Hot Yoga

[joyofspin]

My new summer gig. Loved it. So sore today from it that I cannot believe the pain is from yoga. Flexibility, core work, stamina and strength training all rolled into a hot 90 minute class. Can't wait to go back. Such a change from riding. Great stretches for cycling.

[like2bike]

Joy I've been meaning to try yoga. Can you believe I never have? Your post encouraged me to try and find the time to take one of the classes. I know how good it is for you and I have been wanting to experience it. Thanks for the nudge. ;)

[joyofspin]

I too put it off forever. Made the decision to go yesterday and went. It was different from my crazy exercising and yet so challenging. I liked that everyone in the room was at a different level. Not everyone had perfect form nor were they able to stretch into contortions (sp?) that I could never imagine getting into.

[jsejt]

I've never done it either, but I will now. Thanks for reminding me sweets!

[SpinBob]

I did it for the first time at WSSC, I was looking for stretches to do in class, didn't find any, but got in some good personal stretching. I personally love the lying pidgeon position. Great for the hamstrings.

[joyofspin]

I did it for the first time at WSSC, I was looking for stretches to do in class, didn't find any, but got in some good personal stretching. I personally love the lying pidgeon position. Great for the hamstrings.

OH my g-d did that one hurt. I am still sore but not in a bad way. I hope I can go back tomorrow.

[KYPatrick]

I personally love the lying pidgeon position. Great for the hamstrings.

I'm still wondering if we're talking about the same pose here.

Teaching yoga has been a great experience; I will have been teaching it for one year come August, and it really has had a profound effect on my teaching and communication philosophies. I am much more mellow, but am still able to be light-hearted (as I personally do not appreciate yoga instructors that take themselves too seriously) and casual. Nothing ruins the prospect of fully-integrated relaxation & practice success like a stifling instructor with too much abstract imagery, and too few modifications for the general populace.

Patrick

[SpinBob]

Here's what I'm talking about Patrick, this is from Wikipedia:

The sanskrit name for pigeon pose is Eka Pada Kapotasana.

How to practice modified pigeon pose: Practice this pose by lying on the back, head neck and shoulders resting on the mat. Then bend the knees, place the feet on the ground, hip distance apart. Cross the right ankle just below the left knee (where the femur (http://www.wikihealth.com/index.php?title=Femur&action=edit) bone connects with the knee. Flex the right toes and push the knee away from you. If your hips are more open, you may be able to place the right hand through the triangle that the right leg makes, bring the left hand around the left leg, and clasp behind the thigh or in front of the shin. Pull the left leg in to the body as you use muscle energy to press the right knee away from the body.

[spinguru]

Another yoga instructor chiming in here:

Pigeon pose is designed to primarily stretch the hips. I have seen/heard of many poses described as "pigeon" pose, the version you have described is one of them. In the more common version (for hatha yoga, at least), you come into pigeon pose either from Downward Facing Dog or from table pose (hands and knees). You would bring (for the right side of the body) your right knee forward to the inside of the right wrist and fold the leg in an "L" shape in front of the body. The left leg would then stretch long behind the body in a straight line. You then walk the hands in until you are seated upright, with the chest a bit puffed out (like a pigeon). You can then fold your upper body over the bent front leg if you like for lying pigeon. If the hips are tight, the front leg can be moved closer to the pelvic floor; the more the front leg resembles the letter L" the more intense the stretch. Repeat on the opposite leg. Amazing hip opener -- it really doesn't hit the hamstrings, but if your hams are tight, I can see why you would feel it there -- more in the back leg.

[KYPatrick]

Another yoga instructor chiming in here:

Pigeon pose is designed to primarily stretch the hips. I have seen/heard of many poses described as "pigeon" pose, the version you have described is one of them. In the more common version (for hatha yoga, at least), you come into pigeon pose either from Downward Facing Dog or from table pose (hands and knees). You would bring (for the right side of the body) your right knee forward to the inside of the right wrist and fold the leg in an "L" shape in front of the body. The left leg would then stretch long behind the body in a straight line. You then walk the hands in until you are seated upright, with the chest a bit puffed out (like a pigeon). You can then fold your upper body over the bent front leg if you like for lying pigeon. If the hips are tight, the front leg can be moved closer to the pelvic floor; the more the front leg resembles the letter L" the more intense the stretch. Repeat on the opposite leg. Amazing hip opener -- it really doesn't hit the hamstrings, but if your hams are tight, I can see why you would feel it there -- more in the back leg.

This is what I had in mind.

They are, in function, the same, as whichever leg is bent in front will release that leg's gluteal/related muscles, but they are, in form, very different.

Spinguru, I don't know how you feel about this, but sometimes I'm hesitant to use typical stretches such as the one that Bob cited in my class because it feels so gym-class-esque. I always feel like I need more awestriking (and perhaps on the other side of the coin, more unorthodox) asanas to wow the crowd into believing that Yoga is SO much more than stretching.

Patrick

[spinguru]

Patrick:

I agree to an extent, but I will often use those gym-esque type poses to ease beginners into the practice. I find a lot of them are intimidated by the pretzel-like nature of many yoga asanas, so I like to have an army of modifications at my disposal to make them feel at ease and successful so they will keep coming back. You are 100% right -- yoga is so much more than stretching, but it takes them coming to more than one or two classes to discover that. Once they do, they're yoga lovers for life :).

Namaste.

[joyofspin]

OK so now I need to ask - what certifications did you get to teach yoga? Where do I go? Open to all suggestions. It's just a path I think I might enjoy taking.

