When I was young, it was all easy. I could eat whatever I wanted without putting on an ounce. I could spend the weekend alternately riding my horse, scoffing G&Ts and bouncing up and down on the supine and supple body of a second footman, and front up on Monday morning for work without an ache or a care. I was, in short, young.
Now I’m older (and I’m not telling a lot of you anything you haven’t experienced yourself), it’s all a lot more difficult. If I wished to make myself depressed, I could start at the base of my feet and work my way upwards cataloging for you all the bits that don’t work as well as they used to, or which have entirely given up the ghost – all the aches and pains and twinges that I’ve collected over the years.
Thankfully, I have discovered the joys of yoga. It has a reputation as the easy option – there’s no huffing and puffing, no throwing around of weights, no backbreaking labor. However, it gets you moving in ways you may not have moved before, it allows you to build up the flexibility and strength of your body, and you can get a decent workout without worrying about throwing out your back or pulling a hamstring. Anyone who scoffs at the fitness benefits of yoga has probably never spent an hour doing it properly.
There a few things more wonderful than stretching out all those kinks and feeling some of those aches melt away, particularly if (as I am) you are lucky enough to do so under the tutelage of a buff ex-marine who can lick his own toes in seventeen different positions.
If you’re not so lucky, then you might wish to have a look at the youtubes, where there are literally hundreds of free yoga lessons for the taking.
Sadly, many of the yoga videos you might find call themselves “beginner” lessons, but consist of a nubile twenty year old throwing herself into thirty different poses from downward dog within fifteen minutes which is, for many of us, a recipe for disaster.
If you think yoga might be worth a try, make sure you find a real beginner’s program – one which starts with the very basics like standing and breathing and then builds up to a more challenging workout. Alluring though it might be to watch a co-ed tying herself into knots, a good idea is to look for someone who looks like they might not still be in school and who understands that things need to be explained and taken carefully, at least at the start.
A good example, I have found, is the nice Dutch lady at the top of this page.
Have at it.
dr. bloor
Er, um, is there a link to this one? Just for the sake of comparison to the nice Dutch lady, of course.
General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero)
I took a yoga class thirty years ago, and practiced for awhile, but gave it up, probly cause I was still young and hoppity. Now that I’m getting up there, with all the attendant aches and pains you speak of, maybe it is time to try some yogi again. But I ain’t 93 yet, when I will likely be fast asleep for eternity and then some. We all need a good long rest now and forever.
cathyx
I contend that if you are the type who could eat whatever you wanted and not gain weight until well into adulthood, then you will have a much more difficult time losing weight. It’s what I’ve observed, at least. I’ve had to watch what I ate ever since I hit puberty. I had to learn to control food amounts most of my life, certainly all my adult life. I’ve had a long time to get used to it and practice dieting and going without.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@dr. bloor:
I could point you to this one as an example, but I suspect it’s not exactly what you are looking for.
Marcellus Shale, Public Dick
@dr. bloor:
i believe those videos are from the schools of yoga that start with x or red, and many though not all feature exercises performed with one or several partners. you will. as SPT indicates find various claims there assuring you that these are the workouts of beginners, though their veracity is difficult to ascertain.
JGabriel
Sarah Proud and Tall @ Top:
Buzzkill. I want a link to the co-ed tying herself in knots.Sarah, don’t you think you should provide a link to one of the knotted co-eds, just to give us an example of what not to do?
.
Jenn
Thanks a lot, Sarah. Diet Pepsi up the nose isn’t particularly pleasant. This week hasn’t been quite as good as I’d hoped, on the mileage front, but I did get enough strength work in that I’ve been feeling it on my past 2 days’ walks. So I’ll take that as a win. NEXT week I’ll get in 30 miles. I’m trying to think of an appropriate penalty for not meeting my mileage goals. Sharpie-ing ‘I heart Rush’ on my forehead, maybe. God knows I’d rather gnaw off a limb than do that!
Ben Franklin
I like yogurt. It helps with digestion…
Punchy
But is the knotty co-ed a slut?
jl
Uh oh, I forgot to email the rails to trails post.
What a loser I am. Oh, well. Next week, maybe. If it is worthy.
I will email it to Sarah Proud and Tall right now.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@JGabriel:
I don’t think any of you boys would have any trouble finding such things on the internet without my assistance.
You might want to look in the “bookmarks” section of your internet browser for starters.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@Punchy:
Yes – she’s a woman. Duh.
JGabriel
And I see that dr. bloor and Sarah Proud and Tall have already played this joke out.
Damn. Late to the party again.
.
jeff
Do you believe that older people with disabilities and overweight can benefit, apart from the shame and self-loathing that attending the class would produce?
scav
@Sarah Proud and Tall: What about the New Zealand boys for those that want an alternative to the nice Dutch lady? They tend to do a good job of explaining poses and might just remind you of one of those second footman.
