37 replies to this topic

[wazza]

From reading a number of the messages posted it apears that running performance can be enhanced by working on core strength/ flexibility.

Am toying with the idea of yoga. Does anybody have any suggestions as to the best type and details of a suitable evening class in the sydney CBD or north shore???

[queen_bee]

Wazza, There are many many different types of yoga, and as even more teachers. Really the decision is which one you like the most/what suits you. I have been practising yoga on and off since my mother made me join in as a teenager and have tried quite a few variations over time. Then I found Bikram! 90minutes in a 37 - 39oC room working through a series of 26 poses - it's fantastic! More like a work out than a relaxation session. There are a few centres who are now providing this kind of yoga, although Bikram is the only one I've sampled. They are based in Surry Hills (near Central Station) and have a great facility. More can be found on their website - www.bikramsurryhills.com. or do a search online for 'hot yoga' with your postcode/suburb. Now... if only I could fit a class into my schedule.....
Bridget

[Thomas]

wazza, yoga definately helps performance through core stability, strength and flexibility. There are a number of different types of yoga from physical to meditation types. I do Iyenga yoga which uses free weight, ie your own body weight and gravity. It's a strenuous session and you'll feel buggered by the end of it. I go to Simply Yoga at L2 74 Willoughby Rd Crows Nest. I think there are beginners classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7.45 until 9.30. Ph 9906 6802. If you do get a chance to do it, give it time you need a few months at it, then you'll see the benefits.

[Judster]

Yoga definately helps your running. And not in the way you might expect.
It taught me how to breath properly - particularily when under stress. It also gets you more in touch with your body - critical for avoiding injuries. As you progress it teaches how to manage pain & discomfort.
Advice: start at an easy level - dont take on one of the really intense styles to start with - you will intially benefit more from the non-physical aspects of Yoga & they take a little time to understand. Most gyms now offer good yoga classes at a basic level (Gym classes are great for most people there are strugglers with a sense of humour about it). You may intially be sore in the hips & back -
very common - so dont plan tough runs the day after Yoga.

[BG]

I have been attending Yoga here for the last year doing Ashtanga Yoga. The beginner's courses are a very good start and I would recommend them.

North Sydney Yoga
144 Blues Point Rd
McMahons Point
Ph: (02) 9957 1855

Benny

[Nina]

Try Yoga Moves at Paddington (behind Verona cinema)... they offer Ashtanga yoga, which is a nice workout and you learn the same sequence so that eventually you will know it off by heart and can do it whenever you need to without having to attend a class. Highly recommend it. They have great beginners courses too.
http://www.yogamoves.com.au

[Jogger]

I have been doing a few lessons this past week of Bikram Yoga in Darlinghurst. I am suitably impressed with the whole deal. Of course I am in dire need of loosening, strengthening etc so am coming from a very low base but I feel fantastic afterwards. The pricing works well - pay $17 for the first session then include as many sessions as you can squeeze into 10 days for free!

Other Australian Bikram locations here.

Very keen to hear other runner opinions on yoga. Shame I didn't start 20 years back (seriously!)

[loubee]

JoggerK, on Oct 8 2009, 06:39 PM, said:

I have been doing a few lessons this past week of Bikram Yoga in Darlinghurst. I am suitably impressed with the whole deal. Of course I am in dire need of loosening, strengthening etc so am coming from a very low base but I feel fantastic afterwards. The pricing works well - pay $17 for the first session then include as many sessions as you can squeeze into 10 days for free!

Other Australian Bikram locations here.

Very keen to hear other runner opinions on yoga. Shame I didn't start 20 years back (seriously!)

This is good to hear Joggerkev as I am keen to try this out. I have been going to Body Balance for the past few weeks to get some co-ordination happening before I brave Bikram. I'm certainly feeling more flexible and haven't been to a physio or massage for weeks so it appears to be working. My aim is to get to 1 Bikram and 2 body balance a week.

[mario]

bikram yoga is the way to go!

I first went to yoga under orders from my physio but i soon noticed the advantages in my training (running).

Bikram is 90 mins of 26 different poses in a heated room. Its great to sweat out all the bad toxins in the body.

make sure you take a big water bottle the first time you do it, you'll be amazed at how hot it is in there.

[Bellthorpe]

mario, on Oct 8 2009, 09:14 PM, said:

Bikram is 90 mins of 26 different poses in a heated room. Its great to sweat out all the bad toxins in the body.

