The Truth About Stretching
Aug 19, 2008
Filed under
Yoga
This recent article in the NY Times has some interesting information about about stretching. The old and persistent myth is that stretching out before exercising is a good thing. Apparently, though, static stretching really isn’t so great for your body, and it may even make the muscles less able for athletic performance, and more vulnerable to injury. The good news is that dynamic stretching is very good for you, and it’s the new trend in pre-athletics warm-up, especially among professional athletes.
Check out the video at the end of the article. There’s a good demo and explanation of dynamic stretching.
After reading this article, I was surprised to find that the author didn’t mention yoga even once! Vinyasa Flow in particular is a lot like the dynamic stretching that the guy demonstrates in his video. And the pictures on the side margin of the article are all basically yoga poses. In fact, I’d argue that this article and video are essentially promoting yoga, without evening knowing it!
Yoga Smackdown
Aug 18, 2008
Filed under
Yoga
I was yoga-less all week. I’d already blown money on a seven-day Bikram yoga pass, but I didn’t want to go back after my first miserable class. Instead I seethed in resentment—pretty much the opposite of yogic behavior.
By Saturday I was a free agent again. So on Sunday evening, a sacred time usually reserved for watching TV in my pajamas, I traveled 45 minutes across New York City to attend one of my favorite Vinyasa classes. I needed to rekindle my love for yoga, so I selected the most un-Bikramlike session I could find, complete with soothing soundtrack and meditation.
Stepping inside from busy Union Square, I was relieved to scale the
creeky wooden steps of the studio and catch a whiff of Nag Champa
incense. I had made the right decision. When the class got under way in
a dimly lit room, I delighted in every flowing pose and Ujjayi —a
continuous and audible breath of air.
Last week’s experiment with Vinyasa’s crueler cousin inspired me to create a little side-by-side comparison.
