Kymberly Williams-Evans, MA and Alexandra Williams, MA
Dear Fun and Fit: Does doing yoga help you to lose weight or keep your body flexible?
Chen
It should be named Down Tiger. I ate the dog.
Alexandra: Your question caught our eye because today we saw some photos of a colleague who leads a Doga Yoga class for people and their dogs. I’ll answer the first part of your question and leave the flexibility to Kymberly.
Pleeeeeease Give Me Some of that Pretzel Bread *wag wag*
I’m going to answer from a backbend pose and say, “Almost any exercise will help you lose weight to some degree; the question is ‘how much?’” Now I’ll take a stance–yoga is meant to be about relaxation, better breathing, focusing the mind, balance and flexibility, although there are some types of yoga that can improve strength. In two independent studies (both discussed here), calorie burn and aerobic benefits of Hatha and Power yoga were tested. Answer–no substantial aerobic benefits. If you want to lose weight, I’d say park your car far from yoga class and run there, ride your bike to the store to buy a yoga DVD, or dance in your kitchen before downloading a yoga video.
Kymberly: Who believes Alexandra was in a backbend throughout that reply? Well, she was and still is. In fact, I doubt she will ever get up. If she did more yoga she’d be flexible AND strong enough to rise… like the bread she is baking (for me, no doubt).
A: That was quite some pretzel logic!
Yoga - It's Pretzel Logic
K: Onto you, Chen and all readers: Yes, yoga will enhance your flexibility. We suggest you visit My Yoga Online (see their logo in our sidebar to the right? Scroll up if need be. Click on it and check out their offerings.) Well-designed yoga classes alternate or balance forward bends (such as the “down dog”) with backward bends (“cat pose” or “up dog pose”) partly to maintain balance and improve flexibility.
You call it Yoga; I call it Cattercizing
K: Are you sensing an animal theme in today’s post? Ever noticed how flexible animals are? Coincidence or great planning centuries ago? See how well I stretched out my answer, which could have been handled by “no to significant weight loss and yes to flexibility”? My work here is Ommmmmmm-most done.
Dear Yogis and Posers: What name shall we give the yoga pose (asana) that the cat is demonstrating above? And “cat pose” is currently oversold, so make up something else.
Photo Credits: Creative Commons
Now even animals do yoga.
I wish I was as flexible as that kitty LOL! Such a fun post
I tried yoga and yikes, it is hard! I really want to keep going with it though because of how amazing it is for our health. I do eat mostly whole foods, drink my water and green tea, take my Vidazorb probiotic and get rest. These are lifestyle choices that I am so committed to doing and love how healthy they are. I just really need to get moving now with some exercises! Great post!
Hi Lynn: I wish I were that flexible too! Oh meow. I personally love the yoga where you get to lie down and relax. Maybe because I teach all that exercise you should be doing! Kick off your shoes (mail them to the Lt. Gov.) and do a quick yoga pose before running around Indiana. You should be home by summer! Thanks for stopping by.
AlexandraFunFit recently posted..Cellulite- Special Exercises for Special Fat
This was an interesting post. But I gotta say, you really brung it with those stretching animals. I’m not sure how you did it, but you found the perfect images for animal kingdom flexibility.
Alexandra and Kymberly this is another great example of why I love your blog posting voices.
Calla Gold
http://www.callagold.com
That’s too funny, my cat sleeps the EXACT same way as your last picture there. Sometimes, if the area is big enough, she’s flat on her back. Guess she’s been watching my yoga routine a little tooo much.. haha
Great Pics Alexandra and Kym.
CB
I think the cat pose should be catdinnie the great escape artist. Good post, like the pics and the answers.
Gunnar recently posted..TOP 7 Smartest Dog Breeds in the World
Hehe, how about the “Feline Flex” ? I would also love to be as flexible as that!
Hehe cattercizing. My cat’s way too fat and lazy for yoga
She just sleeps on my computer all day. Also – those pretzels look might tasty 
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