No it's not. These 'bad toxins' don't exist, and sweating doesn't 'sweat them out'.

Yoga is good. Flexibility, core strength, all that.

Doing yoga in a sauna is good. It makes you feel good to get a bit of sweat going.

But don't do Bikram for the wrong reasons ... non-existent toxins. Do it because you enjoy it.

[walker1st]

Yoga good
Yoga great
Yoga fantastic

start easy, sample various styles to see what it is.

I would not recomend Bikram as the first intro to yoga, start with some new begginers class.

But definitely Bikram should be on the list later down the road.

And in my world, the toxins do exist, and Bikram is 1 way how to speed the proces of getting them out faster than usual.

BT you must be bionic man, not to produce daily toxins.
while sweating gets some toxins out
the reason Bikram works is different

I woukld also like to point out, that yoga class of any type should be viewed as the learning and correcting place - to learn new pose and to correct the mistake,
but the major yoga work needs to be done home on your own, daily morning evening etc whatever suits you 10 minutes before going out for a run, 10 minutes after shower after the run etc.
If you only plan do yoga during class time, that is not enough and thats not how the yoga system was intended.
Its like the piano or any other instrumen, 2x per week you go to see music teacher, get feedback get some new stuff, but than you practice at home for hours - till the parents think its enough and put the belt back onto pants

[The Owl]

As others have said, there are so many different styles of yoga. Bikram is good for runners (in my layperson's opinion) as it builds leg strength and flexibility, core strength (if you have fairly good core strength already) and balance. It also improves your ability to exercise in the heat! It doesn't improve upper body strength but that's not important for running.

From my own experience, it doesn't build upper body strength and isn't great for people with really really weak core as it's too hard to maintain the correct form.

I've also done Iyengar (my personal favourite because of the focus on really good form) and am currently doing Ashtanga which is great for all the body, including upper body strength and flexibility and I'm getting good improvement in my core strength too. I think for me the ideal would be a mix of Ashtanga and Iyengar. Both are very strong forms and great for those who like a physical and mental challenge.

Mostly though, it depends on your teacher. A good teacher who you click with will make the class interesting and relevant for you.

[Bellthorpe]

walker1st, on Oct 9 2009, 05:40 AM, said:

BT you must be bionic man, not to produce daily toxins.

I am a bionic man walker1st, you know that ...

[walker1st]

Bellthorpe, on Oct 12 2009, 02:59 PM, said:

I am a bionic man walker1st, you know that ...

I am more intimate with few bionic women

Wit you BT it is only on platonic level.

[Johnso]

Bellthorpe, on Oct 8 2009, 09:52 PM, said:

No it's not. These 'bad toxins' don't exist, and sweating doesn't 'sweat them out'.

Yoga is good. Flexibility, core strength, all that.

Doing yoga in a sauna is good. It makes you feel good to get a bit of sweat going.

But don't do Bikram for the wrong reasons ... non-existent toxins. Do it because you enjoy it.

You don't believe in toxins, Bellthorpe? I agree they may not be 'sweated out' but 'non-existent' is a little cynical for even you I would have thought.

[Jesspo]

Yoga is fantastic, if you're in Melbourne West - I have just started a ten week beginner course with my partner (who is a more experience runner) @ Yarraville Yoga in the Yarraville Village www.yarravilleyoga.com.au

When doing some stretches today, I can notice a difference in my flexibility already! Also very relaxing, a nice opposite to go hand in hand with running/gym work.

[loubee]

After weeks of saying I would go I finally made it to Bikram tonight. What a class, I feel like I have just lost 10 kilos and stretched out every part of my body. Certainly found all my weak points and like you Kev can only see it as a benefit to my running.
Will be back again this week.

[MissZ]

I have been doing Bikram at Rozelle in Sydney 2-3 times a week for 4 months now. I find it incredibly challenging and humbling and some days I really have to drag myself there, but I always feels amazing afterwards.

I have been doing very little running during that period so I can't say with any authority that it was helped, in fact I have gotten much slower. But my gut feeling is that when I get my running training back on track, that the yoga will help. As Owl said it really works your leg and core strength. My posture has definitely improved. And basically the whole 90 minutes is a breathing exercise and I think that would help.

One downside for me is the time it takes - a 90 min class, plus getting there and back, showering, x 3 times a week - really puts a dent in the time available for other training. Also I struggle a bit to rehydrate well enough - I am usually dehydrated the next morning. That will be something to really watch over summer when running in the hotter weather.