JGabriel
@Sarah Proud and Tall:
I think you mean the “history” section. We tend to keep the “bookmarks” clean in case of guests.
.
Diana
@JGabriel:
you mean something like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loszrEZvS_k
it has caused some controversy in yoga circles because Equinox is so clearly selling its yoga classes to people who just want to look fetching in black lacy lingerie … but if you’re looking for yoga videos because you want to see sluts (aka women) with rock-hard abs move slowly and fetchingly in black lacy lingerie, feel free to click away.
SuzieC
@jeff: Yes. I have an artificial hip and I practice ashtanga yoga. Find an older, experienced teacher who has worked with students of all skill levels.
Narcissus
I like knots
see what I did there
mai naem
I know this isn’t an open thread but I hatez the Google Chrome. WTF? Am I the only one who’s had problems with Firefox since I installed Chrome. Also too, Chrome crashes all the freaking time. I’ve been using chrome pretty much since it came out and, okay, it wasn’t crashing as much as it does now but its always crashed I just like their tools doohickey but I cannot use my Firefox. Also too, I think Firefox is trying to not link to the Google so you get this Bing/Ask me crap? No, I don’t want that. OMG I have just about had enuf. Okay, end rant.
trollhattan
Speaking of Pr0n (we were, weren’t we?) I went to this today, for anybody into bicycle pr0n. Surprised myself not running the Visa up to a five-digit balance.
http://2012.handmadebicycleshow.com/2012-show/
Highly recommended for anybody who thinks craftsmanship is dead. Also, too, cycling is great exercise for everyone–low impact, aerobic, take it at your own pace, buy a $10k bicycle and totally rationalize it because “I’m getting in SHAPE!”
scav
@jeff: Need to find the right class. Lucked out in that my intro was through work, with a teacher who otherwise specialized in running classes at hospitals and old age homes for PT etc. Nary a spandex in sight and it was all about finding what you could manage given your existing body.
trollhattan
Watched a bit of the nice Dutch yoga lady and already have a question: what are “Hanson knees?” Isn’t that Danish?
Diana
@JGabriel:
and in terms of what not to so, the Equinox video shows her going from headstand into eka pada koundinyasa at around 2:34, a sequence which is so f*cking impossible that they show it twice, just to assure you that, yes, you really did just see her do that.
It’s not so much showing you what not to do, as it is showing you what you can’t do ….
MikeJ
@mai naem:
Sounds like you installed some software that changes your search preferences (i’ve seen this with many “free programs”). Firefox still has a deal with google for default search.
mai naem
Okay my edited post got eaten up. I am not a happy camper. As I was saying on my edited post, NPR had a show on the Vikram Yoga guy. He patented Vikram Yoga and there’s like a gazillion Vikram Yogas across the world. He apparently was told by some Hollywood “stars” that he needed to charge big money(he mentioned Shirley McClaine) for his Yoga thing or people would think it was no good. Also too, he treated Richard Nixon at the Hawaii airport for back pain(apparently they didn’t have Clinton/Edwards haircut airport delay issues) and tricky Dick got his his US citizenship after that. I wonder if Ms. Sarah knows the guy. He sounded like quite the jetsetter.
SuzieC
@mai naem: Bikram. The hot yoga “guru.”
Sarah Proud and Tall
@scav:
Now we’re talking. Do you have a link?
trollhattan
@SuzieC:
That’s the one. And he lurves to sue anybody who shoves up the thermostat in their studio w/o paying him first. Yup, exercising in a hot room. Who’d do such a thing on their own?
SuzieC
@trollhattan: Yoga room heated to 100 degrees, to be exact. Totally nuts.
apocalipstick
I love Esther Ekhart’s videos. Good, solid stuff from a wonderful teacher.
Watson
I found this yoga video to be quite good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MwINrhzeBg
Cassidy
Shit. I’ve tried Yoga exactly twice and it beat me like I forgot to say green balloons.
JGabriel
@Diana:
Ha! I’m not really that sex obsessed, I was just shooting for the obvious joke/irony. That said, I did click on the link — so I suppose I’m not immune to the temptations of well-lit slow yoga and black lingerie.
.
Comrade Mary
Esther Ekhart forgot the first rule of yoga: lock the cat out of the room.
Also. Too.
