for guys, ya or no?

anybody do it regularly? benefits?

recommendations?

etc.

I've been on an Eastern religions kick lately, and obviously become interested in meditation/yoga. Also, I just spent 2 hours researching Dean Ornish bc of Bill clinton's new diet. some pretty amazing research of the effects of lifestyle changes on cancer/heart disease/etc. have come from this guy. Like recently, an article showing that these lifestyle changes can increase telomere length, which effectively increases lifespan, and probably prevents cancer. there isn't a drug on earth that has been able to do this, but it has been shown to be associated with these lifestyle changes. This isn't bullshit mormon research, but lancet-published work. Part of his lifestyle changes include yoga, which he swears by. pretty interesting stuff. just wondering if anybody had tried it/does it on the reg. and can give some info.

I think dudes that do yoga are probably the same sly devils that knew well enough to take home-ec in high school. It's not Pilates after all.

Yoga can be real yough and a hell of a workout especially if you arent very flexible. the p90x yoga almost killed me on multiple occassions.

do it, ive done it for a while now and glad i started. great for you muscles, mind. may sound gay but i really couldnt care less about what other people think about it

do you go to like a yoga studio or do it on your own?

YOGA IS THE NUTS.

So many hotties like WOW. And they do this stuff in rooms full of mirrors so you can actually look at the same chick from many different angles while shes doing many different positions.

Plus its a great workout and you feel great afterwards.

Also, doing YOGA in WHISTLER, is a very very very highly recommended thing to do. NEver seen such a prettier group of woman all sweaty and wearing skin tight clothing

I love yoga. Its a great workout and you can see the results. You feel great afterwards. I just record different videos off of fittv and use dvds.

yes yoga is the nuts. I started going last month and go at least 3 times a week. It's a great workout plus the mental aspect of it is also great. I dont like doing it on my own as much as going to the studio...It's better to have someone guiding you through all the poses, and it's better to be in a room full of people...ahem women...just my opinion/preference.

I like it.

 

Originally Posted by Neeek

do it + detailed trip report IMO. that would be so sick, would love to do that.

I stayed in an ashram in Rishikesh, India but only for 12 nights. Have only slept about 6 hours in the past 2 nights so not up to writing in detail but I am working on starting a blog, my experience there will definitely be one of the topics. I have a lot of notes from the time I was there including some of what I learned about meditation saved on my cpu.

The experience was fantastic. Did meditation and yoga for an hour each in the morning before breakfast, then yoga (hour 20) and meditation (hour) before dinner. Middle of the day was mostly time to read and study though I did leave the ashram to play poker several of the days during that time. I also read very spiritual material on concentration and meditation

Yoga feels like the perfect way to start a morning. As stone posted, I didn't feel drained after the work out. To the complete contrary, I left filled with energy prepared to conquer the day. Since the experience I have already drifted from the yoga but it is something I would love to get back to once in more of a regular routine at home. Would be nothing but a positive. Ideally once I get home starting the day with a yoga session followed by an appx 30 minute bicycle ride would do wonders for me all around on so many levels. One of the best ways I can see myself living to my potential, the core of the potential being mental and overall productivity each day

Meditation requires far more commitment and hard work but it is clear to me the results are powerful. The above routine is feasible and something I hope to accomplish. The demands of meditation are not something I ever expect to meet or a practice I plan to master. The ultimate goals in meditation are spiritual and a lot of what is asked of you I have zero desire to attain. In the ashram if you ask what you should think of as a beginner during meditation the answer will likely be an image of God (Jesus, Buddha, Vishnu etc. it doesn't matter who). I did knowingly sign up to a Hindu ashram and the experience was remarkable, but devoting my life to God and the sacrifices asked of you do not appeal to me in the slightest. I enjoy "temptations", they are not something I want to eliminate from my life, it is not my perspective on what living a good life entails. However, the concepts of improved focus and concentration do appeal to me. The skill of lessening your thoughts and not allowing the mind to stray is a powerful tool to me. In brief, they preach that once you train the mind to perfectly concentrate and focus on a single task only then will you be able to master it--in an efficient manner at that. For example, if you are writing a paper for school, only think of the paper. When you catch your mind drift, bring it back. Over time through repetition it will drift less and less until you have gained complete control over your mind and it does exactly what you ask of it. This is something I am working on, but in a half ass manner...I am very far from an expert on the issue and equally far from being capable of controlling my mind in this fashion. But I will say that anybody who is doing yoga and not working on controlling the mind during their asanas (postures) is missing out on the greatest strength of the yoga session. Concentrate on the posture. When your mind strays to thinking of what you want for lunch bring it back. Yoga is a time to train the mind. Then when you want to work on a complex idea, challenging decision etc. your mind will be better prepared to handle it. If you are not doing this in yoga you are missing the main purpose it is designed for

I have a lot more to say on my stay in the ashram, learned a tremendous amount about Hinduism and Indian mentality. A glimpse into ashram life and its teachings have definitely enhanced both my understanding of and appreciation for Ghandi (almost done with a bio on him right now). But in a nutshell the above is what I personally took that I can see applying to my own life. The student I was closest with took will power as her main message, we have different flaws, histories, and spiritual beliefs. A valuable experience it was and is for many. Since I left I have honestly had a lot of positive thoughts and high hopes, including excitement for my blog. Feel like I have more clarity on what I want to do. Must admit, I have been writing recently and the mind has wandered far far away with me failing to retrieve it. It is something I need to work on and a lesson I hope doesn't slip away.

god I'm jealous of you trip. I read "Turning the Mind into an Ally," which is basically a beginner book about meditation, and got a similar outlook/motivation as you from it. Experiencing/learning about these methods first-hand would be so sick. Let me know when your blog is up, because I would like to hear more.