wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

I'm a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher and it surprises me that your guest, who is a deputy editor of Shape Magazine and a board member of the American Council on Exercise isn't quite sure what a "Q" angle is!

Yoga is the perfect compliment to resistance strength training. Those cherished "rock hard" abs can lead to kyphosis (curvature of the thoracic, or upper spine). "Muscle bound" means limited range of motion.

Doing yoga on a regular basis develops muscular strength in a very balanced way - maintains and increases flexibility and range of motion; teaches good posture through proper alignment technique; uses all muscle groups.

Also it is obvious to me as a listener that your guest is a "chest breather" and could benefit from breathing exercises as taught by a qualified yoga teacher.

I agree about the importance of strength training. For years, I used to sit in half-lotus position. Then I developed knee pain. The orthopedist told me the cartilage behind my kneecaps was wearing out because I hadn't been doing quad-strengthening exercises, so when I bent my knees my kneecaps didn't track right & the top of my shinbones rubbed against them from the inside, wearing away the cartilage & causing the pain. By that time, exercise could keep it from getting worse but not reverse the damage already done.

No one had ever told me I needed to do thigh exercises if I was going to keep sitting cross-legged (any kind of cross-legged, not just half-lotus). So now I tell other people.

in response to "a woman"- Try something like Lucille Roberts. big variety of body shaqpes and sizes. Women trying to lose as well as thin women wanting to build up or just stay healthy

what about things like alexander technique, feldenkreis - those peopole have amazing body awareness

What about excercises you can do without equipment. I do 100 pushups every morning and I'm 32. Is there something I should be looking out for? I do not have much time should I be doing more of a variety of excercises?

all you need to do are sit ups, push ups and pull ups. they cover everything. this going to the gym and personal trainer stuff is not necessary!

I'd like to speak on behalf of the women out there that aren't looking to lose weight! I'm thin, and don't WANT to burn off all my fat in a gym. But nobody seems to know what to do with women like me! Gym-wise, there seems to be a bias in favor of women looking to lose weight. I'm getting pretty annoyed with that.

Also, I'd like to say that many of the "personal trainers" available in places like NYSC are simply not as qualified as one would like. They're mostly just jocks, and don't seem to be really paying attention to the way people use machines, and are more into playing the drill sergeant, a la Rocky.

i lift weights, i'm in my mid 30s and i wanted to ask if my joints are at risk, over time, from this activity?

look at figure skaters - small, sleek, powerful, agile... pairs skaters have amazing upper body strength. And all of this can be very zen becaues you are so engaged - you can't skate and read a book! you get cardio and strength straining.You use your own weight and centrifugal force for rotation. A good sit-spin is great for abs. You will never see me in a gym!

I would think the amount you can lift would have also to do do with your alignment- if your knees, and ankles fall in line with your hips.

Weight or resistance training is an excellent way to change your body's shape. I lift weights 2 times per week.

I've found a cool site where you can watch workout videos online: http://www.beYOU.tv

Check them out.

Greg

Greg, please stop pushing that site...$$

Working out is great. Resistance or weight training is a good way to change your body's shape. I've found a cool site where you can watch workout videos online, check it out:

http://www.beYOU.tv

Greg

Please talk about exact percentage change level of brain chemicals during exercise and identify the chemicals.