Anne Laurie
Any of you healthy-living people have experience with tai chi, recommedations for classes / videos / books? I’m not only old, fat & sedentary, I’ve got (mild, lifelong)balance issues, and just looking at yoga videos makes me dizzy…
scav
@Sarah Proud and Tall: Not such a tease. I think this should take you to their youtube beginners playlist. If that blows up, Free Yogo
and it was right there that my machine froze solid, o! irony. Hit send fast.
moonbat
Progress this week entailed convincing the husband that portion size DOES matter and that if we couldn’t cut back on our own I was going to buy smaller dinner plates. It seems to be working…he loves the design of our regular china.
greenergood
@jeff: Yes, of course you can benefit from yoga class. The big problem with yoga in the Western world is that it’s promoted by DVDs and books full of pictures of people with incredibly ripped bodies doing impossible-looking postures. If you look at old YouTubes of Indian yogis, they’ve got pot-bellies, and what look like no muscles – but they’re incredibly strong. Their muscles are stretched and relaxed, and not bunched up by doing endless crunches. Look for a class for beginners, preferably older beginners; look for a hatha class to start with – less likely to injure yourself than Ashtanga. If, after only a few classes, the teacher tries to persuade you to do a headstand, or tries to persuade you to do a posture you feel unsure of or really uncomfortable in, leave and do not go back – they are not a good teacher. Look for DVDs ‘Yoga for the Inflexibles’ is a good one (I hear – I haven’t seen it); Books too: B.S. Iyengar, ‘Yoga: the path to Holistic Health’ might be a good start. I started 20 years ago, because of sciatica. I’m not fanatical; and I’m not a body beautiful, but I know I’d be even more creaky now at 55, if I’d not started.
Poopyman
One strategy.
I’m the only guy in my yoga class. Been doing it for over 10 years now, and I’m more limber than somebody with a bunch of compressed disks has a right to be. If I did it more than twice a week I’d be in even better shape, I’m sure.
Most (all?) of us in the class are over 40 (50 maybe). No bikini bodies to be seen.
@jeff: If you live in even a lightly populated area you should be able to find a teacher that fits your needs these days.
scav
@Anne Laurie: Nothing with tai chi although you might look into Qigong which I think is similar and there are some Gaiam videos that seem reasonable. But, I’ve only got 1 functional inner ear and could manage yoga, although I’ve got to do variants and there are some poses I just don’t go near. Thing is, I don’t have trouble with dizziness, I just don’t have balance as I’m lacking half the input signals, so yoga is helping me learn to compensate. Might vary for you — that’s why a good teacher is critical.
Nicole
I love yoga, but I stretched myself into sciatica doing it. Keep in mind, for those who haven’t already figured this out, that one of the big things it’s supposed to teach is self-acceptance, and that means accepting that the people who do yoga videos are naturally a lot more flexible than we average types. It will improve your flexibility to a point, but it’s possible to over stretch to injury. I have very tight hamstrings, and my overachieving desire to be able to put my hands flat on the floor with my legs straight, just like the lady in the video, ended badly. So, you know, embrace what you can do, and don’t beat yourself up for what you can’t.
For those who like to run, if this hasn’t been mentioned yet, there’s a new application on the iPhone, called Zombies, Run! It’s a game so you can pretend to be searching for supplies and running from zombies during your actual run outdoors or on the treadmill. Excellent for interval training, I’m told. I’m eager to try it out.
Insomniac
Any advice for people working second shift hours (2 – 10 pm)? Before this, I would start my day at the gym and go from there, but I just can’t seem to get situated with these hours. My blognym is actually pretty close to what my sleep patterns are like now, which makes it difficult to wake up with enough time to workout and get ready for work. Meal times are also all over the place because of these hours which doesn’t help at all. Any help, thoughts, advice would be really welcome. TIA
jeff
Thanks for the responses about older people getting help from yoga. I think that, after getting back to my pre-injury weight, I will search for an appropriate instructor–cause I don’t want to get worse!
SIA
@jeff: Yes indeed. These old arthritic ladies put me to shame.
I’ve done yoga since my late teens. After a too-long hiatus, I’ve started my practice again. Its a bit humbling, having been one of those limber 20-somethings long ago. But there’s a hint of a waistline starting to appear, and it definitely helps with stress, mood, and aging. So I lumber on, in the privacy of my bedroom. No way I’m going to a class again at this stage. I’m not ready to be one of the groaning old ladies in the back row!
Cassidy
@Insomniac: No Problem. I have the same hours-ish (3-11). I get up with the kids at 7:00 to get them off to school, so when I get home from work, I try to be in bed no later than 12:30. I get teh kids off, I go to the gym between 8:30-9:00 and try to get back home by about 11:00. From there I’ll take a short nap and/or screw off and then eat around 1300, get ready for work, and go.
For meals: Breakfast is a protein shake and some coffee and supplements. I’m not a big breakfast eater anyway. After my workout I’ll have a shake and creatine. Lunch is around 1 pm. Sometime around 4 or 5 pm I’ll eat a snack, usually about 2 cups of cashews or a snickers bar or meal replacement bar type thing and then I’ll have dinner around 9 pm. I do that so I’m not hungry when I get home and avoid the urge to snack or eat too much before bed.
