<p>ID, thanks for that link. I showed it to H and forwarded to S1. Both like to try new exercises to keep their workouts fresh. I’m still plenty challenged by basic squats, lunges, push-ups, and crunches, plus weights, and running.</p>
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<p>idad, that was quite the quote to return to! </p>
<p>We’ve had great walking weather recently but I think I need to kick my routine into high gear before winter doldrums set in. I would like to explore Pilates/Yoga now that I am not a behemoth weightwise. Bicycling (outdoor) was not a good fit for my schedule and I just did not enjoy it as an exercise method; for short errands, wonderful, but otherwise not a long-term method for me. D has mentioned “hot” yoga and I started doing some research; any practitioners out there?</p>
<p>^^^ Have always wanted to try hot yoga!!! I would like to find a beginners class so I wouldn’t feel awkward in front of eveyone. I think this would really help me with balance and flexibility.</p>
<p>We have a few yoga studios here but when I look on their websites I see photos of slim, dancer type individuals; still not in that category and never will be! D tells me if I can make it through three classes in one week then I will be able to do it long term. Oh, to be young again! :)</p>
<p>sabaray, please do not get discouraged by the photos on those websites! Of course they will not put pictures of middle aged, wrinkled, frazzled, a bit heavy here and there ladies like us. Just like Nordstrom and the like will never have pictures of real people wearing the stuff they sell in their catalogs! In my beginner yoga class only the instructor and my DD looked like slim, dancer-type individuals, the rest of us looked… just like the rest of us! ;)</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I discovered that yoga was not my cup of tea. Every time we were supposed to close our eyes and “meditate”, I would think and stress about work, DD’s college apps or something else! LOL! I needed something more fast-paced or aggressive to release my steam!</p>
I have done a lot of hot yoga and highly recommend it. You need the real hot yoga- not some regular yoga class that warms up the room. Find either a Bikram studio or one like Sunstone in Dallas or Hot Yoga Nashville that is more or less modeled after Bikram (with some improvements). The basic classes are for all levels and there are always PLENTY of beginners. I will warn you- the first class is extremely difficult because you are fighting the heat AND the yoga. You modify the poses as you need to and you sit down if you need to. No shame in that at ALL. The first time I took my daughter she was so mad at me afterwards. She said, “I can’t believe you took me to that and thought I could do it!” The instructors talked her off the ledge and told her you HAVE to do a 2nd class to really decide. She did and became hooked. It is a great workout, can be modified as needed and you feel incredible afterwards. (well, the first class I almost couldn’t drive home). Take a huge bottle of ice water. By the end of the class it will be hot water.
I am tempted to go back but there is a lot of hamstring stretching and I’m not sure it is the best thing for me right now.
P.S. Every class I’ve been in has had men who can’t even stand on one foot and who are not slim and trim. Everyone is welcome and everyone is so intent on their own survival and balance that no one looks around.
<p>MOWC, is it necessary to have yoga experience before doing the hot version? It doesn’t sound as if you do. It really appeals to me. I like to sweat when exercising and I think this would be a good option.</p>
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<p>You and me, both!</p>
<p>Actually, I’m finally making some progress on squats and lunges. I’ve been doing all kinds of variations on squats, without weights, as a stretching/mobility/balance routine – slow movements, focusing on form, and going as deep as I can smoothly, and then back up. In fact, this is now a part of my five minute warmup routine and I can already tell that, over a few weeks, my flexibility and stability will change dramatically. I just was not making any progress with the side lunges in Spartacus and realized the weights were an impediment and that I need to focus on hip flexibility.</p>
<p>I can now do a regular squat all the way down – thighs parallel to the floor. And, I can do a split squat, knee all the way down to floor, on both sides – although left-foot forward still needs work. And, I can touch the knee down the floor on both sides the rear-foot elevated split squat (Bulgarian split squat). I’m like the tin woodsman (pre-oil) on the side squats. Those need some serious work – but doing them slowly and without weights has at least let me start to feel the proper move.</p>
<p>The problem is that doing squats correctly means no more cheating on half-baked lunges and lunge walking, so I’m back to being totally gassed by those in exercise circuits.</p>
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<p>That sounds positively awful. I do my workouts in front of a big fan and often open the window (40 degrees outside) next to the Airdyne.</p>
