I just ran across a yoga article on an online fitness site Testosterone.Muscle Unapologetic Muscle-Building Elitists. (Okay, not your typical yogi reading material, I’ll admit.) Mike Robertson’s article Yoga is Overrated makes a case against the yoga fitness craze. Surprisingly, I agree with him on a number of his assertions. Be sure to read the full text of Robertson’s article, (with my apologies for the cheesecake picture at the end). A summary of his points:
Yoga the Good
- Mind-Muscle Connection
- Decrease Stress
- Balance
Yoga the Bad
- Instability
- “Tightness” does not equal “Needs to be Stretched”
- Group Exercise/Lack of Individualization
Getting the Most Out of Your Yoga
- Find an educated teacher
- Smaller classes
- Focus on Quality vs. Quantity
His points on instability and tightness do not hold water in the context of Anusara Yoga where the emphasis is on balanced action — you do not stretch a muscle until you draw in circumfrentially with muscular energy. However, Robertson’s “Yoga the Bad” reflects what IS bad in what I’ll call psuedo-yoga offerings. Unfortunately, there are all too many of these kinds of teachers and classes, not only in the gym setting but perhaps (more damaging) in the yoga studio as well.
Just like I’m sure Robertson would agree that incorrectly performed body building exercises are not good for you, I whole-heartedly agree with his assertions as they relate to “incorrect” yoga. His tips for getting the most out of your yoga are worth heeding; his summation a great prediction:
“I may be living in a dream world, but I believe that there will be a revolution in the yoga world in the coming years that puts a serious emphasis on moving in a biomechanically efficient manner.” ~ Mike Robertson
That revolution is here baby, it’s called Anusara Yoga.
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I would really love to hear your thoughts and opinions of this article, and invite you to discuss your ideas here. What do you think of his assertions? Side note: My comments are written with an obvious bias towards Anusara Yoga which I study and practice. Other yoga methods also emphasize the biomechanics and provide effective instruction (with a tip of my mat to my Iyengar friends)!
its very situational. i have private clients that i am maintaining/creating stability in the lower back due to certain issues like anterior bulging discs, spondylolisthesis, and pelvic instability; and in others i am trying to “unfuse” lumbar tightness to create more overall mobility and less stress on distal joints that have problems occurring. i think the bottom line is any yoga can be good with the right intentioned and learned teacher. i do agree with the crowded class philosophy. group asana classes are a very recent and Western invention with yoga. in general i feel that we should all be doing a lot less asana and a lot more svadyaya, meditation, and pranayama. balance of an overall Yoga practice is a key element for me personally. i have a much more limited asana practice these days and am only getting happier and healthier… at least i think so. but i am biased!
very usefull information one of the best ive found on the web keep coming back
christophe
http://yourpremiumfitness.com