Poll: Have you ever attempted yoga, pilates, or other eastern exercise programs?

What qualifies?� Does martial arts count?� I am not more flexible from them, but I am in better shape.� Anyone else take martial arts?� Personally, I take American Kempo.

-Alex

Very nice art form, in my opinion, the best form of karate out there. I took American Kempo for 4 years, but have lapsed out of practice. Unfortunately there are no good dojos in my area. If you are proficient at American Kempo, I'd suggest taking Gracie Jujitsu next as it provides a most excellent supplement to Kempo's forms.

Kempo - Gets 'em on the ground
Jujitsu - Keeps 'em there.

Just my suggestion.

howabout a less editorial "no?" I haven't tried them, nor am I particularly interested in trying them, but "Ugh. who *does* that?" seems a little too strong for me...

That was my thought exactly.

On a different note did anyone else wonder if the words yoga and yogurt were etymologically related?

um, nope, that was just you. *nodnod*

-- Pauley :-P

I don't believe they are, since I think yogurt is of Middle Eastern origin and yoga of, uh, just-plain-Eastern. But it's entirely possible that I'm wrong. :)

I am sure there not but as a kid I thought they should be.

Tragically they aren't. If you're interested, yogurt comes from Turkish "to knead" (the milk I assume), and Yoga is a Sanscrit word meaning "searching" or "seeking".

So, if I do both, does that make me needy and seeking?

I really do want to learn yoga. i'm pretty flexible and i've been gaining some muscle, i think i could handle it. i'd love to learn to be a little more..stable :D like, have more endurance and fluidity in my movement.

> i'd love to learn to be a little more..stable :D like, have more endurance and
> fluidity in my movement.

So that those fingers can glide right over that keyboard with a graceful fluidity? ;-)

Graceful Fluidity... sounds like a Queensryche song.

hehehe I almost replied to the same message with silent lucidity lyrics. :)

Rageful Fluidity, anyone?

I am getting into yoga more full time now. I do it mainly for the relaxation and a way to keep my joints limber and free. I've tried pilates a few times, and like it, but it takes more effort than yoga and I find the toning you get through pilates vanishes fairly quickly when you stop doing it. Still a really good workout though.

I highly recommend yoga as a form of relaxation and a supplement to any weight training or exercise plan.

I used to do yoga when I was taking dance classes. After the class I felt more relaxed and like I had tons of energy. The yoga is great. I gained a lot of flexibility. I mainly do weight training and found that the yoga helped with range of motion and stuff like that. I would love to try pilates though.
Sarah

i also sing the praises of yoga.� it's the only sort of exercise program i truly enjoy.� it leaves you with a good stretchy feeling, and it's very relaxing.

i have looked into pilates (translated:� i have obtained books and stretch bands) but haven't really done anything with it.

GUNKATA anyone.







(movie reference)

DUDE! Ultimate in martial arts!

What about "yeah, I sure have... and oh my god I've never been in so much pain.... and dealt with so many clueless yahoos."

:)

what's eastern about pilates again? isn't it named for an american athlete?

I was into yoga specificly the yoga side of TM, ummm....�in the early '70's (but who wasn't then). I was into it mostly for the meditation and the breathing (it helped my trumpet playing a lot)

Been thinking about getting into Tai Chi someday, say a demonstration recently and it wasn't all extremely slow motion stuff, some of it was quite quick "power" moves.

that's my question too.

although I wonder of it wasn't meant more as ... "Have you ever tried yoga, or some other eastern exercise program, or pilates?"