Re: [Paddlewise] Yoga

----- Original Message -----
From: "Emile Zen" <emilezen_at_yahoo.com>
To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: November 20, 2003 6:55 AM
Subject: [Paddlewise] Yoga


> I'd like to hear what your experience has been, what
> kinds of questions I should ask the instructor in
> advance, what positions are beneficial, etc..
>
> I have an opportunity to take a class that is nearby,
> inexpensive, and does not require any major
> commitment.
> (I believe it is called, "hatha" yoga.)  On the one
> hand, I suppose yoga in general may be good for me,
> regardless of the cross-training benefits.  However, I
> am very inflexible from years of running without
> stretching -- which has worked fine -- and otherwise
> see no reason to change things now.

Yoga (speaking of positions only, without relaxation or meditation sessions)
can be started from easy positions, where your body won't need much
flexibility.  Still, it will improve your flexibility, which (I agree with
Duane) helps to heal injuries. On the other hand (and this is something you
need to talk to yoga instructor about) yoga acts in a way similar to
stretching.  It means that it may affect you negatively  if you will do some
physical activities or hard work shortly after too intense yoga (i.e. "too
intense" because of these physical activities, otherwise you going to be
fine).  Also, it will be more difficult to do yoga shortly after physical
activitites.  What I wanted to say was that yoga in itself is not a training
for paddling, only a supplement to other training.  I'm not yoga instructor,
so the most modern approach can be quite different (which doesn't make it
absolutely right, of course :-)...
Alex.
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