[Leofisio]

Although I also think that yoga is great... I cant's see the point on putting people to exercise into a hot place... unless they want to dehydrate people...

Other than that I think is great!

Leo

[Jogger]

Quote

I cant's see the point on putting people to exercise into a hot place

the theory is that the heat allows more flexibility in a warmed up body (it's not my theory but I can see some logic in it).

[cameron]

Johnso, on Oct 12 2009, 02:52 PM, said:

You don't believe in toxins, Bellthorpe? I agree they may not be 'sweated out' but 'non-existent' is a little cynical for even you I would have thought.

I am sure that we all know that toxins exist, I am guessing that the point is that its a myth that you "sweat out" toxins in a sauna, and anyone spreading this myth should be open to correction.

[walker1st]

http://www.yogaaid.com.au/

the world wide challenge with fundraising

15 november everywhere, special event in MEL on 6 december (Docklands)

idea is to perform 108 sun salutation within about 2 hours

for MEL yogist, there is on 15 nov event in Mt Waverly

if you think doing 108 sun saluts is easy, well you have not done it.

[Jane06]

wazza, on Feb 3 2003, 05:27 PM, said:

From reading a number of the messages posted it apears that running performance can be enhanced by working on core strength/ flexibility.

Am toying with the idea of yoga. Does anybody have any suggestions as to the best type and details of a suitable evening class in the sydney CBD or north shore???

Wazza - I started yoga classes 10 weeks ago at Balmain Sports Physio (Victoria Road, Rozelle), and have found it great for strength and flexibility. As they have only just started yoga, the classes have been very small (was just me last week and often just my sister and I) and therefore the teacher has tailored the classes to yoga beginners who are runners. The classes there are 7pm Tuesdays for an hour, but I know he also does classes on the North Shore. If you like I will find out where and when and PM you.

[tank girl]

Leofisio, on Oct 13 2009, 10:03 AM, said:

Although I also think that yoga is great... I cant's see the point on putting people to exercise into a hot place... unless they want to dehydrate people...

Other than that I think is great!

Leo

It's good training for ultras in hot climates. I have been known to do yoga or step-ups in a sauna in the lead up to an ultra or two...

[Bellthorpe]

Johnso, on Oct 12 2009, 02:52 PM, said:

You don't believe in toxins, Bellthorpe? I agree they may not be 'sweated out' but 'non-existent' is a little cynical for even you I would have thought.

In the sense they're being discussed here, and in the 'detox' concept, no they don't exist.

In the normal course of events, the gut and the liver filter various substances out. Often passed to the kidneys for excretion. This is routine. These might well be excess vitamins, salt, you name it. These are not normally called 'toxins'. Or it could be poison from an insect bite. This would often be called a 'toxin'. But the processing is routine.

Leaving no functional requirement for a 'detox' programme, or yoga in a sauna to get rid of the little nasties.

But again, I'm all for yoga, 'cos it's good for flexibility and an overall sense of oneness with the universe; and saunas feel good, so by all means combine the two!

[rohan]

walker1st, on Oct 8 2009, 07:40 PM, said:

And in my world, the toxins do exist, and Bikram is 1 way how to speed the proces of getting them out faster than usual.

which toxins?
and what are your levels before and after bikram?
how does this compare to your levels after other forms of exercise?

[Springer]

Yep, I've been doing Bikram in Rozelle for most of this year.

I think it's beneficial in so many ways.

Kev, I wrote an article on my Bikram yoga experience in the last issue of the Striders Blister.

Highly recommended by me.

[Jogger]

Quote

I wrote an article on my Bikram yoga experience in the last issue of the Striders Blister.

maybe that's what tipped the balance for me ...

ref: p26 in this pdf

[Bellthorpe]

Springer, on Nov 4 2009, 08:23 AM, said:

Yep, I've been doing Bikram in Rozelle for most of this year.

I think it's beneficial in so many ways.

Kev, I wrote an article on my Bikram yoga experience in the last issue of the Striders Blister.

Highly recommended by me.

I'm sure it's beneficial.

But you also wrote: "The inevitable sweating helps to rid the body of toxins", no doubt on the advice of the instructor.

It ain't so.

