Comments on: The TRUTH About Yoga and Pilates by Mike Boyle http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/ How to Turn Your Passion into Passive Income. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:38:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: cardio_pilates http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-4794 cardio_pilates Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:19:45 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-4794 This is the great blog, I'm reading them for a while, thanks for the new posts! This is the great blog, I'm reading them for a while, thanks for the new posts!

]]> By: Sandra http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-338 Sandra Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:42:31 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-338 Mike, your article and most of these responses, are very sad. Aside from a few comments, it is clear that yoga is highly misunderstood.. by "fitness Professionals"! The exercises (poses) you see in yoga classes are just one aspect of yoga and unfortunately most of what people are exposed to (therefor creating this yoga association and misunderstanding). Yoga was never meant to prepare a person to burst into a 5-minute mile after a crushing hilly ride in the middle of a triathlon. Yoga is a lifestyle that helps an individual reach a higher state of conscious. The "poses" were origninally meant to be taught to an individual by his/her guru, to help that indiv abtain balance in their body (strengthen what's weak and lengthen what is tight). It is believed that a person will struggle with their meditation practice, if their body is ill and out of wack. So yes, a guru would not assign tree pose to someone who already has strong legs, focus and balance. However, a guru would have their work cut out for someone who is just trying to display the most power of anyone in their gym (reducing the control your ego has over you is a predominant part of the yoga practice). Perhaps you right on by taking a stab at yoga zealots who obviously have their own misunderstandings. However since yoga has a strong tradition and isn't going away, it's not a bad idea for any fitness professional to have a basic idea of its offerings. For example, breathing practice can help a person move in and out of the sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system at will. Our breath is the only part of the autonomic nervous system that we have control over, therefore yogis utilize it as a "way in" (mind-body connection). Maybe part of the problem is that it only takes 200 hours of training to become a yoga teacher and clearly that's not enough. It's enough to lead an Asana class (what you think of as yoga) safely and provide a basis to move forward. But isn't that statement true for most disciplines? Mike, your article and most of these responses, are very sad. Aside from a few comments, it is clear that yoga is highly misunderstood.. by “fitness Professionals”! The exercises (poses) you see in yoga classes are just one aspect of yoga and unfortunately most of what people are exposed to (therefor creating this yoga association and misunderstanding). Yoga was never meant to prepare a person to burst into a 5-minute mile after a crushing hilly ride in the middle of a triathlon. Yoga is a lifestyle that helps an individual reach a higher state of conscious. The “poses” were origninally meant to be taught to an individual by his/her guru, to help that indiv abtain balance in their body (strengthen what’s weak and lengthen what is tight). It is believed that a person will struggle with their meditation practice, if their body is ill and out of wack. So yes, a guru would not assign tree pose to someone who already has strong legs, focus and balance. However, a guru would have their work cut out for someone who is just trying to display the most power of anyone in their gym (reducing the control your ego has over you is a predominant part of the yoga practice). Perhaps you right on by taking a stab at yoga zealots who obviously have their own misunderstandings. However since yoga has a strong tradition and isn’t going away, it’s not a bad idea for any fitness professional to have a basic idea of its offerings. For example, breathing practice can help a person move in and out of the sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system at will. Our breath is the only part of the autonomic nervous system that we have control over, therefore yogis utilize it as a “way in” (mind-body connection).

Maybe part of the problem is that it only takes 200 hours of training to become a yoga teacher and clearly that’s not enough. It’s enough to lead an Asana class (what you think of as yoga) safely and provide a basis to move forward. But isn’t that statement true for most disciplines?

]]> By: christiane http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-325 christiane Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:37:15 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-325 May be you have made some valid points. Please try Ashtanga yoga, then comment. If you want long, lean and taut body do yoga, if you want short and stocky do weight lifting May be you have made some valid points. Please try Ashtanga yoga, then comment. If you want long, lean and taut body do yoga, if you want short and stocky do weight lifting

]]> By: mark http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-318 mark Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:35:00 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-318 If that's your experience..ok, but I haven't seen any yoga advocates putting down progressive resistance, or specific athletic speed/skill/strength training. If anything, they seem to be doing exaclty what is you say is ok with you; just doing what works for them. Sorry to be redundant: You say you're getting these remarks, fine, but it looks lke a "straw man" arugment to me. All of the attitude I hear comes from progressive resistance trainees and trainers. If that’s your experience..ok, but I haven’t seen any yoga advocates putting down progressive resistance, or specific athletic speed/skill/strength training. If anything, they seem to be doing exaclty what is you say is ok with you; just doing what works for them. Sorry to be redundant: You say you’re getting these remarks, fine, but it looks lke a “straw man” arugment to me. All of the attitude I hear comes from progressive resistance trainees and trainers.

