Chatty asked that we bring life to old posts, so I have a question for you walkers.

How many of you enjoy yoga as part of your exercise routine?

I take two classes of yoga a week and try to walk at least 15 minutes, twice a day. I find it really increases my flexibility and is great strength training.

Anno, I have never started yoga because I'm afraid I could never get up from the lotus position. Yikes, what kind of nightmare is that!
I do walk a lot, though, sometimes 4 hours,(especially when playing golf). I do Tai Chi, which I love for stretching exercises and meditating.

I have only taken one yoga class in my life. Well, a series of classes. I intend to get back to it because I loved the stretching and movement. The only thing I couldn't stand was the long cool down at the end. All I could do was think of everything I had to do when I got out of there. That part totally didn't work for me.

Once, I left before that because I just didn't have the patience for it. The next class, the instructor advised me that it wasn't good for the body to leave before the cool down. OOPS. I didn't leave early again. I struggled to relax. Now what sense does that make?

I am not yet flexible enough to try yoga. I hope to get involved in Pilates once I can get down on, and then up off the floor without a crane....Thanks Anno for starting a new up to date post....you're a honey!

I understand about the cool down time. For years I had troubles with this too. Now, I use it to meditate (or pray) and I find myself enjoying it.
I guess I am fairly flexible, but I go to classes with many that are not. It's amazing how a few months of practice loosens everyone up. I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven't already.

I haven't tried Yoga, or Pilates, or Tai Chi (I thought that was tea, no?)...but I would like to. I do walk everyday, or try to, and love it. I use the last 5 minutes for a cool down from the fast walking. It works for me.

I'm also one of those people who LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, mediation CD's. Only problem is I go to sleep while I'm listening to them. I am the easiest person in the world to fall fast asleep. I swear. They don't even have to prep me for surgery. I'm asleep when I get there. Honest injun.

JJ
I found a great meditation download that lasts for 10 minutes. It is a toning meditation.

I just heard that if you fall asleep during meditation, it may because you don't know how to relax. Hmmmm - food (or sleep) for thought.

JJ, you and my Hubby! He can even sleep standing up, like a horse.
I can relate Dotsie. Cooling down seems so forced; like you have to pretend to cool down. I get impatient with things like that too. That's why I like that "tea" meditating. (Ha ha, JJ). When you're finished then you just walk away, probably because I'm not doing it right.

That's the attitude Anne!

No joke? Don't know how to relax? Girl, they have to check my pulse to make sure I'm still alive, and it's low. I've always heard it's a sign of a clean conscious.

Okay, there goes that theory...teehee....

I began taking aerobic classes when I was in my early 30's and got hooked. I have a vast library of tapes (antiques yet??) and DVD's and - until recently - was pretty darn proud of myself for being able to still keep up. Never mind that I will probably need a knee replacement in the future and it's getting harder and harder to do the lunges and squats and tall box stepping.

So, I have been doing more walking and pilates/yoga tapes on days that I just cannot do the 'old routines.' It hasn't been easy. After so many years of pounding myself to a pulp, it doesn't feel like I've actually worked out unless I'm seeing stars and sweating like a barn yard animal.

I did take yoga classes years ago - along with a group of middle school teachers and support staffers. We sooo looked forward to our Wednesday night class - by mid week we were all wound so tight - you'd think we'd explode. (Middle school teachers are my heros - I could not do what they do if my life depended on it.) Anyway, the cool down was our favorite part - I fell asleep more times than not. The results were obvious the next day - we were all so relaxed that the school could blow up around us and we could have cared less!! That peace didn't last long, one class a week was never enough.

I also have no problem falling asleep. I think it's because I go, go, go when I'm awake. JJ, I like your theory better!

browser, I was such an aerobics nut when I was in my 20s. I thrived on it. I even taught a class at one point. I also happened to be in the best shape of my life at that time. It's so good for your heart. I bet you sleep well.

I could never do the aerobics. But put on a tape like "Sweating to the Oldies" and I'm there. I love to move to music. So instead of the aerobics, I would do my own type just dancing, moving, and shaking around to the music

When I started walking not to long ago, I purchased a CD player to listen to music as I walked. It was a piece of crap. I took it back to Wally World thinking maybe I just had a bad one. Nope...second one was just as bad. Didn't work half the time and suck up batteries like a sponge. So, it sits with the rest of the junk on the kitchen table. What a rip off.

Has anybody bought a player to use while they walk?

JJ, I have a Walk-Man and its great. Good, clear sound and the batteries last quite awhile. Mine is about four years old now.

I got a ipod last year and love it. It is small, has great sound and it's charge lasts a long time