Experiences with Yoga?

[Philippe]

Does anybody of you have experiences with Yoga? I mean, how and alos in which relation does it improve your constitution for diving?

[dbcm]

Well, Yoga have a lot of "variaties", you should choose "the" "Yoga" that you feel more "in-there".

Does Yoga improve your diving? Yes, absolutly.
Awenesess, gas consuption, relaxation, problem resolution, everything ...

Yoga helps you control your mind, you learn to listen your body, mind and spirit.

This are the "Yogas" that i know, Samkhya and Sivananda. Both interesting and both with different points.

[lizardland]

I bought a copy of Yoga for Every Athlete by Aladar Kogler a few years ago. I quickly tune out when it comes to new age bunkum but Kogler doesn't dress it up in spiritual mumbo-jumbo nonsense, he treats it as a physical training tool. His recommendations have helped a lot in flexibility and balance (I've a recurring tendon injury in my leg from years of running on concrete which it has helped a lot with). Yoga breathing exercises are very good for the respiratory muscles and for stretching the chest cavity. I've found it useful in freediving/spearfishing, not sure how useful it is in scuba.

[Dun]

I have found Pilates very effective in toning all muscles as well as expanding your range of motion in joints. There are cardio versions as well, that use weights, that I've been doing to get my butt back in shape. If you don't want to do the classes at a gym, you can get the DVD's too. If you are interested, I can look for links for you.

[Marijn]

Does yoga have any distinct advantages over "old school" gym workouts?

The only one I can come up with is (can't think of the English word) soupleness of you limbs

[lizardland]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Marijn)

Does yoga have any distinct advantages over "old school" gym workouts?

Yes, the classes tend to be 99% women

Probably the two biggest advantages are that it directly teaches the ability to make yourself relax and it is one of the few forms of exercise that specifically targets the breathing and those muscles used. I guess that's why it's used a lot in freediving.

As you say, suppleness (and balance) is a big advantage but there are other ways of achieving that in other sports (martial arts for example). On the other hand, anything which is stretching the joints beyond the normal range is putting you at a risk of injury.

[RobbieS]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dun)

I have found Pilates very effective in toning all muscles as well as expanding your range of motion in joints. There are cardio versions as well, that use weights, that I've been doing to get my butt back in shape. If you don't want to do the classes at a gym, you can get the DVD's too. If you are interested, I can look for links for you.

I've got to admit that Pilates is excellent. Since starting diving I've given up smoking and really concentrated on my fitness (I used to exercise alot but have been focusing more on aerobic fitness). Anyway I went to Pilates with the missus and it must be good for diving. It improves range and strength of movement whilst focusing on controlling the core and breathing. Plus it's actually bloody hard work! Try it.

[TobyFish]

You might also consider Qi Gong. An ancient chinese system which teaches similar breathing, posture and the like to yoga, althought the contortionism oftne associated with yoga is not there. It has certainly helped my air consumption not to mention focus.

choosing between them would be down to what you enjoy and what's available locally

[jerry.mobbs]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Marijn)

Does yoga have any distinct advantages over "old school" gym workouts?

The only one I can come up with is (can't think of the English word) soupleness of you limbs

Marijn,

It depends on what you mean by 'old school'.

If your definition of 'old school' is the golds gym/planet fitness model where you do 3 sets of 10 arm curls, sits ups and leg presses, and its full of large people dressed in spandex and clown suits, then take up yoga any day.

But if by 'old school' you mean the sort of gym that existed back in the 50s with weights, gymnastics rings, vaulting horse and rope climbs etc, and training consisted of a combination of weights and basic gymnastics then no.

If you take any of the 10 physical skills that are manifested in improved fitness shown below:

1. Cardio/Respiratory Endurance
2. Stamina
3. Strength
4. Flexibility
5. Power
6. Speed
7. Coordination
8. Agility
9. Balance
10. Accuracy

Then the 'old school' gymnast wins hands down across all of them. Now my assumption is that you are looking to achieve a broad, general and inclusive fitness and therefore you seek improvements in all of the above 10 skills.

Yoga is great, but only as part of the overall picture and needs to be looked at in that perspective. Yoga will do a lot for flexibility, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy, but it will do very little for strength, power, speed and stamina.

Theres a lot of talk about 'core strength' and 'flexibility' being improved by yoga. This is correct, but only up to a point. Grab a yoga teacher, put an unweighted 20kg barbell in their hands, ask them to hold it above their heads with arms locked out, and then squat down so that their hips are below their knees as if they were having a poo. You will be surprised at how many people who profess to have good core strength and flexibility cannot do this.

Think of yoga as one part of your fitness toolbox. But be aware of what type of job that tool is best suited for. For divers, I'd suggest we need improvements across as many of the 10 skills as we can get, without specializing in any of them to the detriment of others.

Cheers

Jerry

[db8us]

Kamasutra and Tantra are highly effective for divers!
It will make every day better!

Regards from India

Michael