]]> By: Brenna http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-313 Brenna Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:58:14 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-313 My goodness, someone's a little cranky!! Yoga in the true sense is a mind/body relaxation technique. As an athlete myself, I've used it to increase my flexibility and range of motion, which improves my ability to lift weight in those ranges of motion... Yoga isn't to be used to produce power; power is a product of moving a force a certain distance in the shortest amount of time... that's not the point of yoga... many athletes have inflexibility issues, like hamstring tightness in football/basketball players... yoga is just one way to combat that inflexibility and possibly help prevent injury... geez man... relax! My goodness, someone’s a little cranky!! Yoga in the true sense is a mind/body relaxation technique. As an athlete myself, I’ve used it to increase my flexibility and range of motion, which improves my ability to lift weight in those ranges of motion… Yoga isn’t to be used to produce power; power is a product of moving a force a certain distance in the shortest amount of time… that’s not the point of yoga… many athletes have inflexibility issues, like hamstring tightness in football/basketball players… yoga is just one way to combat that inflexibility and possibly help prevent injury… geez man… relax!

]]> By: Charlie http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-306 Charlie Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:34:46 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-306 Mike, I was exposed to yoga and pilates at the same time I was learning about functional work, and for the most part I agree with you. However, I did see where the slow controlled aspects of yoga and pilates helped my clients and myself get more out of some of the complex functional movements as well as typical resisted exercises. Long story short, I like to use yoga in place of the typical dynamic flexibility routine, and I have my clients do the first few reps to get their form, eliminate "cheats", and get mentally connected to what they are doing. Mike,
I was exposed to yoga and pilates at the same time I was learning about functional work, and for the most part I agree with you. However, I did see where the slow controlled aspects of yoga and pilates helped my clients and myself get more out of some of the complex functional movements as well as typical resisted exercises. Long story short, I like to use yoga in place of the typical dynamic flexibility routine, and I have my clients do the first few reps to get their form, eliminate “cheats”, and get mentally connected to what they are doing.

]]> By: A1 http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-305 A1 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:21:52 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-305 It's funny how many people have taken this as an attack on yoga and that p-stuff when it's really against the zealot pushers that feel y/p should be integrated into athletes training at the cost of true strength and conditioning training. I train for MMA and do yoga a couple days a week (mainly 'cause it's free for me) and I think yoga is great. If I had to take time out of my martial arts training to make room for it I would take the sport specific training in a heartbeat over yoga, because the time and energy I spend on training is going to yield far more results than yoga. That's the point of this article, not that yoga and pilates suck (though pilates kind of does suck). It’s funny how many people have taken this as an attack on yoga and that p-stuff when it’s really against the zealot pushers that feel y/p should be integrated into athletes training at the cost of true strength and conditioning training. I train for MMA and do yoga a couple days a week (mainly ’cause it’s free for me) and I think yoga is great. If I had to take time out of my martial arts training to make room for it I would take the sport specific training in a heartbeat over yoga, because the time and energy I spend on training is going to yield far more results than yoga. That’s the point of this article, not that yoga and pilates suck (though pilates kind of does suck).

]]> By: Karla http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-304 Karla Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:46:13 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-304 Mike, Thank you on behalf of all sports performance coaches out there. Your right Yoga is a crock of Shi**!for us strength and conditioning coaches out there. Athletes can not and will not improve there performance by doing useless breathing techniques and holding flexibilty poses for 5 minutes or more while listening to birds chirping in the back ground and listening to terrible sanctuary cd's. How many athletes do you know hold any position or pose in their sport for as long as you hold yoga poses? Oh yeah some of you say, what about golf? ask Tiger Woods, Yoga is not what makes him one of the strongest athletes in sports today.( neither is on steroids). Strength, speed, and power is what athletes need and yoga for sure does not provide that. Even if you are not an athlete,yoga and also pilates does not provide the benefits to the best conditioning for your heart, lkie running or resistance training can, for example. Get up, get out, and do something diferent and do not rely on yoga to solve all your health problems or achieve total fitness. Karla Mike,

Thank you on behalf of all sports performance coaches out there. Your right Yoga is a crock of Shi**!for us strength and conditioning coaches out there. Athletes can not and will not improve there performance by doing useless breathing techniques and holding flexibilty poses for 5 minutes or more while listening to birds chirping in the back ground and listening to terrible sanctuary cd’s. How many athletes do you know hold any position or pose in their sport for as long as you hold yoga poses?