[SouthAustralian]

Ive been going to yoga classes ( 2 a week) for the last couple of months and found its made a difference to my running. Ive also found it's helped with flexibility, and I seem to have much better hip flexor movements.
Keen to try the Bikram....anyone (CRs) in Adelaide who goes? Also if its so hot what do you wear? normal shorts and top?
Cheers
Frank in SA

[Jogger]

for bikram - just shorts, no top. trust me.

[cjr]

I just did my first Yoga session ever yesterday and it was incredible - I have never felt so loose. I was expecting to be really sore today, but surpisingly still feel loose. This coming from somone who can't touch their ankles (let alone toes), or sit cross legged, and has been described by a phyiso as "one of the most inflexible people she has ever come across"

I didnt know much about styles etc etc and found out afterwards that I did Iyengar - lots of static stretches using a range of weird contraptions and straps, which was not what I was expecting. I felt like it was doing a lot of stretching but not a lot of strenghtening. The instructor was really good and I felt I got quite a lot of personal attention (everyone else seemed to know what they were doing).
My only reason for choosing where is went is because it is 2 mins from my house, they had a sign sayign "beginners welcome" and the session times suit me, but they only do Iyengar

I definitely want to continue with the Yoga but am just not sure what type to do. My aim is to improve core strength and flexibility, and get over some hip soreness caused by poor glutes/hip flexors. Should I continue with the Iyengar or go for something more dynamic like Ashtanga or Bikram to achieve these goals?

Thanks

[SouthAustralian]

cjr, on Nov 18 2009, 02:06 PM, said:

I definitely want to continue with the Yoga but am just not sure what type to do.
Thanks

G'day cjr...i reckon that you've answered your own question.
It is brilliant that you had such a good time and that it had such an immediate impact on you. I reckon if you've found something so good, two mins from home with a terrific instructor...then stay there.
I'm doing yoga a couple of times a week, but find it hard work and challenging. I often cant complete some of the tasks because I'm not 'that' flexible, but I get a lot out of the whole process and am getting better. Nothing will ever get me to enjoy 'downward dogs'!
Great to hear of your success, keep it up.
Cheers
Frank in SA

JoggerK, on Nov 10 2009, 06:35 AM, said:

for bikram - just shorts, no top. trust me.

Kev, I'm hoping that this was just the blokes! Could be hard to stay focussed otherwise.

[loubee]

cjr, on Nov 18 2009, 11:36 AM, said:

I definitely want to continue with the Yoga but am just not sure what type to do. My aim is to improve core strength and flexibility, and get over some hip soreness caused by poor glutes/hip flexors. Should I continue with the Iyengar or go for something more dynamic like Ashtanga or Bikram to achieve these goals?

I am no Yoga expert but this is my beginners recommendation. I'd continue with the Iyengar or Bikram before going Ashtanga, it may be slow and static but it will teach you the poses and how to do them correctly which is pretty important in yoga. Once you feel you are familar with these I would then look at Ashtanga.

Bikram IMO isn't that hard as it is still static (26 poses held for 60sec then repeated for 30sec) only in 38 degree heat. As the heat warms up the muscles it is easier to get a better stretch. My first class I felt sick on a few poses but have no trouble now, it's not for everyone but unless you hate it def try a second one as I found the heat didn't distract me. Also good for summer training practice.

[cjr]

SouthAustralian, on Nov 18 2009, 03:15 PM, said:

G'day cjr...i reckon that you've answered your own question.
It is brilliant that you had such a good time and that it had such an immediate impact on you. I reckon if you've found something so good, two mins from home with a terrific instructor...then stay there.
I'm doing yoga a couple of times a week, but find it hard work and challenging. I often cant complete some of the tasks because I'm not 'that' flexible, but I get a lot out of the whole process and am getting better.


Kev, I'm hoping that this was just the blokes! Could be hard to stay focussed otherwise.

I definitely found it challenging, and even painful a few times. There was even a comical moment - others sitting crosslegged with their foreheads touching the ground, and me not even able to sit upright with my legs crossed until I had a pile of blankets under my butt...

[Bellthorpe]

This article on yoga for runners might be useful for those unable to attend group sessions.

Edited by Bellthorpe, 19 November 2009 - 09:21 PM.

[loubee]

Bellthorpe, on Nov 19 2009, 07:20 PM, said:

This article on yoga for runners might be useful for those unable to attend group sessions.

Excellent thanks BT.

[Jogger]

interesting post here about link between bikram and running from a marathon runner.