Searched but haven’t seen this discussed yet:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/how-yoga-can-wreck-your-body.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
I enjoy yoga and it makes me feel like a million bucks after a session but I’m generally pretty flexible and I’m not in a class that endeavors to break my neck.
This just in! Exercising may cause injury! 
I try to squeeze in a bit of yoga as well, and I always wake up feeling great the next day. I know my limitations and try to gently and gradually expand them, knowing full well that trying something crazy could cause injury. And I agree with the instructor in the article… yoga probably isn’t for a lot of people, especially those who aren’t used to stressing their body.
anything done to excess can beat you up. But yeah, all of my friends have been sending me this article. I’ve been getting into a lot of the ashtanga/Power Yoga/Bhakti type classes recently and although I love them at times, I’m near crippled after a good class. 2hr olympic, can do, move through 7 one legged poses with correct form… yeah, working on it. Right now, my back and right shoulder, from trying to pop into a hand stand (“trying” is the operative word) from another position is killing me.
For me it’s definitely helping with overall core strength and alignment awareness plus it’s a lot of fun and a killer workout. As with everything, don’t over do it and you’ll be fine.
Oh, and buy a good mat. In yoga terms it’s like buying aero wheels but better!
I avoid strenuous/standing poses as they may interfere with recovery. Have not had any issues so far … Not sure why one would need a “headstand” or a “shoulder stand” for triathlon …
I think Iyenegar Yoga is the one that gets you into any position, using blocks and straps and whatever. I did it once. It’s worth it once in a life just to do splits and other crazy positions you’d never otherwise be able to do.
I took Bikram for 4.5 years, up to 5 times a week. Not only was it valuable for the exercise but the water and breathing disciplines are basic to nearly every sport. But for me, it was a phase. An important phase, but I haven’t done a class in 2.5 years. I can now do what I need on my own.
I’d had some lower back problems, was seeing a chiro, but from Yoga I learned first to manage my problems and then get rid of them. I went to long running at 60, something I could never have done in my 50s.
That said, the road to learning to manage your body is a hard one. One night, before I took classes I was doing tapes. I was in “Plow”. The tape said “touch your feet to the floor if you can”. I could, I did, I had a back pain for the next 3 months.
You quickly learn, that flexibility, strength and endurance are all trade-offs. Every fall, the “Nutcracker” ballet peeps would come into class for XT, do very well for the first part, going into impossible positions for a novice, become exhausted and sit out the balance of the class on their mats.
As an aside, in the interests of full disclosure, I should probably mention that an NYC Yoga class is loaded with hot women.
I haven’t read the article.
but watch this for the UP side of yoga
The gender ratio for yoga classes is astounding.
Yup.
I was doing this Level 3 Vinyasa Flow class near Lincoln Center nearly every Sunday a few years ago. It was like that, but faster. There were several people at that level. It was pretty awesome.
That said, I think I’d been practicing about 6 - 8 hours a week, 2 years before I took that class. I was never at that level.
Impressive. I’ve only taken a few beginner classes and haven’t been very impressed with the yoga thing, but what I saw in this video was a whole different story. Combining flexibility with strength, balance and incredible muscle control.
I hardly noticed that she was a very hot chick in her underwear.
Interesting article. I’ve never done yoga, but I’m planning to try it in hopes that it will with some hip and knee problems I’ve been having. I’m hoping yoga will help with flexibility and muscle imbalances. Can anyone tell me if there is a particular type of yoga that is better than others given my goals? There’s a bikram studio in Ann Arbor that I’m planning to try, but would be interested in hearing whether there’s some other type I should look into.
Also, that video is awesome. Her body control is amazing.
I would start with the Bikram. For one thing, every Bikram class is a beginner class. You’re expected to ride out the entire class though. You’re not supposed to pack up your mat and go.
The heat supposedly relaxes your muscles. So you can get deeper into the posture. The regimentation is a turn off for some, but I found it a great way to start. Every class is the same - same poses in the same order. The heat, breathing and water disciplines a bonus.
Here in NYC, for $20.00, you get an introductory week. So the first week, $20.00 and you can go every day. Decide whether this is where you want to be.
It isn’t for everyone. Or at every time. Once I got rid of the sciatica, I was ready to reapply my training time elsewhere. But I do some of the postures every morning. Prevent it from coming back.