But what about aerobic and anaerobic

[Guest guest]

I can see your point about ashtanga yoga

decreasing the desire for other activities...but I seriously

believe the heart needs activity too. Yoga purifies the

mind and body and strengthens it....but without

aerobic forms for exercise like running you aren't

completely healthy. Rebuttal?

[Guest guest]

I can't rebut what you say about aerobic

excercise. I only run when there is a ball involved

(soccer/tennis/basketball).<br><br> At 52 soccer and basketball yield more

adverse

affects than benefits notwithstanding their aerobic

value. Never liked running for its own sake. And I never

will. Treadmills and the like make me feel like a

mechanical hamster. And under fluorescent lights with rock

music blaring and TV's running - that world I find

apallingly garrish and unpleasant.<br><br>For aerobics I

like walking and sex.<br><br>Do you think ashtanga has

any aerobic value? Seems to me it does. .

..<br><br>Paul

[Guest guest]

Yoga is Soooooo many things....but hardly aerobic. It is amazing how much I

sweat but yet my heart rate is slightly higher than when I'm sleeping. I think

running and yoga is the way to go.

[Guest guest]

I agree at this point in my practice, about doing

more aerobic exercise since I'm a beginner(only been

at it a year and still learning the primary series),

so that's why I do fast walking 30-35 miles per

week, works out to 5-6 days of fast walking, and

currently 5 days of ashtanga. A handy tip that my yoga

friend gave me is that when walking out there in the

cold weather, do the ujjayii(sp?) breathing to keep

you warm. I can tell you it works like a charm.

(After all, those old yogis had to keep warm in caves at

10,000 feet elevation in the Himalayas!) Maybe when we

get more advanced and can do the whole series at a

more vigorous pace the more of the aerobic effect will

kick in. Anyone had this happen yet?

[Guest guest]

Since I'm in the primary series also, I find it

very interesting that the heart rate can increase but

yet appropriate ujayii is achieved. I don't believe

it can be done. But I've only been doing this 6

months now....(still loving it!!!)

[Guest guest]

I found ashtanga yoga after running marathons for

10 years. My last marathon was a year ago, and I

haven't run regularly since January. My only regular

exercise now is ashtanga (alternating first and second

series) five to six days a week. Despite this, I have

lost little of my aerobic fitness. When I do run (very

occasionally) I really don't struggle at all, and if anything I

run faster (not as far though). I don't understand

why, because ashtanga yoga is not an aerobic exercise.

Manju Jois told me that regular ashtanga practice is

all one needs to do, and he is definitely right.

[Guest guest]

In Beryl Bender Birch's book she explains

how,<br>although astanga yoga is not aerobic, ( although it often

is for beginners ), the uyaji breathing has the same

effect as aerobic exercise. Increasing your lung

capacity etc. Can't quote it off hand.<br><br>Liz