I’m a very pattern oriented person. I have to be in a routine. For one whole month I would work out immediately after work with the intent of exhausting myself and getting on a normal sleep schedule and workout routine.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@scav:
Thanks. When video one is all about breathing, I suspect they know what they are doing. Plus, I love a New Zealand accent
greenergood
@jeff: Don’t wait to get back to pre-injury weight!! Do it now! Even if you just make a start from a DVD or book, working on small movements and very gentle postures. You may well lose weight starting yoga now, but more importantly you’ll be working on loosening and strengthening your joints, which are always wanting to stiffen as age advances.
Insomniac
@Cassidy: Thanks for the reply Cassidy. Part of my problem is not being able to fall asleep at a reasonable hour. I tend to stay up a lot until the sun comes up before getting to sleep so the timing of everything is pretty much shot from there on out. I should try working out when I come home from work and see if that helps me fall asleep sooner and thus regulate my sleep/wake cycle better.
Cassidy
@Insomniac: I hear ya. At first I was sitting up until 2-3 am and with getting up to get the kids off, my whole schedule was shot. That month of working out after work relly did force me to go to sleep easier and get my sleep regulated.
Gretchen
@Insomnicac – I work 3rd shift – 2am-10am. I always told myself I’d go to the gym after work, but was always too tired and never actually did it, and of course the gym was closed when I get up at 10:30pm. I finally got an elliptical trainer so I can work out at midnight, before I go to work.
I used to do yoga pretty seriously, but have gotten very out of shape, and older (I turned 59 yesterday). I’m trying to relieve my stiff joints by starting in again. I like Rodney Yee yoga videos. I’ve been doing his AM yoga video – choice of 5 20-minute fairly simple workouts, which is a good way to start back in. I’ll move on to his more difficult videos later. If you’ve never done yoga at all, it’s good to find a good teacher, who will urge you to respect your limits and not worry about what the others in the class are doing.
SIA
@Gretchen: Happy birthday!
I like Rodney Yee’s videos also.
Gretchen
@SIA: Thanks for the birthday wishes!
@Insomniac: I’ve been working weird shifts for 30 years now. My friends keep saying I need to get a day job, but I’m a night owl and have trouble going to sleep early enough to get up in the morning. One thing that helps is to have a routine and stick to it. People try to work nights, and think they have all day to do stuff, and try to work the sleep into the time that’s left. Doesn’t work. Plan out how long you need to sleep, and when you need to go to bed to get that sleep. Then figure out whether you can stick to a workout plan better before or after work, and fit that into the schedule. I started doing this when my kids were young so I’d be available when they needed me, but made an ironclad rule that if something happened during my 5 core hours of sleep, it had to happen without me, and if someone in the family failed to respect that, they were confronted with the scary sight of mom roaring down the stairs in her bathrobe. They learned to respect Mom’s need for sleep, and I was able to do what they needed outside those 5 hours. Now that they’re grown, and I’m older, I get my solid 8 every day.
As for meals, make that routine too. I’m a little unusual in that I switch for the weekends and try to be awake during the day so I can see the family. Then I sleep Sunday night, get up early Monday, run some errands/work out/ whatever, and I start to get sleepy about noon Monday, so I can sleep the rest of the day, get up at 10:30, and do it all over again.
The routine is important, even if it’s a weekly cycle rather than a daily cycle. And i can’t emphasize this enough, respect your need for sleep, and don’t let other things interfere with it.
One more thing: If you’re staying up till 6am, maybe you’re by nature a 3rd-shifter like me? Do they have 3rd shift where you work? The shift differential is usually better for people who are willing to stay up all night. Where I work it’s 20%, vs. 10% for evenings, which ends up amounting to working an extra day every week vs. a day job. And people ask me why I don’t get a day job now that my original reason for working nights is past.
pseudonymous in nc
@Comrade Mary:
Cat + mat = cliché.
Gretchen
Favorite Rodney Yee videos:
http://www.amazon.com/M-Yoga-Your-Week/dp/B000YV1L4E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1330927996&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Rodney-Yee-Yoga-Burn/dp/B000A4T80O/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1330928078&sr=8-5
Insomniac
@Cassidy: @Gretchen: @Gretchen: This thread is probably dead by now, but I wanted to say thank you for taking the time. It has made me feel much better knowing that there things I can do. The insight and perspective are very useful. I’m definitely going to take the necessary steps to implement some of the things y’all mentioned.
Gretchen
@Insomniac:Not quite dead. I’ll look forward to hearing how you’re doing.
Dealing with weird shifts is an interest of mine.
Gretchen
Re: sleep: my husband used to school the kids: Is it worth waking Mom for? Yes, there’s blood, but is there dripping blood? No dripping blood, don’t wake her! (Joke: they did wake me for lots of things, but they stopped and thought whether it was worth it first).