Om Sweet Om

Yes, friends, I went where most men refuse to go. I left the grunts and flexing of the gym for the deep breathing and posing of the yoga studio; and to be completely honest I’d do it again.

Much like many of you out there, I once dismissed yoga as not being “man exercise.” I couldn’t grasp the concept of how bending and shaping one’s body into a number of different forms was considered as good a workout as lifting weights or doing laps.

I’ll tell you now a couple of weeks removed from my first studio class–I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The road that led me to attending a hot yoga class began innocently enough. My wife, herself an enthusiast, wanted to look into getting Nintendo Wii Fit for our apartment. It seemed harmless enough; I figured that I’d be able to do the various aerobic and strength training exercises that are built into the disc and do the occasional pose.

So, after more than a month of hunting and searching for the product, I finally lucked out after an inside tip from a Future Shop employee and after a quick setup, I was ready to begin.

Almost immediately, I was able to give Wii Fit the old thumbs up rating. The hype surrounding Nintendo’s workout system isn’t hyperbole–the “game” really does have the appeal that caters both to men and women. For those of us who enjoy the simplicity of relaxing with digital distraction after a long day at the office, Wii Fit offers some mini games and an easy way to burn off some steam (and calories); and for those of us who enjoy the competitive aspect of games, each of your workouts gives you a score which, naturally, you must best next time out.

After doing, as expected, the aerobics, weight training and balance games, I carefully stepped into the world of yoga (mainly due to the encouragement of my wife). I figured I’d be able to do well on some of the poses, and did reasonably well according to the Wii Fit scoring system; but then I got cocky and tried a couple more advanced poses and was summarily humbled as I tipped and toppled every which way.

The challenge, as they say, was on.

After a few weeks, I was beginning to get the hang of yoga, and not only did I feel like my muscles were getting toned, but also that, indeed, I was building up a good sweat from it, comparable to running on a track. Congratulations Wii Fit, you made me into a yogaholic.

Now you’re probably saying to yourself that getting the Wii Fit or an instructional DVD is all you need, but after doing Wii Fit for a while, I have to admit that I started craving a new challenge. So, when my editor suggested I try a class, I was game for it, and after a quick call to Moksha Yoga, I was all set to go.

Coming into the class, I figured I would approach it like any other workout, as I had at home. This meant a breathable shirt, loose-fitting shorts, ball cap, water bottle (which, as recommended by a co-worker, I had frozen overnight in my freezer) and gum (I can never forget to bring the old-school pink Bazooka
with me).

Stepping into the room after changing though was almost a culture shock. First, I was pleasantly surprised that there were other guys in the room (I’d say it was a 5:4 ratio for women over men), but the majority of them didn’t quite have the same attire as me. The style, in most cases, was to be shirtless with skin-tight shorts. Even more surprising - there was not a Goldeyes hat to be seen.

The room was also dead silent. No one talking, no music, no grunting – just still bodies on the floor, with the faint sound of deep breathing. It was as if my long-ago vision of the nap hotel (patent pending) was a reality – only it was in a cedar room with a broken thermostat.

Toto, I don’t think we’re in the weight room anymore.

So, after shedding my cap and tossing my gum into a Kleenex, I joined everyone on the floor, taking in both the tranquility and immense heat. By comparison, the last time I sweated so instantaneously was in southern Israel. Oy!

Not long afterward, the instructor, Brad Young, arrived and the class began. Through a series of poses that involved either standing, lying down or somewhere in between the two, I very quickly learned two things:

•    The heat generated in a hot yoga room quickly becomes a non-factor, as the amount of sweat you’ll generate keeps your body at a very cool temperature. Keeping my ice-filled water bottle with me was a plus, but was not absolutely necessary.
•    Loose-fitting clothing is a definite no-no. After a half-hour, my shorts and shirt were constricting my body movements and making the already difficult poses that much more cumbersome.

I also learned something extremely important in the nature of class versus console – while Wii Fit and other video systems are great for demonstrating technique, the big drawback is that they do not offer correction. At various junctures in the 90-minute class, my posing was off, which meant that I was not getting the full benefit of each movement.

I’ll say this for certain – the yoga experience in the studio is almost a completely different animal from my weeks on Wii Fit. The best way to describe it is simply that while the Wii has a good variety of poses (some of which, like the Downward-facing Dog and the Cobra were done in the class), it felt like a basics session compared to the intensity of the 90-minute Moksha class.

That’s not to say that one is better than the other, per se. In the end I find that both have their advantages. A yoga class will give you better direction and a deeper more challenging session, while the Wii Fit is the perfect 30-minute fix of tone and sweat that fits snuggly into busy schedules.

Whichever way you go, yoga should definitely become part of your exercise routine. You will definitely notice a difference in your flexibility, balance and tone and will find your other workouts that much easier to do.

Yoga Dictionary

Ever wonder what some of those words mean that you hear in and around a yoga studio? Here’s a basic primer so you’ll look a little less green in class.

Asanas – refers to posturing that is used in all forms of yoga. Asanas are combined with breathing to create growth from the body.
Mudras – hand posturing. These may be most familiar in meditation.
Namaste - literally translated to “I bow to the divine in you,” it is the traditional greeting of welcome and thanks. Most classes end with one of these.
Shanti – the Sanskrit word for peace or tranquility, shanti is chanted to ward off curses or karma.
Vinyasa –a series of postures that are linked through steady breathing and continuous movement.

Sources: Yogadictionary.com, radiantbeingyoga.com

Jon Waldman photo by chronic creative

DO TRY THIS AT HOME 

Yoga 101

To get you started before hitting the yoga studio, try practicing these three poses from Ryann at Moksha Yoga: tree pose, threading the needle and seated spinal twist.

Tree Pose - This posture is great for improving balance, building stability in the ankle and knee joints and opening the hip of the elevated leg.

Step 1: Anchor down through your right foot (put all of your weight on your right foot).
Step 2:  Lift the left leg and rotate the leg out at your hip.
Step 3:  Place the right foot on the inside of your left calve.

For a more advanced variation, bring the foot up to the inside of your thigh. Hold the pose for five breaths, then release the foot and repeat on the other side.

Threading the Needle - Lower back pain and tight hamstrings can both originate from tight hips. This posture can help to open both and is a key pose for any person suffering with sciatica.

Step 1: Lie on your back with knees bent, feet facing into the ground.
Step 2: Bring your right ankle up on top of your left knee.
Step 3: Reach your right arm through the space between both legs.
Step 4: Lift your left foot off of the ground and interlace your hands around the back of your hamstring.

For a more advanced variation, hold the front of your shin instead of the hamstring.

Seated Spinal Twist - This posture is beneficial for the spine, but can also be very beneficial to the digestive system.

Step 1: While seated, cross your right leg over your left and root the foot into the mat.
Step 2: Anchor your right hand down into the mat behind you.
Step 3: Lift the left arm and place your left elbow on the outside of your right knee.
Step 4: Use your inhalations to lengthen through your spine and exhalations to mindfully twist further.