Back to the grind; weekend of YogaFit training

Workout notes Bad swim. 5 x 100 first (1:40’s), 10 x (25 drill, 25 swim). Started to do a 1000 time trial, but was laboring at 4:10 for the first 250. So this became 4:10, 4:10, 4:09, 4:09. Then 100 back, then 10 x 100 on the 2. I tried to do the first couple on a 1:45 but was already at 1:41 two reps into it, so I went to a 2 minute interval and kept it 1:37-1:39.

Then 100 back, then 5 x (50 fly, 50 back) on the 2 (fins), 300 pull.

I was dragging and had no energy at all, which surprised me a bit given I didn’t swim this weekend. I wonder if it was due to my eating less, or because I am coming down with something. I just feel tired and wiped out.

Yoga Notes I didn’t work out this weekend due to YogaFit training; in particular I took the level one class.

As I understand it, Yogafit takes classical yoga and attempts to adopt it for a “fitness” type of enviroment (e. g., for folks who just want to get stretched out or to get a bit fitter). It really isn’t yoga-studio type yoga (no chanting, etc.), though some of the other levels (5) offer the body-mind connection stuff.

The positives:

• I enjoyed the two days
• I enjoyed meeting the people
• The “master classes” were ok (advanced beginner, mixed level), though they weren’t as difficult as what I am used to or what I do on my own.
• I got some good feedback on my asanas so my own practice will improve
• I liked their moonflowers/sunflower series; I’ll do that in my own practice.

The negatives

• I wish that there had been more males there (15 of the 17 were female)
• There wasn’t enough emphasis on doing the poses well. As a student, I like for my teachers to set a good example and be good at yoga themselves.
• The philosophy just isn’t me. I do yoga to challenge my body and my mind, so there is going to be some element of “competition” there. Of course, I don’t want to “cheat” so I can “do” a pose. Now, in fairness, the instructor did give some examples of how to avoid this in boat and in straddle forward fold. Still, if I can improve, I want to be told how I can improve.

As far as what went on: there was an introduction of the participants, discussion of the yoga fit philosophy, (“name the ways yogafit is unique”…3 mountains, etc.), a breakdown of some of the poses, followed by the first master class.

Then came a break, more poses (demonstration), second gentle class, breakdowns again.

The next day saw another presentation, intermediate class, and three or four team teaching sessions.

What I came away with: I tend to hunch my shoulders, bend forward at the waist on some of the squats, and I tend to ignore instructions on breathing and on transitions.

Also, I go to yoga classes for different reasons than many other people.

For more opinions on YogaFit, check out this discussion yoga.com message boards or this one. Some of the criticism is fair, some of it is unfairly harsh.

Other discussions here, here and here.