[Escandalosa]

I looked into getting Yoga certified but they were all thousands of dollars and 100s of hours. I couldn't believe it. I really wanted to get certified too :(

[RaffCycles]

OK I misread this post based on the title. I finally decided to read it and it has proved my initial impression wrong.

Originally I thought "Hot Yoga" referred to some new positions (poses) that you may only find in the Karma Sutra.

Thanks for all the info on this, I realize how clueless I really am regarding Yoga. (never tried it myself, but heard it's great)

[joyofspin]

Escandalosa - found this - might do it. Local and price is right. Might be a start. Not too far for you either. Train stop is not too far away.

http://www.afaa.com/304.afa?SID=00061862323653863932668955011410296659 54254101182454994&Method=0&PID=0&PK1=0&PK=24156&PK2=0&Lang=0&DocType=0&Owner=0&hp=1&tm=0&SearchType=0

[Escandalosa]

Wow - thanks for that. I was looking into YogaWorks and certs like that and they are literally 1,000s of dollars. That link you posted is more like it.

[joyofspin]

If you do decide to go PM me with contact info. I am cosnidering it too and would have a bit more of a push to attend if there is a 'familiar face' there.

[2bfit]

OK I misread this post based on the title. I finally decided to read it and it has proved my initial impression wrong.

Originally I thought "Hot Yoga" referred to some new positions (poses) that you may only find in the Karma Sutra.

OMG Raff, I just spit my water out, laughing.....

[Moonsavvy]

I started taking yoga a few months back and have absolutely loved it. Plus you get so much more flexible, it's very good. It also helped me to do my daily meditations...which sometimes I forget, but I hope to be more consistant in the future.

I really want to get certified to teach.

[Escandalosa]

If you do decide to go PM me with contact info. I am cosnidering it too and would have a bit more of a push to attend if there is a 'familiar face' there.

I definitely will. They want Yoga I and II to be completed before attending that workshop so I have to get my ass in gear and get those done quick. Have you done these already?

[spinguru]

Certification for yoga can be as involved as a 500 hour certification through an established yoga studio or what I like to call "retreat", where you go for a month or six weeks and just absorb everything they have to teach you to as simple as a weekend certification through AAAI. I do not recommend weekend yoga certifications if you intend to teach -- they do not offer enough knowledge and background to teach for most people. That said, if you have multiple fitness certifications or a degree in Exercise Science and a good knowledge of anatomy, you might be able to get away with that. Again, not something I recommend. There is a lot to yoga, and it takes time to learn.

I originally got certified through Yoga Fit, which is a great option for teaching yoga in a fitness based environment. I obtained my Yoga Alliance 200 hour certification through a yoga studio; however, you can get this also through YogaFit -- it just takes some time and money. (you have to repeat trainings and the final training can only be taken at their annual conference, etc.). You can go to www.yogafit.com for more information on their certification process. Regardless of where you go to train, I highly recommend reading "The Anatomy of Hatha Yoga" by H. David Coulter. It's a great resource.

[joyofspin]

spinguru thanks so much for the advice.

I think I will try the AFAA day program just becuase it is a start (and cheap), I am doing an exercise science program and finished anatomy coursework and then look to take it further if I really decide to teach.

[cfoam4me]

OMG Raff, I just spit my water out, laughing.....

Me too :D!!! Lizard how's that screen guard coming along????;)

[fitfan]

Certification for yoga can be as involved as a 500 hour certification through an established yoga studio or what I like to call "retreat", where you go for a month or six weeks and just absorb everything they have to teach you to as simple as a weekend certification through AAAI. I do not recommend weekend yoga certifications if you intend to teach -- they do not offer enough knowledge and background to teach for most people. That said, if you have multiple fitness certifications or a degree in Exercise Science and a good knowledge of anatomy, you might be able to get away with that. Again, not something I recommend. There is a lot to yoga, and it takes time to learn.

I originally got certified through Yoga Fit, which is a great option for teaching yoga in a fitness based environment. I obtained my Yoga Alliance 200 hour certification through a yoga studio; however, you can get this also through YogaFit -- it just takes some time and money. (you have to repeat trainings and the final training can only be taken at their annual conference, etc.). You can go to www.yogafit.com for more information on their certification process. Regardless of where you go to train, I highly recommend reading "The Anatomy of Hatha Yoga" by H. David Coulter. It's a great resource.

I also did my training through Yogafit and thought it was wonderful. Very informative and safe. So far I only completed Levels 1 & 2 but plan to continue and get in my 200 hours.

BTW - I saw this on the Yogafit site.

YOGACYCLING - DVD

Bicycling and indoor, stationary cycling are among the best forms of cardiovascular conditioning but they often leave the participant with tightness, aches and even pain. Repetitive cycling forces the body into forward spinal flexion, similar to sitting at a desk or driving a car for long periods of time. Due to the activity involved, a tightening of muscle groups within the hips, shoulder girdles and lower extremities can occur.

Use this DVD as a consistent, sport-related yoga program to alleviate stress and some or all of the following conditions: pain/discomfort of the low back; tightness and/or discomfort of the upper back, tightness in the hamstrings and quadriceps.

Reduce stress & pain

Experience more flexible hamstrings, glutes and quadriceps

Built a strong core center and upper body

Balance your body and reduce the risk of injury

Open chest, shoulders, and pectorals

Use these Yoga poses to create strength balance and flexibility


Yoga Cycling is your perfect tool for stress reduction and overall balance, both mental and physical.


Run Time: 60 mins.