates actually is. Obviously, it's certainly not doing any harm, as long as people aren't mistaking it as being sufficient exercise.

Why is this in AH? Surely more suited to the Fitness forum? Unless it's because you want to make silly trollish statements to be controversial.

I don't know what you mean "mistaking it as being sufficient exercise". It is exercise, doing a class a week is better than doing no exercise, and there's nothing stopping you doing some cardio or weights in addition to yoga or pilates.

ILoveYourVibes

blue note wrote: »

As the title says, I'm wondering how good for people all this yoga and pilates actually is. Obviously, it's certainly not doing any harm, as long as people aren't mistaking it as being sufficient exercise. But to be honest, I think some people really are. I know there are cardio yoga / pilates options, but a lot of people are just doing the aerobic stuff which is great for certain things, but does nothing for your cardio health. And I was listening to professor niall moyna a while back and he was saying that cardio fitness is the single biggest indicator towards health in later life.

I'm thinking specifically of my sister who has some sort of yoga teaching qualification. But I don't think she ever does any exercise that would get her out of breath (no jokes please). I reckon she thinks she's extremely healthy, but I reckon she's very unfit.

It all just reminds me of all those guys who are shocked to hear that they need to start exercising, even though they already play golf.

Its good for other sports. It just makes you more flexible and supple.

A lot of other sports neglect flexibility and over time people get tight or injured.

A bit of yoga each day along with cardio and some strength etc.

blue note

antix80 wrote: »

Why is this in AH? Surely more suited to the Fitness forum? Unless it's because you want to make silly trollish statements to be controversial.

I don't know what you mean "mistaking it as being sufficient exercise". It is exercise, doing a class a week is better than doing no exercise, and there's nothing stopping you doing some cardio or weights in addition to yoga or pilates.

Wow. Think you might need to do some yoga to relax!

I stuck it in after hours because i wanted general opinions. Part of what I'm asking about are the perceptions on it in which case after hours is perfect for it.

By sufficient exercise the example I gave is the golfer who is told he needs to exercise, I imagine it would be a similar story for yoga enthusiasts. I've said a few times that I think it's a good thing to do for a couple of reasons. One being because people enjoy it if I didn't mention that already.

ILoveYourVibes

letsgo2018 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Fun fact ..do you know WHY running is the most (well in general one of the most) aerobic exercise??

It's the impact..along with the ..if you bike in a gym etc your diaphragm doesn't endure any impact.


You can bruise your diaphragm when running. And a strong diaphragm is the core of a strong respiratory system.

The impact etc of running makes it have to work harder. The BUMP etc makes the whole thing more aerobic than weight lifting.

A strong diaphragm will also make you less inclined to get stitches

A strong diaphragm also helps with the non respiratory functions of the lungs to do with your pulmonary system and your left side of your heart etc.

If you can work on that it helps exercise a lot and your general health. But only if its measurable to science etc.

whiskeyman

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

I really like it, it has helped my mobility and strength and relaxes me. On its own it will not help your cardio fitness unless you are doing a fast paced version which most people don't.

I just think you can't beat a good proper ride, you feel much better after it.

Fyp.

Reads better!

letsgo2018

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Fun fact ..do you know WHY running is the most (well in general one of the most) aerobic exercise??

It's the impact..along with the ..if you bike in a gym etc your diaphragm doesn't endure any impact.


You can bruise your diaphragm when running. And a strong diaphragm is the core of a strong respiratory system.

The impact etc of running makes it have to work harder. The BUMP etc makes the whole thing more aerobic than weight lifting.

A strong diaphragm will also make you less inclined to get stitches

A strong diaphragm also helps with the non respiratory functions of the lungs to do with your pulmonary system and your left side of your heart etc.

If you can work on that it helps exercise a lot and your general health. But only if its measurable to science etc.

What's your point ? Walking is cardio and it's not up for debate or discussion it's a scientific fact .

blue note

letsgo2018 wrote: »

What's your point ? Walking is cardio and it's not up for debate or discussion it's a scientific fact .

It can be. A brisk walk that gets your heart going is. But I think back to my father being told by the doctor he needs to exercise and that golf didn't count. He needed persuading to believe the doctor. But golf is stop start, you never work up a sweat. You could probably make a case for shopping being as good for you physically.

People love to cop out from things and being told they need to exercise is one.

Calibos

The best thing about Yoga is the pants.

I do yoga daily, it's fantastic for flexibility and so protecting yourself from other sports related injuries. It's also beneficial psychologically. It's been around a long time and is far from a fad.

I swim/run too, it's all complementary.

_Brian

Woke Hogan wrote: »

Any exercise is beneficial. Unless you consider walking exercise, which I don't.

How can you not consider walking a form of exercise?

I regularly walk 5-6 km at lunchtime, 2-3 times a week and then maybe 10-15km at the weekend. I can assure you it’s exercise.

ILoveYourVibes

letsgo2018 wrote: »

What's your point ? Walking is cardio and it's not up for debate or discussion it's a scientific fact .

I.......... never .....mentioned walking.

ILoveYourVibes

_Brian wrote: »

How can you not consider walking a form of exercise?

I regularly walk 5-6 km at lunchtime, 2-3 times a week and then maybe 10-15km at the weekend. I can assure you it’s exercise.

I wouldn't consider it exercise. But maybe its just that i don't enjoy it.

ILoveYourVibes

Calibos wrote: »

The best thing about Yoga is the pants.

So true.

And i have nothing against yoga ....I like it too.

