Keeping Fit Question And Answer
Is 'power yoga' good for keeping fit but not necessarily losing weight?
I'm 14 year old girl...average size, not too big or too skinny, and I'm not looking to lose heaps of weight or anything like that. I weigh around 50 kgs and am I think something like 160cm. Let's say I don't do any other type of exercise (I do - but just pretend I don't) will 30mins of 'power yoga' keep me fit + healthy? I don't eat heaps or anything. Not necessarily lose weight to be like 45kgs but be fit, healthy and flexible?
I've been doing yoga for a while now, but I just want to know whether there is a ... point to it.
:] thanks heapss
Answers
If you've been doing it for a "while" and don't see many results, then perhaps you need to do something else.
(Although, I must say - you are only 14, so a "while" could mean two weeks...)
My personal opinion is that yoga is lame. I lift weights, which is the BEST exercise in the world for keeping fit.
Yoga people tell me, "O BUT YOGA IS SOOO RELAXING AND SOOO MEDITATIVE...." or something. I counter by saying that weight lifting is as well. It's VERY "zen," and can be done SPIRITUALLY, if one so chooses. It takes a lot of focus and concentration, and is kind of like meditation sometimes.
So lifting can give you all the mental benefits of yoga, plus MUCH more in the way of physical health and strength.
I've lifted weights on and off for a long time, but I really got serious with it about four years ago - and since then, I haven't had ONE single cold or caught the flu - maybe it's just chance, but I really think that my lifting has made me much healthier.
Be careful with cardio as well. You'll hear people say that cardio is king of all exercise - it's NOT. SOme cardio is beneficial, but strength training is by far more important.
Love, Jack
If you don't count savasana into the 30 minutes (and savasana is important), I'd say yes, but barely. It will be easier to reach your strength and stamina goals than your flexibility goals. A good stretch that will actually lengthen your muscle (instead of just releasing tension) takes a lot of time (about 2 minutes each). If you would add 2 days a week on which you would focus on more time spent doing slower stretches, you'd be reaching your flexibility goals too.
And Jack.... weight lifting gives you the same mental benefits as yoga? I can't even begin to explain how wrong you are about that. I am happy that you're happy what you're doing, just don't make ridiculous statements about other disciplines please.