Hi all,
On Sundays, my Y has a 3 hour lap swim period--good chance to get in some extra yards--and since there's a yoga class which comes about an hour after I finish my swim workout, the two would seem to dovetail perfecctly into my Sunday schedule.
All good but a couple issues:
1. All the emphasis on breathing through the nose in yoga doesn't seem to square too well with the nasal allergy symptoms I get soon after swimming--no big deal after most swims, but not when I'm trying to concentrate on breath. Yoga seems actually to alleviate allergy symptoms somewhat, but I still find myself wanting a box of tissues beside me in the class... Fortunately, I've gotten through the classes all right but wouldn't mind feelinga bit more comfortable with the breathing.
2. A lot of holding poses + more yards than during the week = sore arms/shoulders the next day. I don't want to give up those Sun. morning swims... least crowded time for lap swimmers and three-hour stretch of time (not that I swim three hours, though, just nice not to have to rush to complete a workout)... and Sun. is when time most allows me to take the yoga class.
My yoga instructor feels that it's better to have the class be my only workout, but hey life has a way of being complicated like that. ;)
Do others here mix the two and how do you handle either or both of the afroementioned problems?
I used to do Flow classes like Bobinator mentioned, but never on the same day as a swim. My schedule used to be a Sunday evening flow followed by a Monday morning swim. One thing I do know (and a reason for me to figure out how to add my yoga back in) is that I felt noticeably better in the water on mornings after I did yoga.
My comments on your specific questions:
Go for it, but take it easy the first time you do it and pay attention to your body. Every yoga instructor I've ever worked with has preached "it's your class," so take the extra child's poses when you need to rest.
I think your yoga instructor might be smoking something if she/he thinks it's fully aerobic. Keep the swim in there.
Possibly mix in more kicking (without a board to give your shoulders / arms a rest) into your Sunday swims. Doing "back balance" and "sweet spot" drills from Total Immersion are great ways to not only work on balance and head position, but focus on kick and your core while giving your shoulders a rest.
Also consider more breaststroke in the workout as that (for me at least) doesn't stress the shoulders as much.
I used to do Flow classes like Bobinator mentioned, but never on the same day as a swim. My schedule used to be a Sunday evening flow followed by a Monday morning swim. One thing I do know (and a reason for me to figure out how to add my yoga back in) is that I felt noticeably better in the water on mornings after I did yoga.
My comments on your specific questions:
Go for it, but take it easy the first time you do it and pay attention to your body. Every yoga instructor I've ever worked with has preached "it's your class," so take the extra child's poses when you need to rest.
I think your yoga instructor might be smoking something if she/he thinks it's fully aerobic. Keep the swim in there.
Possibly mix in more kicking (without a board to give your shoulders / arms a rest) into your Sunday swims. Doing "back balance" and "sweet spot" drills from Total Immersion are great ways to not only work on balance and head position, but focus on kick and your core while giving your shoulders a rest.
Also consider more breaststroke in the workout as that (for me at least) doesn't stress the shoulders as much.