Bobblehats

Aids soybean digestion

Stark

My physio got me into pilates. I think it's fantastic. Haven't had lower back issues since I took it up which used to be a problem for me. Obviously it's not sufficient as an exercise in itself but helps keep me injury free and enjoying other forms of exercise to their fullest. Not so sure about yoga, a lot of it seems to be about being bendy for being bendy's sake.

Bobblehats

I’ll be needing more than that. Have a bit of the CMT besides if excercise doesn’t make me sweat profusely I feel it’s time wasted.

_Brian

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I wouldn't consider it exercise. But maybe its just that i don't enjoy it.

It’s like any other form of exercise, you get out what you put in. Sauntering along at a doddle is useless.

But walking with good posture and at a beisk pace raising your heart rate is good low impact exercise. Must be somewhere nice though. I make sure I stop for lunch in a forest and walk there.

There's many different kinds of yoga with differing levels of difficulty and strenuousness. People who do yoga sleep better and have better bone density and mental health. It's whole person, mind/body, activity, it's not just about being bendy.

ILoveYourVibes

Bobblehats wrote: »

Aids soybean digestion

I must try it so!:D

vargoo

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Attended a pilates class once, wasn't my bag at all, felt like an idiot

Used to walk 30 miles per week until I sustained a permanent foot injury

This is the thing.

Guy i work with, says theirs only two safe sports/exercises - Darts/Snooker.

Everything else will just break you.

Lazy fuker i use to think but older I get, the more people i see in permanent pain from playing that or running there.

Injuries dont heal, they accumulate.

Healthcare will then break you financially.

Bobblehats

vargoo wrote: »

This is the thing.

Guy i work with, says theirs only two safe sports/exercises - Darts/Snooker.

Everything else will just break you.

Lazy fuker i use to think but older I get, the more people i see in permanent pain from playing that or running there.

Injuries dont heal, they accumulate.

Healthcare will then break you financially.

This is why I’m trying to invest in a couple of choice pieces of the latest magnetic resistance apparatuses

It will break me financially in the short term but in the long run I’ll have saved my joints...

K.Flyer

Gerry G wrote: »

Yoga and Pilates and all the other fads that have come on board in the last 15 years are all well and good of you enjoy them and get something from them but they certainly wont leave you fit and healthy all but themselves. [...]

Yoga in the western world has been around from the late 19th century and has became more popular since the 60s, so its most definitely not a fad.
What is healthy? State of body, state of mind, both?
Some of the many sessions I have done over the years will definitely leave you in a sweat with the blood coursing through you, and that would be in an ambient temperature, not bikram.
The problem is, a lot of people think that Yoga is just exercise, there is a lot more to it than that, but if you want it for excercise that's fine also.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

I walk for cardio, I don't hate it or anything but it's definitely a functional thing, means to an end.

I love my yoga though. It's not just for flexibility either, it's pretty good for strength and you'd be surprised how easily you can get your heart rate up with it if you want to, though yeah, not really effective cardio.

But I think even if it did nothing for my fitness I'd still do it as a self care thing. My whole body seems to do a little "Oh goody!" kind of thing when I start, it's hard to explain.

eviltwin

I have back issues and yoga really helps with that. It's also great for my mental health. I run 3 times a week so I'm getting plenty of cardio but I do yoga on alternate days.

I also do yoga with my son who is autistic and find it really helps him stay calm.

Arghus

I've done a bit here and there over the years. I can definitely see the benefits of it if kept up for a period of time.

People saying that it's no good for cardio must have been at something totally different to what I was at. I went to some classes that were supposedly for "beginners" and the guy had our hearts pumping and sweating buckets from the effort: to be honest I think he was a bit of a sadist. It can be lovely and gentle if you want it to be, but there's definitely gradients of difficultly to it.

lisasimpson

Swimming is the way to go. Good for cardio and low impact on joints. Need to get back into it myself.. I do a bit of yoga to distress but I prefer pilates myself ..need to do something if your sitting at a desk all day

Roger Hassenforder

Arghus wrote: »

I've done a bit here and there over the years. I can definitely see the benefits of it if kept up for a period of time.

People saying that it's no good for cardio must have been at something totally different to what I was at. I went to some classes that were supposedly for "beginners" and the guy had our hearts pumping and sweating buckets from the effort: to be honest I think he was a bit of a sadist. It can be lovely and gentle if you want it to be, but there's definitely gradients of difficultly to it.

I found Pilates great for my back too

Airyfairy12

Every type of exercise serves its own purpose like cardio is great for losing weight, toning muscles, getting the heart rate up and pumping blood and oxygen around the body, lifting weights is great for building muscle and strength.
Yoga and Pilates are good for toning but also helping posture, increase flexibility and help with stiff joints and muscles, its especially good for elderly people.

erica74

I do one on one pilates on the reformer. I started nearly 2 years ago and I go once a week. Prior to starting pilates, my back problems were horrendous, my mobility was quite slow, and I was so stiff and inflexible. Pilates has changed me completely but, if I miss 2 or 3 sessions, it is very noticeable. I do pilates in addition to weight lifting and I couldn't do one without the other.
Any medical professional I've ever seen (and I've seen quite a few) has recommended pilates.

fryup

nearly all the yoga instructors round my way have one thing in common they're all ..new age hippies

vargoo

fryup wrote: »

nearly all the yoga instructors round my way have one thing in common they're all ..new age hippies

Yea, you expect this ..... healthy guru, instead you get a 40 year old that looks 60.