Is this yoga or stretching?

[IfIOnly]

I'm looking for yoga that is doable for me with fibro and found this video. It looks like something I could actually do consistently and that could get me started with yoga, but is this actually yoga? Will it help with strengthening or more just stretching? Someone in the comments called it yin yoga and mentioned that kind is good for fibro affected folks. She has more fibro videos that I'm looking forward to checking out as well.

 

 

Edited September 20, 2020 by IfIOnly

[Ottakee]

I honestly don't know but anything doable for you is good.

I am doing DDPYoga and it is very good for all fitness levels and so easy to modify for your particular needs.  I have lost 30# and am stronger.  Right now I am battling a knee injury (unrelated) but I am stronger than when I started.  I even have tiny baby muscles in my arms.

[Pawz4me]

I don't think you can really separate "stretching" from "yoga." Many yoga poses are stretches. Stretching and strengthening are to my way of thinking two sides of the same coin. Most of the stretches you see athletes doing--I'm pretty sure almost all of them are variations of yoga poses.

[Guest]

I agree with Pawz; there is a lot of overlap. I have spoken to a yoga therapeutics teacher at the cancer center and yoga with post cancer patients is surely not going to be super complex. Goals are simpler, like bringing energy flow to the spine, stretching the legs and ankles, reducing tension stored in the neck and shoulders. 

I do yoga every day, but it’s quite basic. It is helpful for mind and body even if it might look like just seven minutes of stretching. 🙂 

[Lori D.]

Yes, this is yoga. These are yoga positions (asanas), and they are being done in the order of the more common vinyasa style of yoga.

This is yin yoga, which is a slower-paced style of "yoga-as-exercise". Yin yoga uses fewer positions, and holds them for longer, than traditional yoga. Some yin yoga has you use a tennis ball placed in specific spots as you hold a position in order to put pressure on connective tissues to release the fasciae from "sticking", and to help increase circulation to joints. 

Yin yoga will certainly help with flexibility and in releasing joint and tissue pain.

For strength and balance, check you vinyasa and/or hatha styles of yoga. 

Here's a quick article on the "13 Types of Yoga".

Edited September 20, 2020 by Lori D.

[Spy Car]

Looked like a mash-up to me.

I've never encountered some of these "stretches" as classical yoga "asanas" (poses).

That said, there is a pretty wide range of approaches to "yoga" as practiced today.

But this struck me (and I'm sure you, hence the question) as a "hybrid" approach.

Bill

[Lori D.]

18 minutes ago, Spy Car said:

Looked like a mash-up to me.

I've never encountered some of these "stretches" as classical yoga "asanas" (poses).

That said, there is a pretty wide range of approaches to "yoga" as practiced today.

But this struck me (and I'm sure you, hence the question) as a "hybrid" approach.

Bill

Hmmm... I've taken both Vinyasa and Yin yoga classes, and all of the poses in the video (as I skimmed through it) have been in both of the types of yoga classes...

The instructors I have had all do continuing education and seminars specifically in yoga disciplines but also in kinesiology and physical exercise techniques. From details in the instruction they provide, I gather that yoga is "dynamic" and positions can (and have) been added to, and adapted from, ancient poses over time, and continue to be added to/adapted... In other words, so many approaches and new directions to yoga have been developed, especially in the past 50 years with the resurgence in interest in the practice, that most yoga classes today are "hybrid" or adapted in some way. I don't have the impression that strict, traditional, ancient-only yoga is widely practiced in the western world... I guess it would not be yoga if it doesn't include the breathing/mindful aspect, as Seasider was suggesting above.

Just my limited experience, with my recent start into yoga. 😄 

Edited September 20, 2020 by Lori D.

[Jean in Newcastle]

I hope that you can do it.  I can't do even yoga for fibro because my body will cramp up with static holds.  I personally do much better with something flowing like Tai Chi.  (I am not experienced in yoga but I have tried a number of "yoga for fibromyalgia" offerings and have tried some yoga at the Y.) 

[Spy Car]

2 hours ago, Lori D. said:

Hmmm... I've taken both Vinyasa and Yin yoga classes, and all of the poses in the video (as I skimmed through it) have been in both of the types of yoga classes...

The instructors I have had all do continuing education and seminars specifically in yoga disciplines but also in kinesiology and physical exercise techniques. From details in the instruction they provide, I gather that yoga is "dynamic" and positions can (and have) been added to, and adapted from, ancient poses over time, and continue to be added to/adapted... In other words, so many approaches and new directions to yoga have been developed, especially in the past 50 years with the resurgence in interest in the practice, that most yoga classes today are "hybrid" or adapted in some way. I don't have the impression that strict, traditional, ancient-only yoga is widely practiced in the western world... I guess it would not be yoga if it doesn't include the breathing/mindful aspect, as Seasider was suggesting above.

Just my limited experience, with my recent start into yoga. 😄 

Have you encountered people doing those sort of head/neck stretches using one's hands to pull on one's head in a yoga class? I have not. And many of the asanas were in a modified form (which is fine, people who are new or not flexible can "modify"), but the instructor's form is poor overall. Not the end of the world, but...

Bill  

[Lori D.]

1 hour ago, Spy Car said:

Have you encountered people doing those sort of head/neck stretches using one's hands to pull on one's head in a yoga class? I have not. And many of the asanas were in a modified form (which is fine, people who are new or not flexible can "modify"), but the instructor's form is poor overall. Not the end of the world, but...

Bill  

*Pull* on the head to increase neck stretch -- never! 😵 Not even in the stretches we did in the formal ballet classes I took many years ago as an adult beginning learner!

However: "Place a hand on the head to help gently hold the neck stretch," yes -- while being admonished to only do so if you can and if so, to do so carefully and to listen to your individual body, and to *never* do what hurts. (Pretty much that is said with almost every position 😄 ) Yoga instructors I have had always give alternatives (and even come over and work out individual solutions) so that those who are more advanced can extend their practice, and those who have physical limitations do not feel pressured to do something harmful.

re: modified form & poor instructor form
I understand that some yin yoga positions are purposely slightly different from traditional positions to accommodate holding for longer periods of time (which is the focus of yin yoga). Perhaps that is what is going on here? As I said in my original post, I did not watch the video, but just skimmed it (viewed by moving slider bar through it to quickly see the sequence of the session). That was too fast of a view for me to see how modified/not positions were. And I did not listen to her instruction, so she may well be a poor instructor. Can't comment on that...

Cheers! Lori D.



OP: My thoughts would be to investigate: "will this particular video provide the strengthening I want, in addition to stretching, while not hurting me due to my fibromyalgia?" And also to investigate the qualifications of the instructor to make sure nothing will show up in the videos that would cause harm. The debate of whether yin yoga *is yoga* or not, or, "is this video really yin yoga or not" would take backseat for me... 😉 

Again, if looking for strengthening yoga, that would be in Vinyasa and/or Hatha forms of yoga. Yin yoga is about stretching, and improving connective tissue and joint issues.

BEST of luck in finding a form of movement that provides the strengthening and stretching you are looking for! Warmest regards, Lori D.

Edited September 20, 2020 by Lori D.

[gardenmom5]

those are actual yoga poses.  have you actually done this practice?  or just looked at it?  The poses are pretty easy, more stretching - but your muscles will feel it.  The goal is to get your lymph system flowing, without injuring your muscles.

one thing about yoga - is it is very holistic in that you're strengthening while you're stretching.  with yoga, you can do the same pose, and as you learn proper form will get more of a workout from the same pose from when you aren't as focused on form.

"sit up tall" - you're strengthening core muscles. - but she's also got you stretching.

don't underestimate that backbend.