I know what you mean, Amy. I gave up on yoga because it wasn't the right exercise regime for me, but I really don't miss the silly "spiritual" aspect at all.

I do prenatal yoga at the YMCA, because it helps with flexibility. I've also done yoga on my Wii with the balance board at home...wonder what the "purists" think of the Wii? I've never embraced the spiritual part of yoga; I'm not critical particularly of those who do, but it doesn't do it for me.

Tara's critics sound like a bunch of elitist snobs.

"Granola fundamentalism."
Love it!

More on these annoying people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1yxDWxUIMO

I think being quiet and focusing on your breathing and movements is very peaceful and centering. I don't follow the yoga dogma but find that I am much more relaxed when I leave.

As someone who does a lot of working out (heavy weights and body-weight cardio type stuff) I find yoga is forces you to acknowledge your body in a different way and helps you your own body awareness...for me this was mainly improving my balance and learning to be smoother. I am a natural spazz and would constantly slam into immobile things with my huge hips or knock over all the shampoo in the shower, etc. Very typical bull in a China shop. Yoga helped me with these things.

Also, it helps to stretch you out and increase flexibility which is very important for people who like to lift and grapple!! I'm less likely to get hurt if I can bend in weird ways.

The snottiness of some of the hard core people is really annoying and discouraging. Also the hot yoga instructors I've ever been exposed to were bossy bitches. I want bossy bitch when I'm trying to perfect my squat or clean and jerk, not when I am trying to relax into another "downward dog call".

The origins of yoga practice are spiritual in nature. That isn't to say you can't separate the spiritual/history part of yoga from an exercise routine, but you can expect that people who choose not to do so are going to have an opinion about it, and I don't see a problem with that. Personally I couldn't care less about what Ms. Stiles is doing with yoga, but I wouldn't say the spiritual aspect is silly; it's just not for everyone, like many things in life.

Have you ever noticed that there are very few Indians, much less Hindus, involved in American Yoga?

What's practiced in America isn't actually Yoga, rather its Western new ageism set to asanas. Like a lot of other new age practices, it tends to distort traditional teachings to justify the idea of therapeutic self absorption. I think that this is why it attracts such an obnoxious group of people - it 'validates' their narcissism and allows them to be sanctimonious.

The next narcissist that needs much in the way of validation for their narcissism will be the first.

I've been thinking about trying yoga, but the spiritual aspect of it is the one thing I do not want. I have plantars fasciitis in one foot and I've heard yoga is good for that. I think I found a school here that isn't so big on the spiritual side, but yeah, some of them sent me running screaming just reading their websites.

I'll report back if I ever get around to trying it out. :D

I tried yoga, and found that, for me at least, water aerobics did more for my flexibility and was a better all-around workout, and was a helluva lot more fun. I fell asleep in my friends yoga class, good thing she was the teacher or I may have gotten a bit of a 'new age beatdown'.

it 'validates' their narcissism and allows them to be sanctimonious.

Interesting point, because all of the hard core yoga people that I know are totally self absorbed.

I've been wanting to try a yoga class too, but this thread has totally put me off! Water aerobics, huh, Kat? Where do you go for something like that, the Y?

I like yoga when I can motivate myself to do it. It's really relaxing and helps with soreness in my back. If you want to try yoga, try a few different places. They all have a different feel, with more or less emphasis on spirituality.

The great thing about yoga is its flexibility (pun intended)! Don't let the haters of the world turn you off from yoga; find a good teacher or style who you like and who has respect for you and your needs. Same goes for pretty much everything else in life, right. I've been practicing yoga for the better part of a decade, and while I loathe chanting, chakras and arrogance, I love the way yoga makes me feel: the strength when I hold myself up on the formerly weakest of joints; the calmness and relaxation during/after shivasana; the hotness of my ass because it's a damn good workout.

So, as my mother always says, fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

I fucking hate yoga. Probably because I'm not flexible, and get wimpy kid in gym class complexes. If yoga was a team sport, the captain would pick me last.

Also, I fucking hate being told to "relax". "Relax" is what gynocologists say when they are about to jam a sharp, ice-cold speculum into you. It's what date rapists say. It's what chiropractors say when they are about to yank your neck into place.

"Relax" means something terrible is about to happen.