Oh yeah some of you say, what about golf? ask Tiger Woods, Yoga is not what makes him one of the strongest athletes in sports today.( neither is on steroids). Strength, speed, and power is what athletes need and yoga for sure does not provide that.

Even if you are not an athlete,yoga and also pilates does not provide the benefits to the best conditioning for your heart, lkie running or resistance training can, for example. Get up, get out, and do something diferent and do not rely on yoga to solve all your health problems or achieve total fitness.

Karla

]]> By: Brad http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-303 Brad Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:17:17 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-303 Thank you for your honesty! Many people try to push their new-found cure-all on everyone around them and although I believe they are doing so with good intention, not all things are for all people. On the athletes side, they have to do what gives them the most bang for their time invested. Controversy is a beautiful thing :) Thank you for your honesty! Many people try to push their new-found cure-all on everyone around them and although I believe they are doing so with good intention, not all things are for all people. On the athletes side, they have to do what gives them the most bang for their time invested. Controversy is a beautiful thing :)

]]> By: Yoga Brat http://www.ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/comment-page-1/#comment-302 Yoga Brat Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:39:32 +0000 http://ryanlee.com/fitness-industry/the-truth-about-yoga-and-pilates-by-mike-boyle/#comment-302 Yoga is not meant to be a workout. It is not about doing a bunch of poses to increase range of motion. Yoga is a way of living. It reminds us to be mindfull. Who doesn't need a good dose of mindfullness now and then. Taking a yoga class here and there will not make a difference in performance for anyone. Just like one workout now and then will not make someone stronger, faster, or leaner. It's practice over time. I've been teaching Krav Maga at the National Training Center for over 10 years and a competitive gymnast my entire life. I love training to be powerful, explosive, and aggressive but I really don't think my level of performance and skill would be where it is today without a yoga practice. And yes... it has so much to do with who the teacher is and how they transfer knowledge. It's very hard to find a qualified yoga teacher due to the trend of Yoga in the fitness industry. Keep in mind yoga has tremendous health benefits. The healthier one is the better their sport performace will be. It cleanses the lunges, aids in digestion, stimulates nervous system function, it camls the mind...etc. Any great coach knows how important visualization is in athletic performance. The yoga practice is a great time to visualize skills, drills, strategies, even the promotion of healing an injury. Athletes and coaches must not forget the power of the mind. That being said, yoga IS NOT sport specific just like Mike mentioned but it is a great tool (with the appropriate teacher) to aid any kind of performance whether you are a competitive athlete, a sedentary couch potato, or living with an illness. Tina Angelotti, Vence CA Yoga is not meant to be a workout. It is not about doing a bunch of poses to increase range of motion. Yoga is a way of living. It reminds us to be mindfull. Who doesn’t need a good dose of mindfullness now and then. Taking a yoga class here and there will not make a difference in performance for anyone. Just like one workout now and then will not make someone stronger, faster, or leaner. It’s practice over time.

I’ve been teaching Krav Maga at the National Training Center for over 10 years and a competitive gymnast my entire life. I love training to be powerful, explosive, and aggressive but I really don’t think my level of performance and skill would be where it is today without a yoga practice. And yes… it has so much to do with who the teacher is and how they transfer knowledge. It’s very hard to find a qualified yoga teacher due to the trend of Yoga in the fitness industry.

Keep in mind yoga has tremendous health benefits. The healthier one is the better their sport performace will be. It cleanses the lunges, aids in digestion, stimulates nervous system function, it camls the mind…etc. Any great coach knows how important visualization is in athletic performance. The yoga practice is a great time to visualize skills, drills, strategies, even the promotion of healing an injury. Athletes and coaches must not forget the power of the mind.

That being said, yoga IS NOT sport specific just like Mike mentioned but it is a great tool (with the appropriate teacher) to aid any kind of performance whether you are a competitive athlete, a sedentary couch potato, or living with an illness.

Tina Angelotti, Vence CA

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