Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Hi - It's all hatha yoga, in a school that has a variety of different styles. I really like ashtanga, which is very intense and a brutal (but in a good way!) workout. I also like vinyasa flow, which is a style where each pose flows into the next. This is a great workout too, but very meditative and graceful. It's probably my favorite. There are some classes called yin, where it's all just relaxing into stretches on the floor. It isn't aerobic at all, but it's great for increasing flexibility. I like those classes once in a while, but I don't really feel like I'm getting exercise from them, and yoga is pretty much the only exercise I get. So I'll take a yin class and then a "regular" hatha class right after that.

If you belong to a gym they might have some yoga classes, and I think that the classes in gyms tend to be more on the "workout" side of things. I started with classes in a gym because it was a great way to try out yoga without having to join a school (I didn't want to commit to that before I even knew if I'd like it). Plus, at a gym there tends to be different teachers for each class, and they'll likely have different styles so you can get a broad exposure.

The one style I don't really want to try is Bikram - it's practiced in a sauna at really high temperatures. I don't do well in heat and I'm pretty sure I'd black out. I guess that would be reaching deep relaxation...but I don't think it's the best way!

Let me know if you try some classes and what you think.

- H

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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!

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