<p>Absolutely NOT neccessary to have yoga experience. None of the postures are very advanced and all can be modified. Go to Sunstone Yoga Dallas website or Hot Yoga Nashville site for good descriptions.</p>
<p>I signed up for a trial of Bikram a few years ago, unlimited classes for one week, I went 8 times. I really liked it, there were some hard core yoga hotties in the front row (not Hollywood hot, yoga hot, lean with muscle definition) and they were inspiring in helping to see what I was trying to do!</p>
<p>I found it was too difficult on me physically, I have very low BP and the head rush etc made me very nauseated and weak after; extreme heat messes with my autonomic nervous system and makes me feel like passing out, but I was hoping I could teach my body to become accustomed to the process. That was me personally, not most people, but it does have a strong affect on people, some can handle it, some cannot! But I liked it!!</p>
<p>I am tired already today. Had a hard time on the bike and then I lifted weights and did my baby push ups and tricep dips. Going away for the weekend but will try to get in a walk or two if we don’t get caught in the snow! 6 inches predicted for area we are going to.</p>
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<p>I hear ya, NMINN. Wednesday’s workout was tough for me and I’m still feelin’ it. Spartacus is on the docket for today and I’m going to have to get myself pumped up. I keep waiting for it to get “easier”, but no luck so far. The problem is that it is self-adjusting. As I get stronger at the exercises, I do them harder, which in turn leads to being just as gassed.</p>
<p>Good tips and advice as always. Thanks to all who responded to my “hot yoga” inquiry.</p>
<p>PS: I really enjoy my regular yoga and have fully regained my youthful flexibiity, though I have a real type A tendency to push myself too far and cause serious soreness. At my age now, though I can do the splitz, the question is, should I? And how do my hips ache the next week sitting in my office chair.</p>
<p>Well, that was a pleasant surprise. I expected Spartacus to be a struggle today and it ended up being my best chariot race yet. “Svetlana” would be proud of me! I did 8 t-pushups in both sets for the first time ever. My heart rate was 93% when I started the t-pushups in the second set (thanks to one-arm dumbbell swings immediately before), so I’m pretty proud of those eight! </p>
<p>5 minutes warmup on the bike, then Mike Boyle’s stretching/mobility warm-up, then two sets of Spartacus, then five minutes of cool down on the bike. 58 minutes, average heart rate 74%, max heart rate 96%.</p>
<p>No posting since Friday night? How is this possible? I assume those in the Northeast are outside enjoying the glorious weather. H and I will be heading out for a little hike shortly. I’ve been alternating my lifting and running days, with the occasional spin class thrown in for fun. Ran 4 miles this morning and was amazed by how easy it felt after doing 6 the past couple of weeks. I can’t believe this is my life. Oh, and I’ve dropped another 10 pounds, for a total of 110.</p>
<p>Late to the IPod/I phone craze- I finally put some music on my IPhone. I am amazed at how much easier it is to make it up some of my hills. After slacking off I am happy to say that I am walking again. Have made it out every day this week. It helps that the weather is beautiful and everything is turning green after a bit of rain. Plus the air is clear and the views awesome. My final downhill has an view out over the coastline. I must say that after slacking off for several months the hills are hard again. I am two hours or so north of where MomofWildChild is this week. She came at the right time.</p>
<p>I did a little 5k walk yesterday. Absolutely gorgeous. 66 degrees. Bright blue sky. I actually worked up a pretty good sweat. I knew it was gong to be a good walk when the shuffle on the iPod came up with Suzie Q by Credence Clearwater as I was starting down the driveway. Today is my self-imposed day off, one day a week. I decided that going eight or nine days in a row wasn’t that great in terms of letting muscles recover.</p>
<p>chintzy:</p>
<p>Wow. You are kicking but and taking names on the weight loss. My next 5 pound goal has been trying my patience, to put it mildly. I really don’t know how the “end-game” plays out on this weight loss thing. I’ve never been anywhere near my current weight at anywhere near my current age, so it’s hard to know. I have definitely hit the point where the curve starts to flatten out. I’ve only been averaging 1 pound a week over the last month, down from 1.8 pounds a week for the first six or seven months.</p>
<p>mom60:</p>
<p>Zoning out to the iPod helps a lot. It’s funny; I get home and look at my **“25 most recently played” playlist **and don’t even remember hearing some of the songs!</p>
<p>I recently was gifted with an ipod and download audiobooks, I can walk forever with that playing. I walk my dog 4-6 miles a day and when I do it alone, in the rain, I need something to keep my on the long walk not the shortcut! This week I have been running all the hills in the walk, a new goal, soon I will run other stretches, too!</p>